STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Director Of Nursing 2

Office/On-site

Recruitment #230919-2759MP-001

Go Back View Benefits

Introduction



Are you a current DMHAS employee looking for your next nursing role?
Join us and help lead at Whiting Forensic Hospital!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a current DMHAS employees to join our team as a Director of Nursing 2 (PCN 126387). This position will be serving in the capacity of the Nurse Executive and will be within Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH), a maximum security forensic psychiatric hospital. Find out more information on this great opportunity below!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • 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
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Retirement healthcare offerings
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • 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.
  • A healthy work/life balance!
You'd be able 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.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:
  • Be responsible for all aspects of nursing services within the Hospital including, but not limited to, overseeing the Directors of Nursing, Nurse Supervisors, RN’s, LPN’s, Mental Health Assistants and Forensic Treatment Specialists
  • Monitor and adjust staffing levels, shift configuration, and schedules to provide the best possible care for the patients we serve
  • Monitor and adjust processes and procedures to ensure continuous improvement of all aspects of direct care
  • Be responsible for preparing and presenting reports on nursing department quality metrics to the hospital’s Quality, Risk and Safety committee, Governing Body, and other relevant committees and outside entities as needed
  • Be responsible for overseeing, tracking and reporting on corrective action plans relative to nursing quality metrics for the hospital and the CT Department of Public Health
  • Chair the hospital’s Nursing Leadership and Staffing committees
  • Participate and collaborate with Human Resources and Labor Relations in all aspects of recruitment, retention, supervisory and disciplinary processes and procedures of the hospital’s nursing staff
  • Work collaboratively with other members of the hospital leadership to strive toward achieving shared goals and expectations including oversight of the hospital’s 24/7 manager on duty schedule
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

Whiting Forensic Hospital specializes in providing inpatient services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The hospital consists of 91 maximum security beds and 138 enhanced security beds. Services are provided to individuals who are admitted under the following categories: Psychiatric Security Review Board commitment, Criminal court order for restoration of competency to stand trial, Civil commitment (voluntary or involuntary) and Transfer from the Department of Correction (during period of incarceration or at end of sentence). Discharge options are dependent on legal status and the purpose of admission.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD AN RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE:

  1. Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;
  2. Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;
  3. Request verification of your out-of-state license(s) electronically through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s: Nursys® System. To send verification of your license(s) to CT, read and agree to the terms, enter your biographic information, select your license type and select ‘SEARCH’. Review the results and select the ‘Next’ button. Check the box next to ‘Connecticut’ and complete the transaction. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from Nursys and the verification will be available to the DPH. Note that PA and MI verifications are not provided through Nursys. Please contact those state boards for information on obtaining verification.
To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, 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 recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • 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.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
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.
  • Note: 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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • 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 which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Children and Families, Correction, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for directing nursing services by ensuring that nursing professional practices comply with appropriate standards of delivery for evidence-based patient-centered care within an assigned region, a large hospital division, a medium-sized hospital or for statewide services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Directs staff and operations of the nursing department;
  • Coordinates, plans and manages nursing activities including making staff assignments;
  • Formulates program goals and objectives;
  • Develops or assists in development of related policy incorporating current nursing research and professionally recognized standards;
  • Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
  • Evaluates staff;
  • Prepares or assists in preparation of the nursing budget;
  • Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of department who might impact on program activities;
  • Develops or assists in development and implementation of plans for nursing care;
  • Participates in recruitment and retention programs;
  • Makes rounds to determine quality of nursing care;
  • Participates in Quality Assurance Programs;
  • Assures optimal quality of provided care in a safe environment;
  • Develops and/or implements effective ongoing programs to measure, assess and improve quality of nursing care, treatment and services delivered to patients;
  • Develops productive work teams; protects human and civil rights of patients and/or clients and staff;
  • Recommends disciplinary actions;
  • Collaborates with clinical instructors for educational programs;
  • Represents hospital and/or facility in meetings of professional and/or community organizations;
  • Compiles data and prepares periodic reports;
  • Responsible for coordinating and providing twenty-four hour nursing coverage for facility or assigned units(s);
  • Intervenes in crisis situations and investigates all unusual incidents;
  • Leads and participates in meetings; may speak on behalf of nursing;
  • May oversee other disciplines including but not limited to pharmacy, respiratory therapy or social work;
  • May participate in strategic planning;
  • May participate in research activities;
  • May be a member of standing committees;
  • Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION:

  • Directs staff and operations of nursing services within an assigned region spanning multiple correctional facilities;
  • Ensures coordination and provision of comprehensive nursing services delivered 24-hours a day, 7 days a week;
  • Directs development or assists with development of nursing policies, procedures and protocols;
  • Assists in evaluating nursing staff and recommends corrective action; protects human and civil rights of patients and staff;
  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of the nursing budget and makes decisions or recommends a course of action with regard to management of the nursing budget;
  • Directs or assists with development and implementation of nursing services staffing plan policies;
  • Provides supervision to nurse supervisors regarding nursing standards, procedures, protocols and policies;
  • Ensures nursing practices comply with appropriate professional standards;
  • Develops and monitors nursing performance expectations;
  • Develops, administers and maintains nursing programs that deliver, monitor, evaluate and improve quality and appropriateness of all nursing care;
  • Ensures facilities implemented an effective system that certifies competence to perform nursing duties, including performance of physical assessments and outpatient urgent and emergency protocols;
  • Ensures continuous quality improvements and sustainable constitutional levels of nursing care;
  • Ensures nursing services well-functioning and timely delivery of patient care available to all patients in accordance with appropriate standards of nursing care;
  • Identifies and implements solution for operational and organizational issues pertaining to nursing;
  • Assesses professional nurse training and orientation needs and participates in development of orientation and education programs to promote staff development;
  • Performs competency assessments;
  • Mentors and coaches nursing personnel throughout region;
  • Directs and oversees health care accreditation and/or re-accreditation process;
  • Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • Performs related duties as required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of nursing principles and practices in appropriate specialty;
  • Knowledge of
    • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
    • and ability to develop strategic plans;
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and accreditation guidelines;
    • behavioral health nursing;
    • nursing administration;
    • research procedures as applied to nursing;
    • interviewing and counseling techniques;
    • current developments in field of nursing including current complexities of healthcare industry;
    • trend variance analysis;
    • governmental accounting and budgeting;
    • marketing;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills
  • Leadership skills and ability;
  • Ability to
    • problem solve;
    • multi-task and coordinate a high level of activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity in a health care organization and/or facility or hospital nursing. 

NOTE: For state employees, this experience is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Nurse.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working in an inpatient psychiatric setting.
  • Experience supervising professional staff members. 
  • Experience working with the forensic population.
  • Experience ensuring compliance with regulatory and oversight agencies such as The Joint Commission, the Department of Public Health and/or the Council on Accreditation.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
  • Incumbents in this class serving in the capacity of the Nurse Executive must possess a master's degree in nursing, public health administration, health care administration, hospital administration or a related field.
  • 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.

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.




E-mailPhone: (860) 713-52058am - 5pm M-FPowered by JobAps