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) is seeking dedicated and compassionate individuals to join their direct-care team to improve the well-being for clients/patients. This role involves using therapeutic skills to implement client care, providing input on patient needs and treatment modifications, completing comprehensive nursing assessments for patients with acute psychiatric and addictive problems, and providing direct patient care including education, counseling, medication administration, and documentation. Candidates hired may be initially provided with a temporary assignment, with a permanent assignment determined within the first six months. Some positions may be eligible for shift and/or weekend differentials.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
• Possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
• Ability to apply professional nursing theory, practice and ethics
• Knowledge of current medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects
• Knowledge of medical, therapeutic and psychiatric nursing interventions and methods
• Ability to apply quality standards, procedures and protocols
• Sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic difference
• Ability to apply clinical therapeutic models of individual care with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approach
• Interpersonal skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to act as a role model to health care staff by demonstrating and teaching professional behaviors
• Ability to learn specialized individual care applicable to work assignment
• Ability to listen and provide empathetic assistance to individuals and families in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with individuals, and their caregivers
• Ability to respond to emergencies
• Ability to respond to and seek supervision
• Ability to encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride trust and group identity to foster commitment and team work
• Ability to analyze and evaluate proper care and treatment

Nice To Haves

• May be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.
• May be required to travel.

Responsibilities

• Use therapeutic skills to effectively implement client care according to the Nursing Care Plan
• Provide substantial input regarding patient care needs, response to treatment, and recommend modifications in the overall plan of care
• Complete comprehensive Initial Nursing Assessment for patients with acute psychiatric and addictive problems
• Provide direct patient care that includes education, counseling, medication administration and documentation of the treatment and progress made by the patient
• Independently implements the nursing process with individuals including carrying out physician's 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 individual's 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

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• Yearly bonus of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) for permanent second or third shift assignments (pro-rated for part-time), after one year of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree