Head Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut

$80K — $95K *
Hospitals & Medical Centers
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Connecticut or ability to obtain before starting
  • 5-7 years of clinical nursing experience, preferably in mental health or addiction services
  • Strong leadership skills in overseeing clinical staff and nursing care
  • Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate nursing care plans
  • Familiarity with state and federal health regulations, including ICF and JCAHO standards
  • Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and crisis intervention
  • Certifications relevant to psychiatric nursing are a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Lead planning and implementation of patient care plans
  • Supervise and evaluate nursing staff performance
  • Manage unit workflow and prioritize care tasks
  • Conduct nursing assessments and develop care plans
  • Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations
  • Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and care coordination
  • Provide training and mentorship to nursing staff.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional growth and development
  • A healthy work/life balance for employees
  • Comprehensive state employee benefits, including health and retirement options.
Full Job Description
THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for three Head Nurses.

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: Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC)
  • LOCATION: 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT
  • UNIT: Clinical Neuro Research Unit (CNRU)
  • POSITION NUMBERS: 81851, 23965, 26554
  • SCHEDULE:


Third Shift PCN 81851: Night HN CNRU

Full-time 40-hours, 11:30 PM - 8 AM

Week 1: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Week 2: Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Days Off:

Week 1: Friday, Wednesday

Week 2: Saturday, Sunday

Second Shift PCN 23965: Evening HN CNRU

Full-time 40 Hours, 3:30pm - 12am

Week 1: Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Week 2: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

Days Off:

Week 1: Saturday, Sunday

Week 2: Friday, Tuesday

Second Shift PCN 26554: Evening HN CNRU

Full-time, 40 hours per week; Second shift 3:30pm - 12am.

Week 1: Sat, Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs.

Week 2: Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs.

Days Off :

Week 1: Friday & Tuesday

Week 2: Saturday & Sunday

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


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 plannin

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