STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Licensed Practical Nurse (35 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #240423-5415HN-001

Introduction



Are you interested in a career that you are passionate about and receive personal fulfillment while making a difference, then we invite you to take this opportunity to be a part of our team! 

At the State oConnecticutDepartment of Developmental Services (DDS)-North Region - has a full-time second (2nd) shift job opportunity for a Licensed Practical Nurse, at 521 Maple Hill Avenue, Newington.

What We Have To Offer!
  • 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
  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage
  • Comprehensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Retirement healthcare offerings
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Outstanding work-life balance
  • 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
Your role as a Licensed Practical Nurse with DDS
You would be entrusted to perform a full range of nursing duties, and along with other duties as needed, we would have you:
  • Assist doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals
  • Measure doses and administer medications including insulin injections
  • Document medications using appropriate forms
  • Check and may administer intravenous medications 
Position Highlights
  • Full-time, 70 hours/biweekly, second (2nd) shift 
  • Schedule: Sunday – Thursday: 1:30p.m. – 8:30p.m. 
  • Regular Days Off: Friday, Saturday
  • However, must be flexible in order to meet the needs of the agency
  • Must have a valid drivers license
  • Will be required to travel
FOR SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT POSITIONS - YOU MAY BE APPROVED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION BONUS: Each Licensed Practical Nurse who is permanently assigned to second and third shift shall receive a yearly “retention” bonus of six hundred ($600). This bonus shall be paid in two (2) installments: In July and December. In order to be eligible for this bonus, the Employee must have completed one year of service in the classification.

We hope you take this opportunity to join our team and make a difference!

Selection Plan

Additional Recruitment Information:
Must have a valid drivers license
Will be required to travel

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD A PRATICAL NURSE 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 ‘Licensed Practical 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 (PN for Practical Nurse) 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. 

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.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

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.

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, DDS EEO 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 Rocky Young at Rocky.Young@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Assists doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals;
  • Measures doses and administers medications including insulin injections; 
  • Documents medications using appropriate forms;
  • Performs narcotic counts;
  • Checks and may administer intravenous medications;
  • Reports changes in individuals to doctors;
  • Ensures that restraints are applied correctly;
  • Transcribes doctors medication orders;
  • Dispenses certain medications in doctor’s absence;
  • Applies topical medication;
  • Takes and charts temperatures, pulses and respirations;
  • Performs simple nursing treatments;
  • Monitors general individual needs including personal hygiene;
  • Reports on individual conditions and behavior;
  • Keeps the unit safe and healthy;
  • Administers enemas or suppositories;
  • Performs Foley catheterization care;
  • Orients individuals concerning medications and their use;
  • May perform emergency first aid;
  • May drive individuals to necessary appointments/outings;
  • Performs related duties as required.
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES:
  • Performs the full range of duties as described in the class specification for the Lead Developmental Services Worker.
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES:
  • Performs the full range of duties as described in class specifications for the Mental Health Assistant 1 or Mental Health Assistant 2.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • practical nursing specialties and bedside care;
    • various medications used in conjunction for the care of individuals who have physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability;
    • infection control practices;
    • nutrition and diets;
    • medical and lab sciences;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral communication and written skills;
  • Ability to
    • keep records;
    • lead staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience: 
  • Experience providing nursing services to individuals with intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.
  • Experience working with individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.
  • Experience communicating with non-verbal individuals.
  • Experience with basic nursing skills including, but not limited to: administering medication and nutrition via G-Tube or J-Tube; glucose monitoring, insulin administration; respiratory treatments, colostomy; cecostomy; urostomy care; wound care; and catheterization.
  • Experience supporting individuals that may exhibit mild to severe challenging behaviors.
  • Experience communicating internally and externally with team members and community providers both over the telephone and in written inquiries.
  • Experience using Microsoft applications, including Outlook, Excel, Teams, and Word.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's license, Public Passenger Endorsement or Commercial Driver's license for designated positions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

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.