Nurse (Office/On-site)

State of Connecticut - Department of Children & Families; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families – John Dempsey Hospital in Middletown, CT is seeking registered nurses for multiple units and shifts. The role focuses on caring for children and families with psychiatric and medical needs in a hospital setting.

Applicants must hold an accredited nursing degree and an active CT RN license or compact license. A recruitment/retention bonus applies for second or third shifts after one year of service.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
• Preferred: hospital, regional, institutional, or psychiatric setting experience.
• Preferred: experience working with children in hospital or psychiatric settings.

Responsibilities

• Independently implements the nursing process with individuals including carrying out physician's orders regarding diet, medication and treatment.
• Performs assessments and changes dressings.
• Monitors and ensures quality care through observation and evaluation.
• Reports on physiological and mental health status of individuals.
• Documents nursing interventions on medical records.
• Maintains records and makes reports.
• May participate in outpatient clinics and assist in physical examinations.
• May administer routine tests; may delegate nursing tasks.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Education

Graduation from an accredited nursing program

Active RN license in CT or compact state

Job description

Introduction

Are you a Registered Nurse looking to make a difference in the lives of children and their families in Connecticut? If so, we invite you to take this opportunity to join our team! The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – John Dempsey Hospital, is recruiting qualified individuals for seven (7) Nurse positions located in Middletown, CT. New! Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.

Position Highlights:

• PCN 99971 - Passaic Unit 3rd Shift, Week one: Monday off, Week two: Friday/Saturday/Wednesday off
• PCN 135215 - Acadia Unit, 2nd shift, Week one: Friday/Monday off, Week two: Saturday/Sunday off
• PCN 154810 - Sachem Unit, 2nd Shift, Week 1 (OFF) Fri/Mon; Week 2 (OFF) Sat, Sun
• PCN 154811 - Acadia Unit 2nd Shift, Week 1 (OFF) Sat/Sun; Week 2 (OFF) Fri/Mon
• PCN 154812 - Manhasset Unit 2nd Shift, Week 1 (OFF) Sat/Sun; Week 2 (OFF) Fri/Wed
• PCN 154814 - Passaic Unit, 2nd Shift , Week 1 (OFF) Sat/Sun; Week 2 (OFF) Fri/Wed
• PCN 154815 - Acadia Unit, 3rd Shift - Week 1 off Fri/Tues/Wed Week 2 off Sat/Sun/Thurs

What we can offer you:

• View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
• Click here for more information.

IN ADDITION TO THE BASE ANNUAL SALARY, 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 prorated for part‑time.
• In order to be eligible for this bonus, the employee must have completed one year of service in the registered nurse classification.

In your role as a Nurse, you will have the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career
• Assist our employees so they can achieve success
• Make a difference in the public sector
• Work together in a collaborative team environment
• For a more comprehensive list of duties please click here.

About Us:

Working together with families and communities to improve child safety, ensure that more children have permanent families, and advance the overall well‑being of children is the central focus of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF protects children who are being abused or neglected, strengthens families through support and advocacy, and builds on existing family and community strengths to help children who are facing emotional and behavioral challenges, including those committed to the Department by the juvenile justice system. John Dempsey Hospital (JDH) - Middletown, CT is widely recognized as a center of excellence for family‑centered treatment of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances. This state‑administered Psychiatric facility and hospital provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents under the age of eighteen, with severe mental illness and related behavioral and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for providing a full range of professional nursing care.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Independently implements the nursing process with individuals including carrying out physician's orders regarding diet, medication and treatment;
• Performs assessments;
• Changes dressings;
• Monitors and ensures quality care through observation and evaluation;
• Reports on physiological and mental health status of individuals;
• Documents nursing interventions on medical records;
• Distributes and maintains records of controlled drugs and ensures their security;
• Maintains records and makes reports;
• Makes decisions in routine cases;
• Instructs individuals, staff and family members regarding treatments, nursing plans and related individual care issues directed towards an awareness and understanding of health/mental health issues;
• Responds to emergencies;
• Maintains availability of medications and supplies;
• Ensures cleanliness of equipment and environment;
• May participate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of individual's treatment or health/mental health care plans;
• May formulate and implement nursing care plans;
• May participate in outpatient clinics and assist in physical examinations;
• May administer routine tests;
• May conduct training;
• May delegate nursing tasks consistent with established protocols;
• May participate in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation interventions;
• May physically restrain individuals;
• May provide related medical or mental health specialty services;
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of and ability to apply professional nursing theory, practice and ethics; current medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; medical, therapeutic and psychiatric nursing interventions and methods; and ability to apply quality standards, procedures and protocols; and sensitivity to cultural and socio‑economic difference; and ability to apply clinical therapeutic models of individual care with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approach;
• Skills: interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to: act as a role model to health care staff by demonstrating and teaching professional behaviors; learn specialized individual care applicable to work assignment; listen and provide empathetic assistance to individuals and families in meeting their needs and carrying out prescribed treatments; develop therapeutic relationships with individuals, and their caregivers; respond to emergencies; respond to and seek supervision; encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride trust and group identity to foster commitment and team work; analyze and evaluate proper care and treatment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a hospital, regional, institutional, or psychiatric setting.
• Experience working with children in a hospital, regional, institutional, or psychiatric setting.

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.

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.