Registered Nurse (RN) license in Connecticut or eligible under Nurse Licensure Compact
5-7 years of nursing experience, preferably in mental health
Strong leadership and supervisory skills
Ability to develop and implement nursing care plans
Knowledge of mental health conditions and treatment interventions
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Experience with interdisciplinary team collaboration
Responsibilities
Lead planning and implementation of nursing care processes
Schedule and oversee unit workflow and staff assignments
Conduct performance evaluations and recommend personnel actions
Provide clinical direction and training to nursing staff
Manage direct patient care and nursing assessments
Participate in interdisciplinary meetings for patient care continuity
Respond to emergencies and ensure compliance with healthcare standards
Benefits
Professional growth and development opportunities
Healthy work/life balance
Eligibility for shift and weekend differentials
Access to state employee benefits overview
Collaborative team environment
Full Job Description
THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) is currently accepting applications for the position of Head Nurse.
NEW! We're excited that Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit the Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.
HIGHLIGHTS
FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
LOCATION: Bridgeport, CT
UNIT: Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU ll) 7th Floor
POSITION NUMBER: 00126080
SCHEDULE: Monday to Friday, 8am - 4:30pm, every other weekend and rotating holiday
This position is eligible for weekend and shift differential
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
Professional growth and development opportunities
A healthy work/life balance to all employees
This position is eligible for shift and weekend differentials
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
Engage in a rewarding career;
Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
Assist our clients so they can achieve success;
Make a difference in the public sector;
Work together in a collaborative team environment.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals and other staff involving direct nursing care of individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities or Connecticut Technical Education and Career System this class is accountable for providing primary nursing care for students and facility staff.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
WORKING LEAD:
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 assist 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);
Performs related duties as required.
DIRECT CARE:
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;
Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
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;
May make recommendations on policies or standards;
May prepare reports or correspondence;
May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP);
Performs related duties as required.
SCHOOL NURSE:
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;
Ensures that controlled drugs are properly stored;
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;
Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of
and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards;
specialized individual care applicable to nursing assignment;
medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects;
Knowledge of
general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and re-evaluation;
adult learning and family systems theory;
and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences;
Considerable
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills;
Ability to
establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other professional
