Head Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Bridgeport, CT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), is hiring a Head Nurse for its Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU II), 7th Floor, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The role provides administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals, and other staff involved in direct nursing care, alongside direct nursing and behavioral health services. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with every other weekend and rotating holidays. The position is eligible for shift and weekend differentials. SWCMHS provides recovery-oriented mental health and substance use services to adults with behavioral health disorders. Its services include inpatient treatment, outpatient clinical care, and other supportive treatment services. The agency's mission is to promote health and wellness through integrated, holistic services that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency. A comprehensive medical examination, including drug screening, is required after a conditional offer. The position requires a Connecticut RN license or temporary permit, or a multistate/compact RN license. Incumbents may be required to travel or, in certain designated positions, demonstrate foreign-language or American Sign Language proficiency. Working conditions may involve lifting or restraining individuals, exposure to infectious diseases, risk of injury from assaultive or abusive individuals, and other disagreeable conditions.

Requirements

Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse. A bachelor's degree in nursing may substitute for one year of the required general experience.
Must possess and retain a Connecticut Registered Nurse license or temporary permit, or hold a multistate or compact Registered Nurse license.
Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply nursing principles, techniques, and standards, specialized individual care, and medications, including their actions, interactions, uses, and side effects.
Knowledge of general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions, including assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation, and reevaluation.
Knowledge of adult learning and family systems theory and sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic differences.
Considerable interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills; ability to build collaborative relationships, serve as a role model to health care staff, and provide supervision.
For behavioral health nursing positions: considerable knowledge of behavioral health, skill working with individuals, groups, and families, and ability to provide therapeutic treatment to a variety of individuals.

Nice To Haves

Experience in inpatient and psychiatric settings.
Experience working with clients who have mental health and medical concerns.
Experience using evidence-based strategies for health teaching, health promotion, and prevention.
Experience supervising staff of a lower grade.
Experience applying nursing principles and national standards to daily tasks.
Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel for clinical documentation, reporting, and data management.
Experience using Electronic Medical Record systems.

Responsibilities

Lead planning of care and implementation of the nursing process; plan unit workflow and determine priorities.
Schedule, assign, oversee, and review work; make recommendations concerning personnel actions; and conduct or assist with performance evaluations.
Lead nursing staff in providing patient or individual care and maintain and promote nursing standards.
Ensure controlled drugs are properly stored, administered, and ordered; maintain records of stored and secured medications.
Identify staff development needs, provide training and assistance, and instruct staff on policies and procedures.
Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to support continuity of care and respond to emergencies.
Independently develop, implement, and evaluate nursing and health care plans; conduct nursing assessments, including admission and discharge assessments and plans for continuing care.
Provide nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program, maintain records, and prepare reports as needed.
Provide direct patient care, participate in individual, group, or family therapy, and contribute to interdisciplinary treatment planning and evaluation.
Manage an assigned caseload and provide clinical direction or training to staff involved in service delivery.
As applicable, participate in home visits or crisis intervention, provide in-service training, conduct patient-centered conferences, and consult with physicians about health needs.
Perform related duties as required.