State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Departments of Children and Families, Correction, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for directing nursing services by ensuring that nursing professional practices comply with appropriate standards of delivery for evidence-based patient-centered care within an assigned region, a large hospital division, a medium-sized hospital or for statewide services.

Receives administrative direction from a Chief Nurse Executive or other administrative official of higher grade.

Directs staff assigned to nursing services.

• Directs staff and operations of the nursing department;
• Coordinates, plans and manages nursing activities including making staff assignments;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy incorporating current nursing research and professionally recognized standards;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of the nursing budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of department who might impact on program activities;
• Develops or assists in development and implementation of plans for nursing care;
• Participates in recruitment and retention programs;
• Makes rounds to determine quality of nursing care;
• Participates in Quality Assurance Programs;
• Assures optimal quality of provided care 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 actions;
• Collaborates with clinical instructors for educational programs;
• Represents hospital and/or facility in meetings of professional and/or community organizations;
• Compiles data and prepares periodic reports;
• Responsible for coordinating and providing twenty-four hour nursing coverage for facility or assigned units(s);
• Intervenes in crisis situations and investigates all unusual incidents;
• Leads and participates in meetings; 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;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION:

• Directs staff and operations of nursing services within an assigned region spanning multiple correctional facilities;
• Ensures coordination and provision of comprehensive nursing services delivered 24-hours a day, 7 days a week;
• Directs development or assists with development of nursing policies, procedures and protocols;
• Assists in evaluating nursing staff and recommends corrective action; protects human and civil rights of patients and staff;
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of the nursing budget and makes decisions or recommends a course of action with regard to management of the nursing budget;
• Directs or assists with development and implementation of nursing services staffing plan policies;
• Provides supervision to nurse supervisors regarding nursing standards, procedures, protocols and policies;
• Ensures nursing practices comply with appropriate professional standards;
• Develops and monitors nursing performance expectations;
• Develops, administers and maintains nursing programs that deliver, monitor, evaluate and improve quality and appropriateness of all nursing care;
• Ensures facilities implemented an effective system that certifies competence to perform nursing duties, including performance of physical assessments and outpatient urgent and emergency protocols;
• 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;
• Identifies and implements solution for operational and organizational issues pertaining to nursing;
• Assesses professional nurse training and orientation needs and participates in development of orientation and education programs to promote staff development;
• Performs competency assessments;
• Mentors and coaches nursing personnel throughout region;
• Directs and oversees health care accreditation and/or re-accreditation process;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required. 

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

Three (3) years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity in a health care organization and/or facility or hospital nursing. 

NOTE: For state employees, this experience is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Nurse.

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class serving in the capacity of the Nurse Executive must possess a master's degree in nursing, public health administration, health care administration, hospital administration or a related field.
• 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.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Director of Nursing 2 in Salary Group MP 69 approved effective April 1, 2022. (Revised to adjust salary group) Item No. 22-123R