Introduction

Are you a Psychiatric APRN looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact? Join our team at Connecticut Valley Hospital, and contribute to innovative mental health care. Apply today to be part of our compassionate and driven team!

Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut , Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is seeking to hire a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse . This is an incredible opportunity to dive into a world of impactful mental health care, where your skills and compassion make a difference. Explore the details below, and seize the opportunity to be a part of something meaningful!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
• DIVISION: General Psychiatry Division
• UNIT: Battell 2 North
• ADDRESS: 1000 Silver Street in Middletown, CT 06457
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours weekly), Monday - Friday, first shift (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM)
• POSITION NUMBER: 126369
• WORK ENVIRONMENT: Office/on-site

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.

DISCOVER THE OPPPORTUNITY TO

• Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals;
• 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 - 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.

CVH - CVH opened in 1868 as the State’s public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness.

All of the services provided by CVH are designed with the concept of "Recovery to Wellness" as their operational framework. Recovery is a process of restoring or developing a positive and meaningful sense of identity apart from one’s condition and then rebuilding one’s life in the fullest sense. Recovery is an individualized patient-centered approach. Achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health and wellness is integrated in our recovery approach. Individuals acquire and practice life skills that will assist them in their recovery process.

Vision Statement

To promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe, healthy, and caring environment.

Mission Statement

Connecticut Valley Hospital provides trauma informed gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life and return to the community.

The Unit

Battell 2 North is an acute general psychiatric treatment unit with a maximum census of twenty-two patients. The unit provides psychiatric treatment and stabilization for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness, with the goal of discharge to the community in the most integrated setting possible.

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 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 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 and/or individuals using increasingly complex methods of interaction such as group and family therapy;
• Evaluates effectiveness of clinical care provided to clients and/or individuals;
• 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 and/or individual 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 and/or individual 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/or individuals 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;
• advanced nursing principles and treatments;
• dynamics of behavior at individual, family and group levels;
• Knowledge of
• pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice;
• research methodology;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• clinical assessment and evaluation skills;
• Ability to
• examine, diagnose, assess and treat patients;
• interpret diagnostic tests;
• prescribe appropriate medications and other treatments;
• provide clinical instruction;
• 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse issued by the Department of Public Health.
• 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).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

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.