Head Nurse (Part-Time) (Office/On-Site)

State of Connecticut; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment bonus $3,000 for second/3r

Job summary

The State of Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services seeks a Head Nurse for Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven. This part-time, 32-hour position on the second shift includes supervision of nursing staff, patient observation, and medication practices to ensure quality care and compliance with standards.

Eligible for a $3,000 annual recruitment/retention bonus for second/third shift, prorated for part-time staff, after one year of service.

Qualifications

• Two years of RN experience required.
• CT RN license or compact-license eligibility required.
• Inpatient psychiatric unit experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead care planning and nursing process on unit.
• Supervise nursing staff and review performance.
• Ensure drugs are stored and administered properly.
• Provide direct patient care and participate in therapy.

Skills

Supervisory ability

Nursing principles

Behavioral health nursing

Oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing

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? If so, we invite you to join our dedicated team!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for a 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: Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC)
• LOCATION: 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT
• UNIT: Inpatient
• POSITION NUMBER: 00026711
• This position is eligible for both shift and weekend differential.
• SCHEDULE: Part-time, 32 hours per week; Second shift.
• Week 1: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday;
• Week 2: Friday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday;
• 3:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. | 30 minute lunch break

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.

In order 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

• 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.

THE ROLE

The position directly supports public health and safety by overseeing nursing care, staff and assignments, patient observation and safety needs, medication practices, changes in patient condition, behavioral health emergencies, and other high acuity situations. The head nurse provides clinical guidance and supervision to staff and helps ensure concerns affecting patients or staff safety are identified and addressed promptly. This position also supports compliance with applicable state and federal requirements, deem as policies, and regulatory standards by monitoring nursing practice, documentation, treatment, behavioral plans, observation levels, infection control practices, medication, procedures and other required standards of care.

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. CMHC is an urban community mental health center with an exceptional 50-year tradition of serving individuals with serious mental illness. We aim to treat people with mental illness in their communities, to provide a place for researchers from many fields to find new treatments, and to teach professionals in the care of mental illness.

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working on an inpatient psychiatric unit with clients with severe mental illness, medical illness and co-occurring disorders.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience supervising nursing staff and paraprofessionals.
• Experience collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and developing an individualized treatment plan.
• Experience running nursing groups routinely on an inpatient unit.
• Experience working with the integration of medical and behavioral health services, inclusive of coordinating medical care appointments as warranted.

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.