STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (Part-Time)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #240320-4356HJ-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) - West Region; Southbury Training School has a part-time 3rd shift job opportunity for a Head Nurse.

Position Highlights:
  • Part-time, 56 hours Bi-weekly
  • Third (3rd) shift
  • Week 1: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.
  • Regular Days Off: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
  • Week 2: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.
  • Regular Days Off: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
  • Southbury, CT
The Role:
  • Incumbents must have a valid driver's license.
  • Incumbents will be required to travel.
  • Incumbents may be required to work nights and weekends.
  • Incumbents must have the ability to obtain Medical Administration Certification from the Department of Developmental Services.  
About Us:
DDS partners with the individuals we support and their families, to support lifelong planning and to join with others to create and promote meaningful opportunities for individuals to fully participate as valued members of their communities.        

What’s In It For You:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: ‘ForbesState 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
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
  • A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
Discover the opportunity to: 
  • Engage in a rewarding career
  • Assist our employees so they can achieve success
  • Make a difference in the public sector
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment  
THINKING OF RELOCATING?
Connecticut offers you a blend of professional advancement and a high-quality lifestyle. As a state we are renowned for our top-tier medical facilities and ample opportunities for career growth and development. Beyond professional prospects, Connecticut boasts a high standard of living, featuring safe communities, excellent schools, and a diverse range of cultural and recreational activities. This combination of professional excellence and a well-rounded lifestyle make Connecticut an appealing destination for those who want to thrive both in their careers and personal lives.

There are so many things to love about living, working, and playing in our state including these Key Facts and Figures:
  • #4 in the U.S. for employees with advanced degrees
  • #3 in the country for quality of K-12 education
  • #5 for quality of life in the U.S.
  • 2,000 miles of hiking/bike paths
  • 618 miles of scenic coastline
  • 21 world-class art museums
  • Five Tony-Award winning regional theatres, and more!
Check out CTVisit; they share so much valuable information on what it's like to work, play and live in our state!


Selection Plan

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.

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD A 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.
For Assistance in Applying:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

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.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

Contact Information:

If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Tommy Wilson, EEO Specialist 1 at (860) 418-6148 or Tommy.Wilson@ct.gov.

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Intravenous Certification.
  • Experience working with individuals who have Intellectual Disabilities.
  • Experience in Tracheostomy care. 
  • Experience working with Jejunostomy/Gastrostomy feeding tubes.

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.