Licensed Practical Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Middletown, CT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse for Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) in Middletown, CT. This role requires a strong understanding of medical terminology and foundational nursing knowledge for reviewing and triaging consultation requests and appointment-related information. The position involves significant computer use, particularly in Excel, and requires effective communication for coordinating with various providers and staff. Essential duties include ordering tests, scheduling appointments, preparing referral materials, and assisting with the annual CVH flu vaccination program. DMHAS aims to promote the health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs through integrated services. CVH, established in 1868, is the largest DMHAS facility, offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment, including specialized programs for geriatrics, young adults, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors.

Requirements

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing OR hold a Multistate or Compact Licensed Practical Nurse license
Strong understanding of medical terminology
Foundational nursing knowledge
Strong computer skills, particularly in Excel
Effective communication abilities
Knowledge of medical documentation needed for ordering tests, scheduling appointments, and preparing required referral materials
Ability to keep records
Ability to lead staff

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with psychiatric or substance use disorders
Experience performing licensed practical nurse level clinical tasks in a medical office environment
Experience utilizing Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel, for maintaining nursing logs, tracking patient information, or supporting database-related tasks
Experience gathering relevant clinical information and relaying it to providers to support safe, effective triage decisions

Responsibilities

Scheduling medical appointments, entering appointments into the database, and coordinating transportation
Ordering supplies, maintaining inventory in the clinic treatment room, removing expired items, and ensuring the clinic environment remains clean and compliant
Performing emergency first aid and other related duties as required
Rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required
Assisting doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals
Measuring doses and administering medications including insulin injections
Documenting medications using appropriate forms
Performing narcotic counts
Checking and may administer intravenous medications
Reporting changes in individuals to doctors
Ensuring that restraints are applied correctly
Transcribing doctors medication orders
Dispensing certain medications in doctor’s absence
Applying topical medication
Taking and charting temperatures, pulses and respirations
Performing simple nursing treatments
Monitoring general individual needs including personal hygiene
Reporting on individual conditions and behavior
Keeping the unit safe and healthy
Administering enemas or suppositories
Performing Foley catheterization care
Orienting individuals concerning medications and their use
May perform emergency first aid
May drive individual to necessary appointments/outings
Performing the full range of duties as described in the class specification for the Lead Developmental Services Worker (for DDS)
Performing the full range of duties as described in class specifications for the Mental Health Assistant 1 or Mental Health Assistant 2 (for DMHAS)