State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Department of Correction and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Connecticut Valley Hospital and Whiting Forensic Hospital this class is accountable for administering all nursing services by ensuring that nursing professional practices comply with appropriate standards of delivery for evidence-based patient-centered care.

Receives administrative direction from the Chief Medical Officer, Mental Health Superintendent or other administrative official of higher grade.

Administers nursing services operations; directs all staff.

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES:

• Administers staff and operations of nursing departments;
• Coordinates, plans and manages nursing activities;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Makes staff assignments;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy incorporating current nursing research and professionally recognized standards;
• Develops or assists in development and implementation of plans for nursing care;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of nursing budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of department who might impact program activities;
• Participates in recruitment and retention programs;
• Makes rounds to determine quality of nursing care;
• Participates in Quality Assurance programs;
• Assures optimal quality of care provided in a safe environment;
• Develops and/or implements effective ongoing programs to measure, assess and improve quality of nursing care, treatment and services delivered to patients;
• Develops productive work teams; 
• Protects human and civil rights of patients and/or clients and staff;
• Recommends disciplinary action;
• Represents hospital/facility in meetings of professional and/or community organizations;
• Compiles data and prepares periodic reports;
• Responsible for coordinating and providing twenty-four (24) hour nursing coverage for facility or assigned unit(s);
• Leads and participates in meetings;
• Intervenes in crisis situations and investigates all unusual incidents;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May speak on behalf of nursing;
• May oversee other disciplines including but not limited to pharmacy, respiratory therapy or social work;
• May participate in strategic planning;
• May participate in research activities;
• May be a member of standing committees;
• Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION: 

• Administers staff and operations of nursing services on a statewide basis;
• Ensures coordination and provision of comprehensive nursing services delivered twenty-four (24) hours per day and 7 days per week;
• Directs development and implementation of nursing standards, procedures, protocols and policies;
• Directs development, implementation of nursing services staffing plan policies;
• Develops and monitors nursing performance expectations;
• Ensures all facilities implemented an effective system that certifies competence to perform nursing duties including performance of physical assessments and outpatient urgent and emergency protocols;
• Develops and maintains an ongoing program to deliver, monitor, evaluate, and improve quality and appropriateness of all nursing care;
• Ensures continuous quality improvements and sustainable constitutional levels of nursing care;
• Ensures nursing services well-functioning and timely delivery of patient care available to all patients in accordance with appropriate standards of nursing care;
• Assesses professional training needs and participates in development of staff development and education programs;
• Identifies operational and organizational issues and implements solution;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of nursing budget and makes decisions or recommends a course of action with regard to management of nursing budget;
• Performs competency assessments;
• Mentors and coaches nursing personnel throughout the State;
• Oversees evaluation of nursing staff and recommends corrective action;
• Protects human and civil rights of patients and staff;
• Directs and oversees health care accreditation/re-accreditation process;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and accreditation guidelines;
  • nursing principles and practices in appropriate specialty;
  • nursing administration;
  • current developments in field of nursing including current complexities of healthcare industry;
• Knowledge of
  • and ability to develop strategic plans;
  • behavioral health nursing;
  • interviewing and counseling techniques;
  • research procedures as applied to nursing;
  • trend variance analysis;
  • governmental accounting and budgeting;
  • marketing;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • leadership skills and ability;
• Considerable ability to problem-solve;
• Ability to multi-task and coordinate a high level of activities under various conditions and constraints.

A Master's degree in nursing, public health administration, health care administration, hospital administration or a related field and three (3) years of experience in a health care organization and/or facility or psychiatric hospital working in a managerial or administrative capacity.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Director of Nursing 1.

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.