Head Nurse

Introduction

Are you a dedicated Registered Nurse seeking a fulfilling role where you can truly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities? If so, we invite you to read more and apply today! At the State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) West Region, has one (1) full time 1st Shift job opportunity for a Head Nurse, located at the Lower Fairfield Center (LFC), Norwalk.

Incumbents in this class must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in CT or hold a Multistate or Compact RN License. New! We’re excited that Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.

PCN 18174, Full Time 1st Shift, 80 hours biweekly.

Schedule:

Week 1 and Week 2:
Monday through Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. Regular days off Saturday and Sunday. Please note, flexibility around the schedule may be needed to meet the needs of the agency.

• Coordinate all medical services necessary to meet the health and safety needs of individuals in a continuous operation intermediate care facility (ICF) with a caseload of approximately 10-12 individuals.
• Collaborate effectively with an interdisciplinary team to optimize individual outcomes and ensure compliance with clinical quality standards, policies, and ICF regulations.
• Utilize supervisory skills to provide clinical oversight to LPNs providing direct nursing care to individuals with an intellectual and/or developmental disability.
• Demonstrate organizational and interpersonal skills by communicating health and safety information to internal and external partners in both verbal and written formats.
• Showcase knowledge and experience with rehabilitative and interdisciplinary healthcare practices and processes.

• Lead the planning of care and implementation of the nursing process.
• Plan unit workflow and determine priorities.
• Schedule, assign, oversee, and review work.
• Make recommendations for personnel actions such as selection, discipline, and performance.
• Conduct or assist in conducting performance evaluations.
• Lead professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of patient/individual care.
• Maintain and promote standards of nursing.
• Ensure controlled drugs are properly stored, administered, and ordered.
• Identify staff development needs; provide staff training and assistance.
• Instruct staff regarding policies and procedures.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of patient/individual care programs.
• Respond to emergencies.
• May make recommendations on policies and standards.
• May prepare reports or correspondence.
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP).
• Perform related duties as required.
• Independently develop, implement, and evaluate nursing and/or health care plans.
• Provide nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program.
• Conduct nursing assessments; provide admission and discharge nursing assessments with plans for continuing care.
• Provide nursing services to comply with ICF regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards.
• Maintain records of stored and secured medications; ensure controlled drugs are properly stored, administered, and ordered.
• Independently manage and provide direct care to patients/individuals.
• Participate in individual, group, or family therapy; as a member of an interdisciplinary team in assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of patient/individual treatment or health care plans.
• Manage an assigned caseload of other appropriate clinical activities; provide clinical direction and/or training to staff in individual, group, and family service delivery programs.
• May participate in home visits and crisis intervention; may provide in-service training to nursing and paraprofessional staff regarding signs and symptoms of illness, dysfunction, injury, and prevention.
• May conduct patient/individual-centered conferences with nursing personnel; consult with and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs.
• May make recommendations on policies or standards; may prepare…