What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nurse (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site) position at State of Connecticut - Department of Mental Health...?
Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery from behavioral health or substance use challenges?
Have you gained expertise in engaging individuals with compassion and empathy?
If so, we invite you to apply and join our dedicated team!
THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for the position of Nurse. We are seeking dedicated and compassionate individuals to join our direct-care team to improve the well-being for our clients/patients.
NEW! We're excited that Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit the Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.
HIGHLIGHTS
- FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
- LOCATION: Bridgeport, CT
- SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week, with a rotating schedule of every other weekend and alternating holidays
- SHIFTS AVAILABLE: First Shift (8:00am - 4:30pm), Second Shift (4:00pm - 12:30am), and Third Shift (12:15am - 8:15am)
- NOTE: These positions can be assigned any unit/location and work schedule/shift within SWCMHS.
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.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
- Use therapeutic skills to effectively implement client care according to the Nursing Care Plan;
- Provide substantial input regarding patient care needs, response to treatment, and recommend modifications in the overall plan of care;
- Complete comprehensive Initial Nursing Assessment for patients with acute psychiatric and addictive problems; and
- Provide direct patient care that includes education, counseling, medication administration and documentation of the treatment and progress made by the patient.
NOTE
- Permanent DMHAS employees in the classification of Nurse should not apply; transfers within DMHAS will be handled through the agency lateral transfer process.
- Candidates hired from this posting may be initially provided with a temporary assignment; the permanent assignment will be determined within the first six months of employment.
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.
SWCMHS strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services.
CTU: Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU) 20 beds: The Co-Occurring Treatment Unit is a 20 bed, locked inpatient psychiatric unit that provides treatment to individuals with co-occurring illness. The criteria for admission are major mental illness and substance use within six months of admission. The mission of CTU is to provide assessment and psychiatric stabilization as well as education around the clients co-occurring illness. The program model focuses on the inpatient Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) evidence-based practice, focusing concurrently on both psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses. The treatment goals are similar to the PICU’s.
PICU: Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) 42 beds: The PICU 1 and PICU 2 each provide 21 beds for residents of Connecticut. Admissions to the psychiatric units are coordinated through a statewide Utilization Management process coordinated by the Office of the Commissioner. Both locked units are responsible for providing treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care. The treatment goals are developed in which the individual can be: stabilized, evaluated, rehabilitated, helped to accept the need for ongoing treatment, and assisted in regaining a level of functioning that will allow the person to be treated in a less restrictive environment or to return to community-based living. PICU treatment staff work closely with community providers to ensure that a smooth transition to the community exists. PICU 1 provides assessment and stabilization, with the emphasis on community reentry. PICU 2, the extended care unit, focuses on rehabilitation with an emphasis on intense skills building needed for community reintegration.
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 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 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:
- 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 Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@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 providing a full range of professional nursing care.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Independently implements the nursing process with individuals including carrying out physician's 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 individuals;
- Documents nursing interventions on medical records;
- Distributes and maintains records of controlled drugs and ensures their security;
- Maintains records and makes reports;
- Makes decisions in routine cases;
- Instructs individuals, staff and family members regarding treatments, nursing plans and related individual 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 participate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of individual's treatment or health/mental health care plans;
- May formulate and implement nursing care plans;
- May participate in outpatient clinics and assist in physical examinations;
- May administer routine tests;
- May conduct training;
- May delegate nursing tasks consistent with established protocols;
- May participate in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation interventions;
- May physically restrain individuals;
- May provide related medical or mental health specialty services;
- May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional;
- 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;
- and ability to apply clinical therapeutic models of individual care with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approach;
- 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 individual care applicable to work assignment;
- listen and provide empathetic assistance to individuals and families in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments;
- develop therapeutic relationships with individuals, 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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered 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.
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.
