Public Health Nurse

Under the supervision of the Public Health Nurse Manager, the Public Health Nurse (PHN) (RN) will work within the Drug User Health Program to provide nursing services to People Who Use Drugs (PWUD). The PHN will use a harm reduction and trauma informed approach to provide specialized nursing support and HIV/HCV/STI screening to these populations. The PHN will also provide administrative support for other clinical activities such as patient walk-in triage, health navigation, risk reduction counseling, supply inventory, and serve as a resource for program staff. The PHN will work in episodic clinics.

1. Representative Duties:

• Providing Patient Triage: the safe, effective and appropriate disposition of health related problems
• Provide patients with accessible care that operates within the harm reduction framework
• Administers comprehensive evaluation of patient telephone callers and walk-in patients, develops care plan, consults with other disciplines as needed, and implements plan including referrals
• Advocates for patient care as nurse member of multidisciplinary medical team
• Care plan is communicated to patients in a timely manner
• Documents triage encounters in medical record, documenting all appropriate activities and plan

2. Health Navigation

• Delivers personalized services to our patients to improve their care using careful assessment, planning, coordination and delivery of care, and outcome evaluation of the plan
• Coordinates follow up care for acutely ill patients including primary care and specialty visits including HCV treatment, substance use services, PrEP, nPEP, and behavioral health.
• Coordinates preventative services for defined population including education, vaccinations, monitoring and arranging for lab tests and referrals
• Evaluates adherence to care plan to promote patient’s well-being
• Documents services in medical record, documenting all appropriate activities and plan

3. Providing direct patient care, using nursing procedures as appropriate for a Registered Nurse

• Provides episodic care as appropriate to the target populations with an emphasis on HIV and HCV prevention and behavioral issues (ie medication compliance, safe sex) and provide follow-up as indicated.
• Assists with patient care under the direction of appropriate medical provider and/or under nursing scope of practice
• Administers medications and vaccinations, (PO, IM, SC, ID).
• Checks supplies for nursing patient encounters and notifies manager or supply ordering designee if additional stock needed
• Administers all medical tests and procedures as per protocol
• Assists with preventative medicine efforts (e.g.: flu, STD, vital sign checks, occupational health)
• Clearly communicates interventions to patients
• Communicates changes to plan of care

4. Maintains comprehensive knowledge of medical issues

• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of medical developments in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and HCV infection, pain management, health issues related to homelessness and injection drug use, as well as and behavioral issues (i.e. medication compliance, safe sex, social and behavioral effects of drug use) as well as other medical conditions appropriate.
• Learn and maintain knowledge regarding harm reduction, and cultural competency regarding drug use.
• Seeks out continuing education opportunities related to essential job functions
• Completes continuing education requirements per the Massachusetts Board of Nursing regulations
• Obtains ACRN or other certifications related to essential job functions within 2 years of hire
• Understands and maintains universal precautions in all clinical activities

5. Age Specific Care

• Provides age-specific care per Fenway Health policy

6. Provides Health Education

• Provides community health education
• Provides patient education related to their medical and psychosocial needs
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of vaccines, medications, and other therapeutic interventions as appropriate to our outpatient clinic
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of FH policies, procedures and services including those of TFI
• Maintains knowledge of community resources
• Assists in training other employees in the medical department including orientation of new staff, volunteers, and students

7. Effectively communicates with patients, co-workers on medical team, in medical department and across departments

• Demonstrates competency in EMR, Microsoft Outlook, CareWeb and/or Care360, and other health informatics platforms
• Complete all data entry and documentation in a timely manner
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled general staff meetings as well as Nursing meetings (e.g. MDSM)
• Is available to meet with team members during assigned work hours
• Understands and abides by HIPAA regulations
• Demonstrates a commitment to strong customer service
• Ability to work as a team member

8. Meets Agency Participatory Expectations

• Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
• Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
• Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
• Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Attends all regularly scheduled research meetings, trainings, forums and pertinent FCH staff meetings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
• Serves on agency committees and in professional organizations when requested

9. Performs other related duties as required

• Conduct community and Street outreach
• Provide coverage across other public health sites

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQIA+ identified persons, people of color, and others from historically underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

• ASN/BSN/MSN and current licensure as Registered Nurse (RN) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Familiarity with the LGBTQ+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS (e.g., ANAC certification), and People Who Use Drugs (PWUD)
• Commitment to community and public health
• Experience with electronic medical records strongly preferred
• Current CPR Certification
• BLS certification required
• 2 or more years’ experience in an ambulatory care setting preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Requires being able to work a 7.5 hour day, the majority of it sitting (>70%)
• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, assisting with patients and standing and/or walking for most the day
• May work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment

Supervisory Responsibility

None