Head Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DMHAS Connecticut Valley Hospital; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, CT, is seeking a Head Nurse for the Battell 2 North unit in General Psychiatry. This full-time, 40-hour per week role operates on the first shift, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with every other weekend and rotating holidays. A comprehensive benefit package accompanies state employment.

License and strong clinical leadership are required. The position emphasizes supervision of professional and paraprofessional staff, delivery of quality patient care, and

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing may substitute for one year of experience.
• Current Connecticut RN license or Compact license required.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning of care and nursing process implementation.
• Schedule, assign, oversee and review unit work.
• Provide direct nursing care and conduct nursing assessments.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to coordinate patient care.
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP).

Skills

Nursing leadership

Clinical assessment

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

RN license

Bachelor's degree in nursing (substitution)

Job description

Introduction

Lead with Compassion - Become a Head Nurse!�

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• FACILITY: Connecticut Valley Hospital
• LOCATION: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT
• DIVISION/UNIT: General Psychiatry Division (GPD) - Battell 2 North (B2N)
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), First Shift, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM, includes every other weekend and rotating holidays (Note: this position may be eligible for a weekend differential)
• POSITION NUMBER: 27338

WHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT:

• Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
• Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development
• Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees
• New! We’re excited that Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

• Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve
• Help maintain high standards of safety, clinical quality, and patient experience
• Make a meaningful impact within the public sector
• Thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment

ABOUT US:

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

ABOUT THE FACILITY:

Established in 1868, CVH serves as the State's premier public hospital for mental health treatment. As the largest facility within DMHAS, it features 17 inpatient units across Middletown and Hartford campuses, encompassing general psychiatry and addiction services. CVH offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, substance abuse treatment, and specialized services for pregnant women and individuals with dual diagnoses. Specialties include geriatric and special services, an integrated mental health network for older adults, and young adult services. Additionally, CVH houses the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program, addressing survivors' needs through community reintegration, independent living skills development, vocational and educational training, psychiatric assessments, speech and physical rehabilitation, and individual and family counseling.

ABOUT THE UNIT:

Battell 2 North is an acute general psychiatric treatment unit with a maximum census of twenty-two patients. The unit provides psychiatric treatment and stabilization for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness, with the goal of discharge to the community in the most integrated setting possible.

PLEASE NOTE:

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

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 professionals, community resources and providers; act as a role model to health care staff; Supervisory ability. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NURSING POSITIONS: Considerable knowledge of behavioral health of individuals; Skill working with individuals, groups and families; Ability to provide therapeutic treatment with a variety of individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.

Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain individuals; may have exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive individuals; may be exposed to disagreeable conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.