STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Nurse (Correctional Facility) (35 Hour)

Mental Health

Recruitment #230330-2294HJ-001

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Introduction

   

Are you looking for a career providing a full range of professional nursing care with a Mental Health emphasis?
If so, we encourage you to apply!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Registered Nurse for a Mental Health Nurse Assignment, located at York Correctional Institution in East Lyme.

Whether you are an experienced nurse or a recent graduate, you will apply your nursing knowledge, skills and abilities to assess, plan, implement and evaluate a full range of health conditions and determine both the urgency and priority of care delivery. Our orientation programs give you the knowledge and confidence to practice in a correctional environment as a professional nurse. Our in-service programs provide nurses with the opportunity to maintain clinical skills and learn new skills to advance patient care.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
The State of Connecticut offers competitive pay to nurses in addition to an abundance of benefits.

We offer:
  • A Hazardous Duty pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV)
  • Generous time off (personal, sick and vacation)
  • Retire in 25 years - with pension & healthcare benefits
  • Comprehensive Benefit Offerings along with additional supplemental benefits
  • A challenging yet rewarding experience
Additional Benefits:
  • Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months
  • Nursing licensure reimbursement
  • Conference and workshop funds allotment $1,500.00 (travel, food, lodging)
  • Meal allowance per shift
  • Accruals sick time/vacation time/ personal time
  • 2nd and 3rd shift differential/weekend differential
  • Recruitment and retention bonuses for RN’s on 2nd & 3rd shift $3,000 yearly.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
This is a full-time, 35 hours per week position on first shift. Schedule is Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 3:00pm.

This role is a specialized assignment requiring specific Clinical assessment skills. The RN in this role maintains ongoing Mental Health assessment and tracking, prioritizing mental health acuity, and conducting vital nursing interventions. The role encompasses three aspects: Direct patient care by having face to face encounters with patients at specific intervals and monitoring Medication compliance, Administrative by assisting the provider and scheduling clinics, and Coordinator for the psychiatric practice and mental health practice.

Discover the opportunity to:
  • Perform Initial Assessments, Mental Health Medication verification and tracking, Coordination of Nurse and provider Clinics, Patient Education, Medication Administration, as needed.
  • Assess and ensure timely documentation for all clients admitted for mental health services (new mental health patients as well as current patients) in order to monitor for crisis, offer support, and assess current medications.
  • Observe, daily, all mental health clients receiving Infirmary level of care.
  • Observe and document level 3 and 4 patients who take psychotropic medications within 1-3 business days.
  • Assess and document within 72 hours on patient with MH score changes.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION
What Our Employees Say
"Working for the Department of Correction for the last six years has truly been a life changing experience. Both personally and professionally, DOC has afforded me with opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. While working with the department, I have been able to work in several facilities, gathering skills and knowledge from each of them. I have formed valuable relationships with not only my nursing co-workers, but with custody staff, social workers and every discipline in-between. I have been able to attend correctional nursing conferences that have opened my eyes to issues and education that I hadn’t considered beforehand. The Department of Corrections provides upward mobility for nurses looking to advance their career. Happiness and satisfaction with my work life allows me to be a better husband and father at home. I consider it a privilege to work with this department." -James Fagan, RN

Our Mission
The Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

For an additional inside look at what it's like to work in correctional healthcare, watch the video below!
 

Selection Plan

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 
  • These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 
  • Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening will be considered for this role as determined by qualifications stated on the submitted application. 
TO APPLY: 
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. We are no longer accepting resumes in accordance with PA 21-69. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s), shift(s), and employment status(es) (Full-time, Part-time, etc.) in which you are willing to work on your application. Failure to indicate the location(s), shift(s), and employment status(es) may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location, shift, and/or employment status. 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY:
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 
  • Facilities may choose to review applications generated from posting to fill Nurse positions within various locations, shifts, etc. throughout the state.  If so, these positions will NOT be posted separately on JobAps. When a new, similar Nurse (Multi-Facility) posting is announced (with a recruitment number ending in DOC), you must re-apply for consideration.
  • Note: A facility may have a need to post a job opening for a more ‘specific’ Nurse position geared towards the facility’s specific position(s). Those types of Nurse job openings on JobAps will NOT use applications from this recruitment pool. You must apply to those postings in order to be considered for appointment to those specific position(s). We encourage you to apply to each Nurse posting you are interested in. Please sign up for Interest Cards to be notified when Nurse recruitments are posted. 
CONNECT WITH US: 
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jake Ferrari at Jake.Ferrari@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a Department of Correction facility, 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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

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, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of and ability to apply professional nursing theory, practice and ethics; knowledge of current medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; knowledge of medical, therapeutic and psychiatric nursing interventions and methods; knowledge of and ability to apply quality standards, procedures and protocols; knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic difference; some knowledge of teaching, counseling and evaluation principles and techniques; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to act as a role model to health care staff by demonstrating and teaching professional behaviors; ability to learn specialized inmate care applicable to work assignment; ability to listen and provide empathetic assistance to inmates in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments; ability to develop therapeutic relationships with inmates and their caregivers; ability to respond to emergencies; ability to respond to and seek supervision; ability to encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride trust and group identity to foster commitment and team work; ability to analyze and evaluate proper care and treatment; ability to interview; some ability to develop curricula.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Candidates may be required to have experience working with adolescents or in women's health or mental health care.
  2. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license or temporary permit as a Registered Professional Nurse in Connecticut.
  3. 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.
  4. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
  5. 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.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.





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