Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Connecticut Office of the Correction Ombudsman within the Office of Government Accountability is seeking to fill an anticipated Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse position in Hartford, Connecticut. The role is part of a growing multidisciplinary team that reviews individual complaints, conducts facility visits and investigations, identifies systemic concerns, and develops recommendations to improve conditions of confinement and service delivery in Connecticut’s correctional system. The Office of the Correction Ombudsman is an independent, neutral state agency separate from the Department of Correction.

The position is based at 55 Farmington Avenue in Hartford and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for 40 hours per week. Work hours may fluctuate with operational needs, and occasional work outside standard business hours may be required. Regular in-person work and frequent travel to correctional facilities throughout Connecticut are required. A state-issued fleet vehicle is provided for official business and facility travel. Remote work may be available in accordance with state policy and operational needs. The employee must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

The Psychiatric APRN provides clinical consultation and expertise on psychiatric care and mental health services; assists incarcerated individuals with mental health care concerns; reviews clinical records; conducts confidential interviews; participates in facility visits; and helps assess services and identify systemic barriers or deficiencies. The role also contributes to findings, recommendations, reports, and policy recommendations concerning correctional mental health care.

The job class generally provides consultation, program development, interdisciplinary cooperation, and ongoing psychotherapy in community or inpatient settings. It involves assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of mental illness, with a focus on therapeutic environments and psychotherapy. Incumbents must maintain a current Connecticut Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license, Connecticut Controlled Substance Registration, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration, as well as eligibility for participation in federal health care programs. Relevant registrations and certifications must be maintained.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing and two years of experience as a professional nurse working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• A current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health must be possessed and maintained.
• Connecticut Controlled Substance Registration for Practitioners issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection must be possessed and maintained.
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration must be possessed and maintained.
• Must possess and maintain relevant registrations and/or certifications.
• Must maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(f).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license for this position.
• Considerable knowledge of psychiatric nursing principles and practices, treatment modalities, programs for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders, advanced nursing principles and treatments, behavioral dynamics, pharmacology, and research methodology.
• Interpersonal, oral and written communication, clinical assessment, and evaluation skills.
• Ability to examine, diagnose, assess, and treat patients; interpret diagnostic tests; prescribe appropriate medications and other treatments; provide clinical instruction; use computer software; and perform administrative work.
• A Master’s or higher degree in nursing outside the psychiatric and mental health field, with at least 24 graduate or postgraduate academic hours in psychiatric and mental health theory and supervised clinical training in two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities, may substitute for the specified master’s degree.
• A bachelor’s or higher degree in nursing plus ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS-BC) or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) may substitute for a master’s degree in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing.
• A person with a master’s or higher degree in nursing earned on or before December 31, 2004, and two years of experience as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders, need not meet the general education requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing or evaluating mental health care in a correctional, forensic, institutional, or justice-involved setting.
• Experience with psychiatric assessment, treatment planning, psychiatric medication management, or continuity of mental health care.
• Experience reviewing clinical records to assess the delivery, timeliness, or continuity of mental health services.
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Experience with patient advocacy, patient rights, health care quality review, clinical oversight, or investigation of health care concerns.

Responsibilities

• Assist incarcerated individuals with concerns about access to mental health services, psychiatric medication management, continuity of care, treatment planning, and patient rights.
• Review mental health records, treatment plans, medication records, and other clinical documentation for complaints, investigations, and systemic reviews.
• Conduct confidential interviews with incarcerated individuals regarding mental health care concerns.
• Participate in announced and unannounced visits to correctional facilities throughout Connecticut.
• Provide clinical consultation and subject-matter expertise to the Correction Ombudsman and Office staff regarding psychiatric care and mental health services.
• Evaluate the delivery, timeliness, and continuity of mental health services and identify systemic barriers or deficiencies.
• Communicate with Department of Correction health care staff, facility leadership, community providers, advocates, and other stakeholders about mental health concerns within the Office’s jurisdiction.
• Assist in developing findings, recommendations, reports, and policy recommendations concerning correctional mental health care.
• Assess, plan, and evaluate the nursing process using a high level of expertise and clinical independence.
• Provide health care using complex methods of interaction, including group and family therapy, and evaluate the effectiveness of clinical care.
• Prescribe medication and other appropriate treatments.
• Consult with or lead interdisciplinary teams and community representatives to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate health services.
• Provide leadership in delivering quality care and assist in establishing criteria for monitoring standards of direct care.
• Serve as a professional role model and provide clinical supervision, instruction, and knowledge-sharing for staff and interdisciplinary team members.
• Protect the human and civil rights of clients, individuals, and staff.
• Initiate and support research projects in accordance with departmental guidelines.
• Lead or co-lead psychotherapy or family therapy groups and teach and supervise staff in providing group therapy.
• Provide clinical consultation regarding crisis intervention and mechanisms for preventing crisis situations.
• Perform related duties as required.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance.
• A state-issued fleet vehicle for official business and facility travel.
• Remote work may be available consistent with state policy and operational needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level