What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head Nurse (40 Hour) (Office/On-site) position at State of Connecticut - Department of Mental Health...?
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The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking two Head Nurses to support safe, therapeutic, and recovery‑oriented inpatient care at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) in Middletown, CT. These roles function as key nursing leaders on their units, providing clinical oversight, coordination of care, and guidance to nursing staff during third‑shift operations.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- FACILITY: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
- LOCATION: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT
- SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), Third Shift, 11:15 PM - 7:15 AM, includes every other weekend and rotating holidays
- POSITION NUMBER & ASSIGNED UNIT:
- #100373 - Woodward 1 North
- #118588 - Woodward 2 North
WHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT:
- Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
- Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development
- Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees
IN ADDITION TO THE BASE ANNUAL SALARY, YOU MAY BE APPROVED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION BONUS:
- Each Registered Nurse who is permanently assigned to the second or third shift may be eligible to receive a “recruitment and retention” yearly bonus of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00). This bonus shall be prorated for part-time.
- In order to be eligible for this bonus, the employee must have completed one year of service in the registered nurse classification.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
- Lead and support a team of dedicated nursing professionals
- Promote positive patient outcomes through coordinated, person-centered care
- Make a meaningful impact in the public sector
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in a supportive environment
ABOUT US:
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.
CVH is the state’s flagship public hospital for mental health and addiction treatment. As the largest facility within DMHAS, CVH provides a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and specialized services for individuals with co‑occurring disorders. The hospital also offers programs supporting older adults, young adults, and individuals with traumatic brain injuries, all focused on recovery, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.
ABOUT THE UNITS:
Woodward 1 North is a geriatric psychiatry unit with a maximum census of fifteen patients. The unit serves an aging patient population suffering from severe and chronic mental illness, as well as patients with complex medical and nursing needs. The goal of treatment is psychiatric stabilization with the goal of living in an appropriately supportive community setting with the least restrictions possible.
Woodward 2 North is a geriatric psychiatry unit with a maximum census of fifteen patients. The unit serves an aging patient population of men suffering from severe and chronic mental illness, as well as patients with complex medical and nursing needs. The goal of treatment is psychiatric stabilization with the goal of living in an appropriately supportive community setting with the least restrictions possible.
Please note:
- A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
- All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.
Selection Plan
FOR THOSE WHO HOLD A RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE:
- Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;
- Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;
- 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:
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:
- 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 and 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 Alyssa Hovanec at Alyssa.Hovanec@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
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 individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities or Connecticut Technical Education and Career System 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 (QIDP);
- 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 intermediate care facility (ICF) regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (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 (QIDP);
- 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 exams;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards;
- specialized 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 individuals, groups and families;
- Ability to provide therapeutic treatment with a variety of individuals.
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 license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
- 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 individuals; may have exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive individuals; may be exposed to disagreeable conditions.