Head Nurse (40 Hour)

Introduction We are looking for an exciting opportunity to make an impact and advance your career. Join us and be part of a revolutionary team shaping the future. Position The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is hiring a Head Nurse to join their specialized behavioral health nursing team and directly enhance the well‑being and recovery of our patients. Highlights Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) Unit: Battell 2 South Location: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT Schedule: Full‑Time, 40 Hours per Week, Third Shift (11:15pm - 7:15am), includes every other weekend and rotating holidays Position Number: 118591 Bonus: Eligible for a yearly "recruitment and retention" bonus of $3,000 for permanent second or third shift RN, prorated for part‑time, after one year of service. Responsibilities Provide nursing care for behavioral health patients within the scope of practice. Collaborate with interprofessional team members to deliver patient‑centered care and treatments. Provide substantial input regarding patient care needs. Complete comprehensive, person‑centered nursing assessments to develop individualized care plans for individuals managing acute psychiatric and substance use needs, focusing on stabilization and recovery goals. Provide direct patient care that includes education, counseling, medication administration and documentation of the treatment plan and ongoing interventions of care. Leadership Duties Leads 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 assists 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 (QIDP); performs related duties as required. Direct Care Duties Independently develops, implements and evaluates nursing and/or health care plans. Provides nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program. Conducts nursing assessments. Provides admission and discharge nursing assessments including plans for continuing care. Maintains records and makes reports. Provides nursing services to comply with intermediate care facility (ICF) regulations and JCAHO standards. Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered. Independently manages and provides direct care to patients/individuals. Participates in individual, group or family therapy. Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team in assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of patient/individual treatment or health care plans. Manages an assigned caseload of other appropriate clinical activities. Provides clinical direction and/or training to staff in individual, group and family service delivery programs. May participate in home visits and crisis intervention; may provide in‑service training to nursing and paraprofessional staff regarding signs and symptoms of illness, injury prevention. May conduct patient/individual‑centered conferences with nursing personnel; consult and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs. May make recommendations on policies or standards; prepare reports or correspondence; serve as QIDP; performs related duties as required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Extensive knowledge of nursing principles, techniques, and standards; specialized individual care applicable to assignment; medications, actions, interactions, uses, side effects. Knowledge of general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions using assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation, and re‑evaluation. Adult learning and family systems theory; sensitivity to cultural and socio‑economic differences. Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication. 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: 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 Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse. Education: A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the general experience. Special Requirements Must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut or hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license. Fluency in a foreign language or proficiency in American Sign Language may be required for certain positions. Travel may be required. Character Requirements Background investigation may be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment. Working Conditions May be required to lift and restrain individuals; exposure to communicable/infectious diseases; risk of injury from assaultive individuals; exposure to disagreeable conditions. Medical Examination Requirement A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment. Equal Opportunity Employer The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Connecticut - DMHAS Connecticut Valley Hospital