State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Department of Correction this class is accountable for providing professional nursing and/or mental health care to inmates and assisting in their rehabilitation or providing targeted infection control services.

Works under the general supervision of an employee of a higher grade.

May have supervisory or lead responsibilities over paraprofessionals and other non-nursing staff as assigned.

HEALTH SERVICES

• Independently implements nursing process with inmates including carrying out physicians’ 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 inmates; 
• Documents nursing interventions on medical records; 
• Distributes and maintains records of controlled drugs and insures their security; 
• Maintains records and makes reports; 
• Makes decisions in routine cases; 
• Instructs inmates and staff regarding treatments, nursing plans and related inmate 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 provide pre-certification for and coordination of inmates admitted to and discharged from acute care facilities; 
• May formulate and implement nursing care plans; 
• May administer routine tests; 
• May conduct training; 
• May delegate nursing tasks consistent with established protocols; 
• May participate in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation interventions; 
• May conduct daily sick call; 
• May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correctional staff in emergencies; 
• May provide related medical or mental health specialty services; 
• Performs related duties as required.

INFECTION CONTROL

• Independently implements infection control services with inmates; 
• Performs infection control assessments; 
• Provides infection prevention and control education and training to inmates; 
• Responds to emergencies; 
• Conducts health record chart reviews; 
• Reviews tracking systems for HIV, TB and other infectious diseases; 
• Monitors incidences of infections including TB, MRSA and other infectious diseases; 
• Analyzes trends over time and across system; 
• Assesses inmates for knowledge of infection control and prevention; 
• Identifies inmates nearing re-entry date for participation in re-entry infection prevention education programs; 
• Identifies community-based infection prevention resources; 
• Develops informational materials about community-based programs and disseminates to re-entry population; 
• Maintains records and makes reports; 
• May develop infection prevention curriculum and educational material for inmate education; 
• May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances and otherwise assist mental health and correctional staff in emergencies; 
• Performs related duties as required.

• 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; 
  • teaching, counseling and evaluation principles and techniques; 
• 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 inmate care applicable to work assignment; 
  • listen and provide empathetic assistance to inmates in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments; 
  • develop therapeutic relationships with inmates 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; 
  • interview; 
  • develop curricula.

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

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.

Incumbents in this class must possess general good health and retain sufficient stamina, agility and visual and auditory acuity necessary to perform all duties of the class. Incumbents are required to pass a physical examination.

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

Classified/Non-Competitive

(22)-Nursing

(11)-HEALTH PROF (P-1)

(2)-Professional