STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (40 Hour)

Office/On-Site

Recruitment #240708-4356FL-001

Introduction

Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our hospital’s team! 

ABOUT US
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

THE POSITION:
We are currently recruiting a passionate Head Nurse to join our team within Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) in Bridgeport.

POSITION SPECIFICS:
  • Schedule: Full-Time (40 Hour), Monday - Friday, Second Shift (4:00 P.M. - 12:30 A.M.), Every other weekend and rotating holidays
  • Facility: Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC)
  • Unit: Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU)
  • Address: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport
  • PCN: 110560

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:


FOR SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT POSITIONS - YOU MAY BE APPROVED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION BONUS:
  • Each Registered Nurse who is permanently assigned to the second or third shift shall receive a “recruitment and retention” yearly bonus of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00). 
  • This bonus shall be pro-rated for part-time Registered Nurses. 
  • In order to be eligible for this bonus, the Employee must have completed one year of service in the registered nurse classification.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
  • Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals; 
  • Provide support that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve; 
  • Assist our clients so they can achieve success; 
  • Make a difference in the public sector; and 
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment. 
          OUR MISSION:
          The vision of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System is to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent.

          ABOUT THE UNIT:
          The Co-Occurring Treatment Unit is a 20 bed, locked inpatient psychiatric unit that provides treatment to individuals with co-occurring illness.  The criteria for admission are major mental illness and substance use within six months of admission. The mission of CTU is to provide assessment and psychiatric stabilization as well as education around the clients co-occurring illness. The program model focuses on the inpatient Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) evidence-based practice, focusing concurrently on both psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses.  The treatment goals are similar to the PICU’s.

          Please note:

          Start with us.  Stay with us.  Grow with us.

          Selection Plan

          FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

          Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

          Please Note:

          For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.


          FOR THOSE WHO HOLD AN RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE:

          1. Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;
          2. Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;
          3. Request verification of your out-of-state license(s) electronically through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s : Nursys® System. To send verification of your license(s) to CT, read and agree to the terms, enter your biographic information, select your license type and select ‘SEARCH’. Review the results and select the ‘Next’ button. Check the box next to ‘Connecticut’ and complete the transaction. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from Nursys and the verification will be available to the DPH. Note that PA and MI verifications are not provided through Nursys. Please contact those state boards for information on obtaining verification.


          Please Note: In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.


          To Apply:

          • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
          • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
          • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
          • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
          • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.


          Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

          • 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.
          • 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.
          • 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.
          • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
          • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
          • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.


          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. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Nicole Frascatore via email at Nicole.Frascatore@ct.gov.

          *Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

          PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

          In a state agency this class is accountable for administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals and other staff involving direct nursing care of individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities or Connecticut Technical Education and Career System this class is accountable for providing primary nursing care for students and facility staff.

          EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

          WORKING LEAD:

          • Leads the planning of care and implementation of the nursing process;
          • Plans unit workflow and determines priorities;
          • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
          • Makes recommendations for personnel actions such as selection, discipline and performance; conducts or assist in conducting performance evaluations;
          • Leads professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of patient/individual care;
          • Maintains and promotes standards of nursing;
          • Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
          • Identifies staff development needs;
          • Provides staff training and assistance;
          • Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures;
          • Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/individual care programs;
          • Responds to emergencies;
          • May make recommendations on policies and standards;
          • May prepare reports or correspondence;
          • May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional;
          • Performs related duties as required.

          KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

          • Considerable knowledge of
            • and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards;
            • specialized individual care applicable to nursing assignment;
            • medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects;
          • Knowledge of
            • general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and re-evaluation;
            • adult learning and family systems theory;
            • 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, community resources and providers;
            • act as a role model to health care staff;
          • Supervisory ability.
          BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NURSING POSITIONS:
          • Considerable knowledge of behavioral health of individuals;
          • Skill working with individuals, groups and families;
          • Ability to provide therapeutic treatment with a variety of individuals.

          MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

          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 individuals; may have exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive individuals; 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.