State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Forensic Head Nurse (35 Hour) (3990HJ)

$45.76-$60.48 Hourly / $3,202.92-$4,233.30 BiWeekly /
$83,596.00-$110,489.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital this class is accountable for the administrative and clinical supervision of a unit involving the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mentally ill offenders and violent and/or antisocial clients who are unmanageable in other psychiatric or correctional facilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives general direction from a Nurse Supervisor, or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises Forensic Nurses, Lead Forensic Treatment Specialists, Forensic Treatment Specialists and other designated staff as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Leads the planning of care and the implementation of the nursing process; 
  • Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; 
  • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; 
  • Establishes and maintains unit procedures; 
  • Provides staff training and assistance; 
  • Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; 
  • Leads professional and paraprofessional staff in provision of patient/client care; 
  • Maintains and promotes standards of nursing; 
  • Identifies staff development needs; 
  • Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures; 
  • Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/client care programs; 
  • Responds to emergencies; 
  • Acts as liaison with operating units; 
  • Ensures that controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered; 
  • May make recommendations on policies or standards; 
  • May prepare reports and correspondence; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to independently apply psychiatric nursing principles, techniques and standards; 
    • specialized patient/client care applicable to nursing assignment; 
    • medication, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; 
  • Knowledge of
    • policies and procedures required to maintain a maximum security environment; 
    • statutes pertaining to treatment of mentally ill offenders; 
    • general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and evaluation; 
    • 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; 
    • act as a role model to health care staff; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in the care of the mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.

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 Professional 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.

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 patients/clients, may have significant exposure to communicable and/or infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive patients/clients, and may be exposed to strongly disagreeable conditions.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Non-Competitive

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(22)-Nursing

BARGAINING UNIT

(11)-HEALTH PROF (P-1)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

HJ 25

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Forensic Head Nurse (35 Hour) in Salary Group HJ 25 approved effective July 28, 2023. (Revised to modify content) Final No. 23-219

EFFECTIVE DATE

08/21/2023
CLASS: 3990HJ; EST: 1/23/1983; REV: 8/22/2023;