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Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (40 Hour) (Office/On-site)

State of Connecticut - Department of Children & Families -
East Windsor, CT

Job Details

Full-time
$128,869 - $170,525 a year

Benefits

Professional development assistance
Loan forgiveness

Qualifications

Medical treatment knowledge
Advanced practice provider

Full Job Description

Are you interested in a career where you can make a difference in the lives of children and their families in Connecticut? If so, we invite you to take this opportunity to join our team!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – is recruiting for one (1) Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, to join the Albert J. Solnit Children's Center North Campus PRTF in East Windsor, CT.

New! Connecticut has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective October 1, 2025. Visit Nurse Licensure Compact for more details.

Are you a compassionate and highly skilled psychiatric provider looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, adolescents, and families? The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a dedicated Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to join a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering high-quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services. In this critical role, you will practice with a high level of clinical independence, providing comprehensive psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication management, psychotherapy, and family-centered care while collaborating with interdisciplinary professionals to support positive outcomes for youth and their families.

As a Psychiatric APRN, you will serve as a clinical leader and mentor, guiding staff through supervision, consultation, and education while promoting evidence-based practices and excellence in patient care. You will play an integral role in crisis intervention, quality improvement initiatives, and the development of innovative treatment approaches, ensuring that the rights, dignity, and well-being of every child and family remain at the forefront of care. If you are passionate about advancing behavioral health services through clinical expertise, leadership, and collaboration, we encourage you to explore this rewarding opportunity to make a lasting impact with DCF.

Position Highlights: PCN 153946

Location: Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) at Solnit – North Campus in East Windsor, CT
Full-time | 40 Hours per week | 1st Shift
Monday - Friday | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, with on-call coverage as needed.

What we can offer you:

View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
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.

Our Mission:

At DCF our mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter. Currently we are seeking individuals who are looking to advance their career and make a difference.

About the State of Connecticut:

Living in Connecticut allows you to live with mountains, forests, ocean fronts, rivers, and a wonderful green countryside right at your doorstep. The state has charm, elegance, and a high standard of living. Our school systems offer an outstanding education, and our communities are among the safest in the country. Connecticut experiences all four seasons and gives you the option to choose living in sophisticated country-life or living in the center of a lively city.

We encourage you to come see all that Connecticut has to offer by joining the DCF team!

Selection Plan

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD AN RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND DO NOT HOLD A MULTISTATE OR COMPACT REGISTERED NURSING LICENSE, AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE:

Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license;

Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the ‘Public Health Practitioners’ grouping, select ‘Registered Nurse’ and then ‘Start’;

Request verification of your out-of-state license(s) electronically through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s : Nursys® System. To send verification of your license(s) to CT, read and agree to the terms, enter your biographic information, select your license type and select ‘SEARCH’. Review the results and select the ‘Next’ button. Check the box next to ‘Connecticut’ and complete the transaction. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from Nursys and the verification will be available to the DPH. Note that PA and MI verifications are not provided through Nursys. Please contact those state boards for information on obtaining verification.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, 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 contact listed below.
Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].
Salary Calculations: 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.
Note: 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.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 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, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Rocky Young at [email protected]

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience working in a behavioral health hospital setting
Experience serving youth with complex psychiatric profiles

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 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 are required to possess and maintain relevant registration(s) and/or certification(s).
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.

Selection Plan

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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