Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (40 Hour)

Introduction

The Connecticut Office of Correction Ombudsman within the Office of Government Accountability (OGA) is seeking to hire for an anticipated Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (40 Hour) position in Hartford, CT.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Location: 55 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, CT.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (First Shift, 40 hours/week).
• Work hours may fluctuate based on operational needs, and the position may occasionally require work outside of standard business hours.
• The position requires regular in-person work at the Office of the Correction Ombudsman, and frequent travel to correctional facilities throughout Connecticut. A state-issued fleet vehicle is provided for official business and facility travel. Remote work may be available consistent with state policy and operational needs.
• Candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

THE ROLE

The Psychiatric APRN will work as part of a growing multidisciplinary team responsible for reviewing individual complaints, conducting facility visits and investigations, identifying systemic concerns, and developing recommendations intended to improve conditions of confinement and the delivery of services within Connecticut's correctional system.

Some key responsibilities of the Psychiatric APRN are:

• Assist incarcerated individuals with concerns involving 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 in connection with 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 the state.
• Provide clinical consultation and subject-matter expertise to the Correction Ombuds 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 regarding mental health concerns within the Office's jurisdiction.
• Assist with the development of findings, recommendations, reports, and policy recommendations concerning correctional mental health care.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Children and Families, Correction and Mental Health and Addiction Services in a community or inpatient setting this class is accountable for providing consultation, program development and interdisciplinary cooperation with health care disciplines as well as providing ongoing psychotherapy.

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

Both the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (APRN) and the Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse classes are responsible for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance use disorders, etc. The distinction between this class and the APRN is the level of autonomy in decision making and providing a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The focus of this class is on the therapeutic milieu (assuring supports allow for positive outcomes for patients) and ongoing application of psychotherapy services (individual, group and family).

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assesses, plans and evaluates nursing process using a high level of expertise and clinical independence;
• Provides health care to clients and/or individuals using increasingly complex methods of interaction such as group and family therapy;
• Evaluates effectiveness of clinical care provided to clients and/or individuals;
• Prescribes medication;
• Consults with and/or leads members of interdisciplinary teams and community representatives to assess, plan, implement and evaluate health services;
• Provides leadership in delivery of quality care;
• Assists in establishment of criteria for monitoring of standards of direct client and/or individual care;
• Serves as professional role model for staff by demonstrating clinical expertise;
• Provides clinical supervision of staff members for purpose of advancing knowledge in individual client and/or individual relationships, direct care problems, group processes and family therapy;
• Conveys new and existing knowledge in fields of health to nursing personnel, interdisciplinary team members and community groups;
• Protects human and civil rights of clients and/or individuals and staff;
• Initiates and supports research projects which are carried out in accordance with departmental guidelines;
• Leads or co-leads psychotherapy or family therapy groups;
• Teaches and supervises staff in provision of group therapy;
• Provides clinical consultation regarding crisis intervention and mechanisms to prevent crisis situations;
• May identify problem areas related to nursing care and assist in collection of data;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • principles and practices of psychiatric nursing, treatment modalities and concepts of programs for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders;
  • advanced nursing principles and treatments;
  • dynamics of behavior at individual, family and group levels;
• Knowledge of
  • pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice;
  • research methodology;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • 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;
  • utilize computer software;
• Administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing AND two (2) years of experience as a professional nurse working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• A Master's or higher degree in nursing outside the psychiatric and mental health field with a minimum of twenty-four (24) graduate or postgraduate level academic hours in psychiatric and mental health theory and supervised clinical training in two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities may be substituted for the Master's degree requirement of the General Experience.
• A Bachelor's or higher degree in nursing and certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH) as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS-BC) or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) may be substituted for a Master's in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing.
• Individuals who have obtained a Master's or higher degree in nursing on or before December 31, 2004 and have two (2) years of experience as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders, need not meet the educational requirements defined in the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 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 inve