STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Nurse (Correctional Facility) (35 Hour)

Mental Health Nurse

Recruitment #260402-2294HJ-001

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Introduction

   

Our Mission: The State of Connecticut, 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. Safe and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

Are you looking for a career providing a full range of professional nursing care with a Mental Health emphasis? If so, we encourage you to apply!

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) seeks a qualified individual for a meaningful role as a Registered Nurse for a Mental Health Nurse assignment. This position is located at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, CT.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page to learn about our medical and dental insurance plans, sick/vacation/personal leave accruals, state holidays, tuition reimbursement and more!
  • This is a Hazardous Duty Position and offers a pension plan, the State Employees Retirement System Tier IV. As a Hazardous Duty employee, you will be eligible to retire after just 25 years of service, regardless of your age.
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here. 

POSITION DETAILS
This is a full-time, 35 hour per week position on first shift. Schedule is Monday-Friday between 7:00am and 2:00pm.

This role is a specialized assignment requiring specific Clinical assessment skills. The RN in this role maintains ongoing Mental Health assessment and tracking, prioritizing mental health acuity, and conducting vital nursing interventions. The role encompasses three aspects: Direct patient care by having face to face encounters with patients at specific intervals and monitoring medication compliance, Administrative by assisting the provider and scheduling clinics, and coordinator for the psychiatric practice and mental health practice.

Discover the Opportunity to:
  • Perform initial assessments, mental health medication verification and tracking, Coordination of nurse and provider clinics, patient education, medication administration, as needed.
  • Assess and ensure timely documentation for all clients admitted for mental health services (new mental health patients as well as current patients) in order to monitor for crisis, offer support, and assess current medications.
  • Observe, daily, all mental health clients receiving infirmary level of care.
  • Observe and document level 3 and 4 patients who take psychotropic medications within 1-3 business days.
  • Assess and document within 72 hours on patient with MH score changes.
For an inside look at how nurses make a difference in a correctional setting, watch the video below!
 

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library 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.
  • 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: 

  • Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates - such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links - please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board as select "Update My Contact Information."
  • 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 Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Correction this class is accountable for providing professional nursing and/or mental health care to inmates and assisting in their rehabilitation or providing targeted infection control services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

HEALTH SERVICES

  • Independently implements nursing process with inmates including carrying out physicians’ orders regarding diet, medication and treatment; 
  • Performs assessments; 
  • Changes dressings; 
  • Monitors and ensures quality care through observation and evaluation; 
  • Reports on physiological and mental health status of inmates; 
  • Documents nursing interventions on medical records; 
  • Distributes and maintains records of controlled drugs and insures their security; 
  • Maintains records and makes reports; 
  • Makes decisions in routine cases; 
  • Instructs inmates and staff regarding treatments, nursing plans and related inmate care issues directed towards an awareness and understanding of health/mental health issues; 
  • Responds to emergencies; 
  • Maintains availability of medications and supplies; 
  • Ensures cleanliness of equipment and environment; 
  • May provide pre-certification for and coordination of inmates admitted to and discharged from acute care facilities; 
  • May formulate and implement nursing care plans; 
  • May administer routine tests; 
  • May conduct training; 
  • May delegate nursing tasks consistent with established protocols; 
  • May participate in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation interventions; 
  • May conduct daily sick call; 
  • May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correctional staff in emergencies; 
  • May provide related medical or mental health specialty services; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

INFECTION CONTROL

  • Independently implements infection control services with inmates; 
  • Performs infection control assessments; 
  • Provides infection prevention and control education and training to inmates; 
  • Responds to emergencies; 
  • Conducts health record chart reviews; 
  • Reviews tracking systems for HIV, TB and other infectious diseases; 
  • Monitors incidences of infections including TB, MRSA and other infectious diseases; 
  • Analyzes trends over time and across system; 
  • Assesses inmates for knowledge of infection control and prevention; 
  • Identifies inmates nearing re-entry date for participation in re-entry infection prevention education programs; 
  • Identifies community-based infection prevention resources; 
  • Develops informational materials about community-based programs and disseminates to re-entry population; 
  • Maintains records and makes reports; 
  • May develop infection prevention curriculum and educational material for inmate education; 
  • May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correctional staff in emergencies; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • and ability to apply professional nursing theory, practice and ethics; 
    • current medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; 
    • medical, therapeutic and psychiatric nursing interventions and methods; 
    • and ability to apply quality standards, procedures and protocols; 
    • and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic difference; 
    • teaching, counseling and evaluation principles and techniques; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to
    • act as a role model to health care staff by demonstrating and teaching professional behaviors; 
    • learn specialized inmate care applicable to work assignment; 
    • listen and provide empathetic assistance to inmates in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments; 
    • develop therapeutic relationships with inmates and their caregivers; 
    • respond to emergencies; 
    • respond to and seek supervision; 
    • encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride trust and group identity to foster commitment and team work; 
    • analyze and evaluate proper care and treatment; 
    • interview; 
    • develop curricula.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience treating Mental Health patients.

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 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 and 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 exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/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.


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.


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