State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Nurse Clinician (35 Hour) (5915HC)

$43.35-$58.47 Hourly / $3,034.49-$4,092.42 BiWeekly /
$79,200.00-$106,812.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Children and Families, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Department of Correction this class is accountable for conducting individual, group or family therapy, performing clinical assessments, history taking and mental status examinations.

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

  • This class is the practitioner-level nurse. 
  • Generally, the incumbents work with difficult clients and/or individuals providing therapy with only minimal supervision. 
  • The emphasis of this class is the expanded role of the nurse who provides psychotherapeutic care beyond the traditional nursing function. 
  • This class may have limited responsibility for training or educational activities and may assist in individual on the job orientation and training in psychotherapy.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the limited supervision of a Lead Nurse Clinician, physician, Director of Nursing or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May supervise and/or lead professional and paraprofessional health care staff involved in therapy programs.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Elicits and records health history of client and/or individual; 
  • Performs initial assessment using observation, interviews, inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion; 
  • Leads or co-leads psychotherapy groups or family therapy with other professionals; 
  • Assesses, develops, implements and evaluates a written client and/or individual treatment plan for individuals and/or families; 
  • Provides clinical supervision regarding assessment and intervention of crisis situations; 
  • Counsels clients and/or individuals and families about illness, medication and health habits; 
  • Documents all care given; 
  • Refers complex or emergent conditions to a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist according to predetermined guidelines; 
  • May perform some emergency medical treatments such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, treatment for shock or hemorrhage and treatment for emotional crises; 
  • May prescribe medication; 
  • May order laboratory tests as needed to discriminate between normal and abnormal findings on physical examination; 
  • May provide individual therapy; 
  • May perform mental status examinations; 
  • May lead multidisciplinary teams; 
  • May provide clinical supervision for ward milieu including writing ward and/or unit treatment programs; 
  • May assist in training students and health professionals; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • psychiatric nursing processes with emphasis on clinical interviewing and individual, group and family psychotherapy; 
    • current modalities of treatment available for individuals with psychiatric illness with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approaches; 
    • theories and treatments of mental illnesses; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to
    • observe changes in individuals’ behavior; 
    • make inferences and differential nursing diagnoses based on data available.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of experience as a professional nurse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a psychiatric setting in supervised individual, group and/or family therapy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • A Bachelor's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
  • Master's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
  • Within the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, incumbents in this class who write medications must have a current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse issued by the Department of Health.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Non-Examined

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(22)-Nursing

BARGAINING UNIT

(11)-HEALTH PROF (P-1)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

HC 26

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 Nurse Clinician (35 Hour) in Salary Group HC 26 approved effective April 13, 2022. (Revised to modify content, modernize format, and add Acknowledgement section) item No 24-025

EFFECTIVE DATE

04/18/2024
CLASS: 5915HC; EST: 1/21/1983; REV: 4/18/2024;