AMBULATORY CARE REGISTERED NURSE

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title:                          Ambulatory Care Registered NurseFLSA Category:        Exempt

Reports To:                Ambulatory Nurse Manager

Greater Baden Medical Services (GBMS) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare across Southern Maryland. With 9 clinical sites across Prince George's, Charles, and St. Mary's counties, we serve over 18,000 patients each year. We provide fully integrated care that includes primary care, pediatrics, women's health, Title X family planning, dental care, behavioral health, WIC, pharmacy services, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Our patient population is primarily made up of Medicaid and uninsured individuals. We are deeply proud to deliver these vital services to everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay, making Greater Baden an incredibly rewarding place to grow your career while making a tangible, life-changing impact every day.

Job Summary:

Functions as a clinical resource to ensure that medical services are delivered in a safe and efficient manner, addressing patient needs as expeditiously as possible.  The Ambulatory Care RN utilizes the nursing process to assess, diagnose, implement, and evaluate care of patients.  The Ambulatory Care RN is an integral part of the health care team that collaborates with other health team members and the center manager to facilitate patient care. The Ambulatory Care RN also ensures ancillary services are provided as needed.

Essential Functions:

1. Serves as a clinical team leader and resource and provides input of day-to-day clinical activities working closely with the center manager.  
2. Provides recommendation to center manager for administrative and corrective actions of Clinical Medical Assistants.
3. Provides clinical training to medical assistants, and supervises competency evaluations.
4. Provides direct nursing care to patients, including performing assessments, nursing procedures (including injections), and assistance with procedures.
5. Provides in-person and telephone triage for patients seeking medical advice.
6. Provides health teaching and counseling to patients and families.  This may include communication of test results, medication changes, BP machines, diet and lifestyle, etc.
7. Assesses patient requests for same day services and works with Providers and Center Manager to ensure that patient needs are addressed appropriately.
8. Expedites patient flow through the implementation of standing orders or policies for medication refills, referrals, and immunizations.  Ensures that clinical medical assistants are familiar with standing order protocols and follow them appropriately.   
9. Participates in the immunizations process, including inventory and record keeping.  Ensures that vaccines are stored properly.  Oversees immunization administration process, and educates staff regarding proper technique and current recommendations. Has knowledge of the Vaccines For Children program and assists with compliance. 
10. Oversees laboratory services, including review of quality control, oversight of inventory and record keeping.  Ensures that supplies are stored properly.  Supervises specimen collection process and in-house testing and educates staff regarding proper technique and current recommendations.
11. Participates in the maintenance of medication and medical supply inventory, including monthly expiration process. 
12. Assists with providing ongoing clinical education, including competency testing and training consistent with GBMS needs, goals, and objectives. 
13. Demonstrates proficiency in the use of the EMR and serves as a clinical resource.

Nonessential Functions:

1. Participates in team/staff meetings; attends in service meetings and applicable workshops.  
2. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Current Registered Nursing License in the State of Maryland or compact state required.
2. Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or equivalent. Advanced degrees or certifications in Family Medicine or related fields are a plus
3. Insurability (malpractice)
4. Orient at least one day with each provider to understand scope of practice
5. Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate (CPR) required.
6. Bilingual in Spanish is a plus, but not required

Substitutions -none

Core Competencies Needed

Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Communication Skills -  Listen and verbally in order to solve problems and provide information and direction, ensuring the experience is a positive one. Record issues and resolutions to maintain accurate records and data for further analysis by management. 

Analytical Skills -  The ability to tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach. Possess creative thinking, learning, systems thinking and problem solving. Must be effective at defining and solving problems in order to ensure that the real, underlying challenge is understood and that solutions actually address it.

Healthcare Systems  - Knowledge of healthcare and medical terminology.

Risk Management/Compliance -  Confidentiality principles and laws, maintain compliance with government contractual mandates.

Work Environment

This job operates in an outpatient office environment.

Physical and Mental Demands

1. Ability to cope with stress.
2. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the center
3. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.
4. The person in this position frequently communicates with patients and/or employees. Must be able to summarize and exchange accurate information.
5. Must be able to lift or catch patient weighing more than 50 pounds in the event of emergency.
6. Performs with frequent interruption or distractions.
7. Adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate.
8. Ability to judge distances and spatial relationships to perceive objects where and as they actually are.