Introduction

Are you a Correctional Nurse looking for an opportunity to grow your career with the State of Connecticut?
The Department of Correction (DOC), is seeking to fill two (2) Head Nurse positions for our Somers and Suffield facilities.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain leadership skills, supervise fellow RN's and LPN's! We invite our current agency (DOC) employees to apply.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
POSITION 1
POSITION 2
- Facility: Osborn Correctional Institution, Somers, CT.
- Schedule: This position will be on second shift, 3:00PM - 11:00PM, every other weekend, with rotating holidays.
*Every other weekend with rotating holidays (72 hours bi-weekly). Please select your facility location and schedule preferences within your application.
YOUR ROLE
The Head Nurse is accountable for the supervision and administration of an assigned nursing, mental health or related specialty unit including the direction and coordination of staff in order to ensure that the highest quality of nursing and/or mental health care is provided for the inmate population.
More details can be found in the class specification.
OUR MISSION
The Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.
Start with Us. Stay with Us. Grow with Us!

Selection Plan
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THIS RECRUITMENT:
- Please include any certification and/or licensure credential details within your application.
- Be sure to select all shifts and locations you are interested in and commutable to.
- This is a hazardous duty* position.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Samantha Rivera at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a Department of Correction facility this class is accountable for
the supervision and administration of an assigned nursing, mental health or
related specialty unit including the direction and coordination of staff in
order to ensure that the highest quality of nursing and/or mental health care
is provided for the inmate population.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
HEALTH SERVICES:
- Leads planning of care and implementation of nursing process;
- Coordinates nursing and/or mental health unit workflow;
- Determines priorities;
- Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
- Establishes and maintains unit procedures;
- Identifies staff development needs;
- Provides staff training and assistance;
- Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
- Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
- Leads professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of inmate general and mental health care;
- Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures;
- Maintains and promotes standards of nursing;
- Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
- May participate in interdisciplinary meetings;
- May make recommendations on policies or standards;
- May prepare reports and correspondence;
- May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correction staff in emergencies;
- Performs related duties as required.
INFECTION CONTROL:
- Leads planning and implementation of infection control services for correctional inmates and individuals re-entering the community in order to protect the health and safety of inmates, staff and the public;
- Assures quality performance in implementation of infection control program by contracted health care provider;
- Provides education and training to inmates including infection prevention and control;
- Monitors and ensures quality care through observation and evaluation;
- Maintains records and makes reports;
- May develop infection prevention curriculum and educational materials for inmate education;
- May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correction staff in emergencies;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards;
- medication, 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;
- and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences;
- emergency and operating room nursing procedures and techniques;
- teaching, counseling and evaluation principles and techniques;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- act as a role model to health care staff;
- interview;
- develop curricula;
- Supervisory ability.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two (2) years of experience as a Registered 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 current license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
- Candidates may be required to have experience working with adolescents or in women's health or mental health care.
- 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 possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
- 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.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must possess general
good health and retain sufficient stamina, agility, visual and auditory acuity
necessary to perform all duties of the class. Incumbents are required to pass a
physical examination.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be required to lift
and restrain inmates; may have some exposure to communicable and/or infectious
diseases and risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive inmates; 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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.