STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (40 Hour)

Office/On-Site

Recruitment #231130-4356FL-001

Introduction



Are you interested in a career where you can make a difference, do what you are passionate about and receive personal fulfillment? 
If so, keep on reading!

The State of Connecticut, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), is accepting applications for multiple Head Nurse positions at the Albert J. Solnit Children's Center-PRTF-South Campus in Middletown, CT. 

Comprehensive Benefit Offerings: 
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown's Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
  • Comprehensive Benefits which include industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
  • FOR SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT POSITIONS - YOU MAY BE APPROVED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION BONUS: Each Registered Nurse who is permanently assigned to the second or third shift shall receive a “recruitment and retention” yearly bonus of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00). This bonus shall be pro-rated for part-time Registered Nurses. In order to be eligible for this bonus, the Employee must have completed one year of service in the registered nurse classification.  
Position Highlights:
  • PCN 119609 
  • Second shift: 2:45 pm to 11:15 pm 
  • Lakota, Week one days off: Saturday + Sunday - Week two off: Friday + Monday
  • PCN 114009
  • Third shift: 11:10 pm to 7:10 am 
  • Lakota, Week one day off: Sunday - Week two off: Friday + Saturday + Thursday
See your future with us!:

The Role:
  • Responsible for the administrative and clinical management of a single area or unit including the supervision of a substantial number of professional nurses, paraprofessional and other assigned staff. Incumbents in this class may be used as an in-charge supervisor in the absence of a Supervising Nurse. Or, incumbents in this class function as a primary care nurse at all treatment facilities.
  • Other related duties.
Our Facility:
  • The Albert J. Solnit Children's Center – South Campus is a state-administered Psychiatric facility for Connecticut’s children who are under the age of eighteen, located on a 67-acre campus at 915 River Road, Middletown, CT 06457.  
  • The center provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavior and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.  The south campus consists of four co-ed hospital units and three female adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility cottages (PRTF). The Solnit Center facilities support our dedication to helping youth improve their individual and social competencies.    

Selection Plan

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.

To Apply:
  • At any point later in the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, attendance, supervisor references, college transcripts, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
For Assistance in Applying:
Connect With Us:
  • If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Anamaria Giangarra at Anamaria.giangarra@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number. 
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals and other staff involving direct nursing care of patients/individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the State Universities or State Vocational Technical Schools this class is accountable for providing primary nursing care for students and facility staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

WORKING LEAD:

  • Leads the planning of care and implementation of the nursing process;
  • Plans unit workflow and determines priorities;
  • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
  • Makes recommendations for personnel actions such as selection, discipline and performance; conducts or assist in conducting performance evaluations;
  • Leads professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of patient/individual care;
  • Maintains and promotes standards of nursing;
  • Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
  • Identifies staff development needs;
  • Provides staff training and assistance;
  • Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures;
  • Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/individual care programs;
  • Responds to emergencies;
  • May make recommendations on policies and standards;
  • May prepare reports or correspondence;
  • May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional;
  • Performs related duties as required.

DIRECT CARE:

  • Independently develops, implements and evaluates nursing and/or health care plans; provides nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program;
  • Conducts nursing assessments; provides admission and discharge nursing assessments including plans for continuing care;
  • Maintains records and makes reports; provides for nursing services to comply with ICF regulations and JCAHO standards;
  • Maintains records of stored and secured medications;
  • Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
  • Independently manages and provides direct care to patients/individuals;
  • Participates in individual, group or family therapy;
  • Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of patient/individual treatment or health care plans;
  • Manages an assigned caseload of other appropriate clinical activities; provides clinical direction and/or training to staff in individual, group and family service delivery programs;
  • May participate in home visits and crisis intervention;
  • May provide in-service training to nursing and paraprofessional staff with regard to signs and symptoms of illness, dysfunction, injury and prevention of same;
  • May conduct patient/individual centered conferences with nursing personnel; may consult with and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs;
  • May make recommendations on policies or standards;
  • May prepare reports or correspondence;
  • May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional;
  • Performs related duties as required.

SCHOOL NURSE:

  • Independently provides counseling and health education services to students and staff;
  • Serves as member of crisis intervention team; provides assessment of medical problems;
  • Determines need for physician or medical care; performs basic evaluative procedures and tests;
  • Performs primary first aid;
  • Ensures that controlled drugs are properly stored; makes referrals and follows up on health needs;
  • Provides counseling on health related issues;
  • Maintains accurate medical records;
  • Writes reports;
  • May administer medication;
  • May administer routine tests or exam;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards;
    • specialized patient/individual care applicable to nursing assignment;
    • medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects;
  • Knowledge of
    • general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and re-evaluation;
    • adult learning and family systems theory;
    • and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to
    • establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other professionals, community resources and providers;
    • act as a role model to health care staff;
  • Supervisory ability.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NURSING POSITIONS:

  • Considerable knowledge of behavioral health of individuals;
  • Skill working with individual patients/individuals, groups and families;
  • Ability to provide therapeutic treatment with a variety of patients/individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Professional Nurse in Connecticut.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain patients/individuals; may have exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive patients/individuals; may be exposed to disagreeable conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.