Head Nurse (40 Hour) (Office/On-Site)

CT; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shift differential

Weekend differential

Recruitment bonus

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) is hiring a Head Nurse for the Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU) on the 5th Floor in Bridgeport, CT. The 40-hour, third shift position runs 12:15am–8:15am, Monday–Friday with every other weekend and rotating holidays off.

State employment includes shift and weekend differentials; a recruitment and retention bonus of $3,000 annually is offered for second and

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
• A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may substitute for one year of general experience.
• Inpatient and psychiatry experience preferred.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel for clinical documentation and data management.
• Experience with Electronic Medical Record systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning of care and implementation of the nursing process.
• Schedule, assign, oversee and review staff performance.
• Provide direct nursing care and ensure nursing standards.
• Ensure proper storage and ordering of controlled drugs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and staff training.

Skills

RN experience

Inpatient psychiatry

Supervisory experience

MS Word & Excel

EMR systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred

Job description

Introduction

Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery from behavioral health or substance use challenges? Have you gained expertise in engaging individuals with compassion and empathy?

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: Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC)
• LOCATION: Bridgeport, CT
• UNIT: Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU), 5th Floor
• POSITION NUMBER: 126078
• SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40hrs, 3rd Shift, Monday to Friday, 12:15am - 8:15am, every other weekend and rotating holiday off.

FOR SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT POSITIONS – YOU MAY BE APPROVED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION BONUS

• Each Registered Nurse who is permanently assigned to the second or third shift shall receive a “recruitment and retention” yearly bonus of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00).
• This bonus shall be pro‑rated for part‑time Registered Nurses.
• To be eligible for this bonus, the Employee must have completed one year of service in the registered nurse classification.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• 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

OUR MISSION

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. The Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services.

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

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of specialized individual care applicable to nursing assignment; medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; and sensitivity to cultural and socio‑economic differences.

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.

Interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; 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

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in an Inpatient and Psychiatry setting
• Experience working with clients who have mental health and medical concerns
• Experience utilizing evidence‑based strategies for health teaching, health promotion and prevention
• Experience supervising staff of a lower grade
• Experience using nursing principles and national standards to complete daily task
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel for clinical documentation, reporting, and data management
• Experience using Electronic Medical Record systems

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
• This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization

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.