Job Description

Full job description

Are you looking to grow your career with the State of Connecticut? If so, take a look at this great opportunity below!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC), is seeking a qualified individual for a meaningful role as a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse for the Health Services Unit located at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, in Suffield, CT.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A Hazardous Duty pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV).
• 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

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• This position is full-time, following a first shift schedule, 40 hours per week, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM scheduled Monday - Friday.
• The incumbent in this position will have the opportunity to work within a clinically rich setting, with opportunities to provide intake assessments, individual psychotherapy, crisis management, suicide risk assessment, case management services and other clinical activities.
• Additional opportunities to engage in collaborative discharge planning with external support services and research driven programming, are also encouraged and available.

ABOUT THE FACILITY

The National Institute of Corrections recognizes MacDougall-Walker (MacDougall building) internal classification system as a national model.

The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution is a level 4/5, high/maximum security level multi-mission facility for adult males. Based on its offender population, it is the largest correctional facility in New England. It came into being on May 15, 2001 as the result of the consolidation of the Walker Reception and Special Management Unit and the MacDougall Correctional Institution and sits on a combined 140 acres. The facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association. During its last accreditation audit in June 2008, the institution scored a 100% on the mandatory requirements and the non-mandatory factors.

• The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution provides a highly structured environment to manage long-term sentenced offenders, protective custody offenders and high bond unsentenced offenders with programs designed to address the needs of each population.
• The facility focuses on education (ABE, Pre-GED, GED, Special Education, TSOL), and at the MacDougall Building (Vocational Maintenance, Electro Mechanical, Micro Computers, Electronic Repair, Dental, and Commercial Cleaning).
• Programming is also a vital component of our mission and includes Parenting Skills, Sex Offender Treatment, Family Issues, Beyond Fear, Addiction Services, Aftercare and Fellowship AA/NA meetings.
• The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution (MacDougall building) commissary-processing center serves as a regional hub for the northern district of the state, handling more than 24,000 orders per month.
• The Industries program employs up to 70 inmates, some of whom graduated from various Vocational Education programs.
• A Regional Commissary employs up to 60 inmates.
• Others are employed in various capacities in the Food Service Operation, commercial cleaning and other janitorial functions essential to the hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness of the facility.

ABOUT US

The DOC shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

For an inside look at the work that can be done in a correctional setting, watch the video below!

Selection Plan

Before you apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• For assistance in applying please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important information for after you apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

Questions about this position should be directed to Alejandro G. Davila-Hurtado at Alejandro.Davila-Hurtado@CT.Gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Children and Families, Correction and Mental Health and Addiction Services, in a community or inpatient setting, this class is accountable for providing consultation, program development and interdisciplinary cooperation with health care disciplines as well as providing ongoing psychotherapy.

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

Both the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (APRN) and the Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse classes are responsible for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance use disorders, etc. The distinction between this class and the APRN is the level of autonomy in decision making and providing a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The focus of this class is on the therapeutic milieu (assuring supports allow for the positive outcomes for patients) and ongoing application of psychotherapy services (individual, group and family).

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Assesses, plans and evaluates nursing process using a high level of expertise and clinical independence; provides health care to clients using increasingly complex methods of interaction such as group and family therapy; evaluates effectiveness of clinical care provided to clients; prescribes medication; consults with and/or leads members of interdisciplinary teams and community representatives to assess, plan, implement and evaluate health services; provides leadership in delivery of quality care; assists in establishment of criteria for monitoring of standards of direct client care; serves as professional role model for staff by demonstrating clinical expertise; provides clinical supervision of staff members for purpose of advancing knowledge in individual client relationships, direct care problems, group processes and family therapy; conveys new and existing knowledge in fields of health to nursing personnel, interdisciplinary team members and community groups; protects human and civil rights of clients and staff; initiates and supports research projects which are carried out in accordance with departmental guidelines; leads or co-leads psychotherapy or family therapy groups; teaches and supervises staff in provision of group therapy; provides clinical consultation regarding crisis intervention and mechanisms to prevent crisis situations; may identify problem areas related to nursing care and assist in collection of data; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of psychiatric nursing, treatment modalities and concepts of programs for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders; considerable knowledge of advanced nursing principles and treatments; considerable knowledge of dynamics of behavior at individual, family and group levels; knowledge of pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice; knowledge of research methodology; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable clinical assessment and evaluation skills; ability to examine, diagnose, assess and treat patients; ability to interpret diagnostic tests; ability to prescribe appropriate medications and other treatments; ability to provide clinical instruction; ability to utilize computer software; administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing AND two (2) years of experience as a professional nurse working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. A Master's or higher degree in nursing outside the psychiatric and mental health field with a minimum of twenty-four (24) graduate or postgraduate level academic hours in psychiatric and mental health theory and supervised clinical training in two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities may be substituted for the Master's degree requirement of the General Experience.

2. A Bachelor’s or higher degree in Nursing and certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH) as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS-BC) or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) may be substituted for a Master’s in psychiatric and/or mental health nursing.

3. Individuals who have obtained a Master’s or higher degree in nursing on or before December 31, 2004 and have two (2) years of experience as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner working with individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders, need not meet the educational requirements defined in the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse issued by the Department of Public Health.

2. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. § 1320a-7b(f).

3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

4. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Job Tags

Full time, Immediate start, Flexible hours, Day shift, Monday to Friday,

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