Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Family)

Introduction

Are you an experienced APRN seeking a meaningful role where your clinical leadership can make a real difference?
Join us and help support recovery-oriented services across Southwestern Connecticut!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for the position for Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Family). In this role, you will provide comprehensive advanced nursing care, deliver clinical assessments and treatment, and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to support individuals with behavioral health and complex medical needs. This position offers the opportunity to work directly with clients, support recovery, and enhance the quality and coordination of care across service locations.

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• LOCATION: 1635 Central Ave, Bridgeport, CT (This role will also require occasional travel to our facility in Stamford)
• UNIT: Greater Bridgeport Outpatient Program - Behavioral Health Home
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (First Shift)
• POSITION NUMBER:

WHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

• Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
• Enjoy abundant opportunities for professional growth and development
• Experience a healthy work/life balance

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Provide advanced, holistic care that integrates medical and behavioral health treatment
• Use your clinical expertise to support individuals working toward recovery and improved wellness
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate effective, person‑centered care
• Contribute to meaningful improvements in public health outcomes
• Work in an environment that values communication, teamwork, and high‑quality clinical practice

OUR MISSION

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.
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.

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 agency health care delivery system this class is accountable for independently assessing, evaluating an individual's health care status and developing a treatment plan to manage health problems and promote health maintenance and providing consultation services to optimize services provided and effect system changes.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Provides comprehensive advanced nursing treatments and/or health care services to individuals including clinical assessments, treatments, diagnosing medical conditions, assessing emergencies, ordering, analyzing and interpreting results of diagnostic studies, prescribing medication and monitoring responses to medications and adjusting accordingly, making appropriate referrals to specialists;
• Leads cardiac arrest codes and documents medical and/or psychiatric care;
• Performs specialized duties in providing medical and psychiatric care to a variety of individuals including hospitalized and ambulatory individuals with acute and chronic conditions;
• Provides individual psychotherapy;
• Educates individuals regarding diagnosis and treatment;
• Assesses the effectiveness of health and/or psychiatric care services;
• Consults with clinical staff regarding assessment methods and treatment plans;
• Assists regional and/or central office staff in determining need for contractual health services;
• Provides direction to staff on appropriate health record documentation;
• Functions as liaison between agency and community health care providers;
• Prepares reports on health services, problems and investigations;
• Participates in quality assurance and other clinical committees as needed;
• Assists families and other groups in understanding medical and/or psychiatric needs of clients serviced by agency;
• Participates as a member of multi-disciplinary evaluation team;
• May provide training to nursing and paraprofessional staff;
• May complete home assessments for safety;
• May participate in investigations of abuse and/or neglect;
• May testify in court;
• May direct agency clinic services;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of
advanced nursing principles and treatments;
relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
Knowledge of
psychiatric nursing principles and practices, treatment modalities and concepts of community programs;
substance abuse issues as they relate to individuals overall health and/or psychiatric status and course of treatment;
state, federal and local health care agencies and programs;
pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice;
Considerable
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills;
clinical assessment and evaluation skills;
Ability to
examine, diagnose, assess and treat individuals requiring health care services;
interpret diagnostic tests;
prescribe appropriate medications and other treatments;
utilize computer software;
Administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience and ability to travel between multiple service locations to support client-related needs, including retrieving paper medical records and participating in meetings or program activities.
• Experience treating individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.
• Experience providing health literate information to individuals in recovery.
• Experience treating individuals with chronic medical conditions.
• Experience treating individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.
• Experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
• Bilingual Spanish and English speaking, with oral and written communications skills in both languages.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain Connecticut Controlled Substance Registration for Practitioners issued by the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
• Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain United States Drug Enforcement Administration Registration issued by the United States Federal Government.
• 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 are required to possess and maintain relevant registration(s) and/or certification(s).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain patients/offenders and may have some exposure to infectious and/or communicable diseases and disagreeable conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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.