What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forensic Treatment Practical Nurse (Multiple Opportunities) (Full and Part-time | Office/On-site) position at State of Connecticut - Department of Mental Health...?
Are you looking for a new challenge in your career?
If so, we have multiple opportunities for LPNs to join our hospital’s team!
Whiting Forensic Hospital, under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking Licensed Practical Nurses to join our teams as Forensic Treatment Practical Nurses. These openings will help support nursing services and maintain an effective therapeutic environment across our hospital. Find out more information on this great opportunity below!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- Location: 70 O'Brien Drive, Middletown, CT
- All Positions are part of the Hazardous Duty Pension Plan.
- Second and Third Shift Schedules. Schedule information can be found below.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
- Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers.
- Professional growth and development opportunities.
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
- Benefits may vary for part-time positions.
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION:
Each Licensed Practical Nurse who is permanently assigned to second and third shift shall 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.
Second Shift Schedules - 2:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.:
Whiting Unit 1 (PCN 112395) | Part-Time, 24 Hours/Week
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Whiting Units: 2 (PCN 136177), 4 (PCN 135861), and 6 (PCN 135862) | Part-Time, 32 Hours/Week
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Whiting Unit 3 (PCN 135863) | Part-Time, 32 Hours/Week
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Third Shift Schedules - 10:45 p.m. to 7:15 a.m.:
Whiting Unit 1 (PCN 24766) | Full-Time, 35 Hours/Week
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Whiting Unit 2 (PCN 112398) | Full-Time, 35 Hours/Week
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Whiting Unit 3 (PCN 130243) | Full-Time, 35 Hours/Week
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Whiting Unit 6 (PCN 135859) | Part-Time, 32 Hours/Week
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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.
Whiting Forensic Hospital specializes in providing inpatient services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The hospital consists of 91 maximum security beds and 138 enhanced security beds. Services are provided to individuals who are admitted under the following categories: Psychiatric Security Review Board commitment, Criminal court order for restoration of competency to stand trial, Civil commitment (voluntary or involuntary) and Transfer from the Department of Correction (during period of incarceration or at end of sentence). Discharge options are dependent on legal status and the purpose of admission.
Our mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive, and individualized treatment and evaluation services for patients with mental health conditions who are involved in the criminal justice system or are not yet ready to be safely treated in less restrictive settings. This is accomplished with full respect for the civil and human rights of each patient. Our goal is to assist individuals to manage their illnesses and achieve personal recovery goals through developing the skills necessary to live safely in the community.
Start with us! Stay with us! Grow with us!
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.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
To Apply:
- The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
- In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
- You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
- In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
- 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.
- This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
- Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, 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.
- 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 question'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.
- 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, transcripts, diplomas, 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.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
- Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
- For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
Connect With Us:
- Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
- Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Whiting Forensic Hospital under established security conditions, this class is accountable for nursing care and developing and maintaining an effective therapeutic environment for patients.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Develops and maintains therapeutic relationships with patients;
- Effectively implements security regulations;
- Actively participates in team patient care conferences;
- Performs patient care duties such as feeding, bathing, dressing patients;
- Observes, reports and records patient behaviors and appearance;
- 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;
- Checks and may administer intravenous medications;
- Reports changes in individuals to doctors;
- Ensures that restraints are applied correctly;
- Transcribes doctors medication orders;
- Prevents unauthorized movement of patients, visitors and personnel;
- Performs housekeeping tasks, escorts patients and secures supplies and materials;
- Assists in transfer of patients between secure units across facility;
- Monitors and participates in patient management on units;
- Takes vital signs including charting 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;
- Performs Foley catheterization care;
- Orients individuals concerning medications and their use;
- May perform emergency first aid;
- May drive individuals to necessary appointments/outings;
- May informally counsel patients as need arises;
- May participate in group counseling sessions;
- May participate in patient activities;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- practical nursing specialties and bedside care;
- modern medical, therapeutic and psychiatric routines, methods and procedures;
- psychiatric procedures and principles involved in care and treatment of the mentally ill;
- various medications used for the care of individuals with mental illness or emotionally disturbed;
- safe patient custody in a security treatment area;
- infection control practices;
- human behavior, behavioral manifestations of mental illness and principles involved in care and treatment of the mentally ill;
- nutrition and diets;
- medical and lab sciences;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral communication and written skills;
- Ability to
- keep records;
- perform basic first aid procedures.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing and one (1) year of experience in the care of the mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the checking of references and facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate will be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment. Candidates who do not have good character are not eligible for permanent employment.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain patients, may have significant exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to risk of injury from patients, and may be exposed to significant mental stress and other extremely disagreeable conditions.
