Head Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut•New Haven, CT

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is accepting applications for three Head Nurse positions at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) in New Haven, CT, specifically within the Clinical Neuro Research Unit (CNRU). This role involves providing administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals, and other staff involved in direct nursing care or specialized therapeutic nursing. The position requires a commitment to supporting individuals in their recovery from behavioral health or substance use challenges with compassion and empathy. The role also emphasizes professional growth, development, and a healthy work/life balance. DMHAS aims to improve the lives of those they serve through integrated services, while CMHC has a tradition of serving individuals with serious mental illness in their communities and advancing research and professional education in mental illness care. A medical examination, including a drug screening, is required upon conditional offer of employment.

Requirements

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience in IV therapy and phlebotomy.
Experience performing electrocardiograms (EKGs).
Experience explaining and informing of consent processes and patient rights within a clinical research setting.
Experience with clinical research principles, data collection, and analysis consistent with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.
Experience guiding and supporting professional and paraprofessional staff in clinical settings, including coordinating daily responsibilities and promoting effective clinical practice.
Experience working as a Registered Nurse in an inpatient or comparable direct-care clinical setting.
Experience providing clinical leadership and oversight in a 24-hour inpatient research environment.
A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

Responsibilities

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 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).
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 for nursing services to comply with intermediate care facility (ICF) regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards.
Maintains records of stored and secured medications.
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 the 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 with regard to signs and symptoms of illness, dysfunction, injury and prevention of same.
May conduct patient/individual-centered conferences with nursing personnel.
May consult with and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs.
Independently provides counseling and health education services to students and staff.
Serves as member of crisis intervention team.
Provides assessment of medical problems.
Determines need for physician or medical care.
Performs basic evaluative procedures and tests.
Performs primary first aid.
Makes referrals and follows up on health needs.
Provides counseling on health-related issues.
Maintains accurate medical records.
Writes reports.
May administer medication.
May administer routine tests or exams.