Licensed Practical Nurse (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DMHAS SW Mental Health; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 58,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State employee benefits overview

Professional growth opportunities

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), part of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), seeks Licensed Practical Nurses for the PICU 2 unit in Bridgeport. Responsibilities include direct nursing care, medication administration, and care coordination in a psychiatric inpatient setting.

Positions are full-time with second shift (4:00pm–12:30am), rotating weekends/holidays. A retention bonus is available after one year of service.

Qualifications

• License or temporary permit to practice nursing in CT.
• Preferred experience in practical nursing and bedside care.
• Experience with Word and Excel for administrative tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provide general care and treatment of individuals per doctor's orders.
• Administer medications per order and document them.
• Perform narcotic counts and report changes to physicians.
• Transcribe doctors' medication orders and assist with patient needs.
• Orient and train new staff on unit policies and care standards.
• May drive individuals to appointments/outings.

Skills

Nursing knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Record keeping

Leadership

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

EMR system

Job description

Introduction

Are you an LPN looking to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our hospital’s team!

The Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking Licensed Practical Nurses to join our team in Bridgeport. These positions will provide direct nursing care and support within our Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) 2 Unit. Find out more information on this great opportunity below!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Location: 1635 Central Ave, Bridgeport, CT
• PCNs: 126676 and 127911 (Anticipated)
• Shift: Full-time, Second Shift, 40 hours/week
• Schedule: Monday to Friday, 4:00pm to 12:30am, Every other weekend and rotating holidays
• Unit: PICU 2, 7th Floor

The PICU 2 provide 21 beds for residents of Connecticut. It is a locked unit responsible for providing treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care. The treatment goals are developed in which the individual can be: stabilized, evaluated, rehabilitated, helped to accept the need for ongoing treatment, and assisted in regaining a level of functioning that will allow the person to be treated in a less restrictive environment or to return to community-based living. PICU treatment staff work closely with community providers to ensure that a smooth transition to the community exists. PICU 2, the extended care unit, focuses on rehabilitation with an emphasis on intense skills building needed for community reintegration.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION

Each Licensed Practical Nurse who is permanently assigned to second and third shift may receive a yearly “retention” bonus of six hundred ($600). This bonus shall be paid in two (2) installments: In July and December. In order to be eligible for this bonus, the Employee must have completed one year of service in the classification.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Provide general care and treatment of individuals per doctor's orders
• Administer medications per order
• Document medications using appropriate forms
• Complete narcotic counts with nurse verification
• Report changes in individuals’ conditions to Nurse or Doctors
• Transcribe doctors' medication orders
• Check vitals per unit policy for provider review, assist with general individual needs including personal hygiene
• Document medications administered in Kardex;
• Orient and train new staff on unit policies and standards of care when administering medications
• Scheduling medical appointments
• May drive individuals to necessary appointments/outings

MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (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 vision of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System is to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent.

Start with us! Stay with us! Grow with us!

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.

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

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assists doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals;
• Measures doses and administers medications including insulin injections;
• Documents medications using appropriate forms;
• Performs narcotic counts;
• Reports changes in individuals to doctors;
• Ensures that restraints are applied correctly;
• Transcribes doctors medication orders;
• Dispenses certain medications in doctor’s absence;
• Applies topical medication;
• Takes and charts temperatures, pulses and respirations;
• Performs simple nursing treatments;
• Monitors general individual needs including personal hygiene;
• Reports on individual conditions and behavior;
• Keeps the unit safe and healthy;
• Administers enemas or suppositories;
• Orients individuals concerning medications and their use;
• May perform emergency first aid;
• May drive individual to necessary appointments/outings;
• Performs related duties as required, find additional information here.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: Performs the full range of duties as described in the class specification for the Lead Developmental Services Worker.

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES: Performs the full range of duties as described in class specifications for the Mental Health Assistant 1 or Mental Health Assistant 2.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of

practical nursing specialties and bedside care;

various medications used in conjunction for the care of individuals who have physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability;

infection control practices;

nutrition and diets;

medical and lab sciences;

Considerable

interpersonal skills;

oral communication and written skills;

Ability to

keep records;

lead staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing OR hold a Multistate or Compact Licensed Practical Nurse license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in practical nursing and bedside care.
• Experience with infection control practices.
• Experience working with medications commonly used in the care of individuals with physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities.
• Experience applying Word and Excel skills to complete administrative and reporting tasks.
• Experience using an Electronic Medical Record.
• Experience transporting clients.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's license, Public Passenger Endorsement or Commercial Driver's license for designated positions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift/restrain individuals; may have some exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to some 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.