Registered Professional Nurse (Per Diem) (Office/On-Site)

CT; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) seeks a Registered Professional Nurse on a per diem basis to join the SWCMHS team in Bridgeport, CT. You will provide direct nursing care across units, including CTU and PICU, with various shifts and weekend opportunities.

Valid Connecticut RN license required; experience in psychiatric/behavioral health settings is beneficial. This is a per diem role with potential assignment across SWCMHS locations, ensuring flexible coverage and

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a nurse on a per diem/hourly basis.
• Makes rounds and gives direct care.
• Takes and records vital signs.
• Carries out physicians orders regarding diet, medication, and treatment.
• Changes dressings.
• Checks and distributes narcotics.
• Maintains availability of drugs and supplies.
• Observes adequacy of housekeeping and maintenance services.
• Performs first aid and alerts physicians to emergencies.
• Records observations of status and actions taken.
• Confers with nurses and physicians on other shifts.

Skills

Nursing knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

Introduction

Are looking for an exciting opportunity to make an impact and advance your career? Join us and be part of a revolutionary team shaping the future!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for Registered Professional Nurse (Per Diem) to join their team!

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• LOCATION: 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
• SCHEDULE: Per Diem
• SHIFTS AVAILABLE: First (8:00am - 4:30pm), Second (4:00pm - 12:30am), Third (12:15am - 8:15am), and Weekends
• POSITION NUMBER: 126677
• NOTE: This position can be assigned any unit/location and work schedule/shift within SWCMHS.

New! We’re excited that Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• 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.

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.

The SWCMHS 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.

CTU: Co-Occurring Treatment Unit (CTU) 20 beds: The Co-Occurring Treatment Unit is a 20 bed, locked inpatient psychiatric unit that provides treatment to individuals with co-occurring illness. The criteria for admission are major mental illness and substance use within six months of admission. The mission of CTU is to provide assessment and psychiatric stabilization as well as education around the clients co-occurring illness. The program model focuses on the inpatient Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) evidence-based practice, focusing concurrently on both psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses. The treatment goals are similar to the PICU’s.

PICU: Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) 42 beds: The PICU 1 and PICU 2 each provide 21 beds for residents of Connecticut. Admissions to the psychiatric units are coordinated through a statewide Utilization Management process coordinated by the Office of the Commissioner. Both locked units are 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 1 provides assessment and stabilization, with the emphasis on community reentry. PICU 2, the extended care unit, focuses on rehabilitation with an emphasis on intense skills building needed for community reintegration.

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 hospital or facility works on a daily or hourly basis as a regular registered nurse, providing direct professional nursing care to a variety of individuals.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Acts as a nurse working on a per diem/hourly basis;
• Makes rounds and gives direct care;
• Takes and records vital signs;
• Carries out physicians orders regarding diet, medication, and treatment;
• Changes dressings;
• Checks and distributes narcotics;
• Maintains availability of drugs and supplies;
• Observes adequacy of housekeeping and maintenance services;
• Performs first aid and alerts physicians to emergency conditions;
• Records observations of physical and physiological status and actions taken;
• Confers with nurses and physicians on other shifts regarding condition of individuals;
• Protects human and civil rights of individuals and staff;
• Educates individuals and their families towards an awareness and understanding of health and illness;
• Assesses individuals medical-psychosocial needs;
• May participate in outpatient clinics and assist in physical examinations and histories;
• May administer EKG and eye examinations;
• May participate in bathing and feeding of individuals and residents;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of principles and practices of nursing;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited nursing program.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current 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 American Sign Language in certain designated positions.

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 to 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.