Nurse (Multiple Positions)(Office/On-Site)

Introduction

Join our compassionate Nursing team at Connecticut Valley Hospital!

THE ROLE:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is excited to announce multiple opportunities for passionate and dedicated Nurse at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH). 

We are looking for individuals who are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients and patients. Whether you're an experienced nurse or just starting out, this is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a supportive team dedicated to improving mental health care. Join us in making a real difference!

WHY JOIN US?

• Work in the General Psychiatry Division (GPD)
• Flexible schedules withfull-time and/or part-time positions available 
• Choose from first, second, and/or third shifts
• Located in beautiful Middletown
• Address: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT
• Note: These positions can be assigned any unit/location and work schedule/shift throughout GPD

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.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!

•  The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance!

PLEASE NOTE:

• Health insurance coverage will be limited to those individuals who are regularly scheduled to work at least seventeen and one-half (17-1/2) hours per week.
• Benefits may vary for specific part-time positions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you would like to schedule a time to speak with a Clinical Leader to learn about a nursing position at DMHAS, please contact Marilyn.Duran@ct.gov.

IN THIS ROLE AS AN REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE YOU WILL:

• Provide nursing care for behavioral health patients within the nursing scope of practice.
• Collaborate with interprofessional team members to provide patient excellence in care and treatments
• Provide substantial input regarding patient care needs;
• Complete comprehensive nursing assessment for patients with acute psychiatric and addictive problems; and
• Provide direct patient care that includes education, counseling, medication administration and documentation of the treatment plan and ongoing interventions of care.

NOTE:

• Permanent DMHAS employees in the classification of Nurse should not apply; transfers within DMHAS will be handled through the agency lateral transfer process.
• Candidates hired from this posting may be initially provided with a temporary assignment; the permanent assignment will be determined within the first six months of employment.

OUR MISSION:

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.

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL:

CVH opened in 1868 as the State’s public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness. Throughout its history, it has experienced the multitude of medical, social and political changes affecting such facilities. In 1995, the Governor and General Assembly through a statewide restructuring of services for persons with psychological and addiction disabilities called for a renewed commitment to specialized treatment at CVH by expanding community options for patients and staff while closing two other hospitals and consolidating inpatient services here. The hospital became the amalgamation of four formerly freestanding psychiatric hospitals, four freestanding substance use disorder treatment facilities, and one maximum security hospital. Then in 2010, the former Cedarcrest Regional Hospital (with 2 campuses – Cedar Ridge campus in Newington and Blue Hills campus in Hartford) consolidated services with CVH. On May 1, 2018, the Whiting Forensic Division of CVH separated, creating two separate hospitals; Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) and Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH). Today, CVH is comprised of 17 inpatient units over two campuses (Middletown and Hartford).

We welcome you to be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals and assist our clients/patients so they can achieve success. You will experience the opportunity to make a difference in the public sector as well as Make an ImpaCT as a Registered Professional Nurse for the State of Connecticut! We encourage you to apply today!

Please note:

• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.    

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

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please reador watchour 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:

• Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;
• Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;
• 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 providing a full range of professional nursing care.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Independently implements the nursing process with individuals 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 individuals; 
• Documents nursing interventions on medical records; 
• Distributes and maintains records of controlled drugs and ensures their security; 
• Maintains records and makes reports; 
• Makes decisions in routine cases; 
• Instructs individuals, staff and family members regarding treatments, nursing plans and related individual 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 participate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of individuals treatment or health/mental health care plans; 
• May formulate and implement nursing care plans; 
• May participate in outpatient clinics and assist in physical examinations; 
• May administer routine tests; 
• May conduct training; 
• May delegate nursing tasks consistent with established protocols; 
• May participate in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation interventions; 
• May physically restrain individuals; 
• May provide related medical or mental health specialty services; 
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

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.

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.

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.