Community Health Nurse (RN)

Community Health Nurse (RN)

Position: Community Health Nurse (RN)

Rate of Pay: $4,447.81 - $5,573.31 bi-weekly ($115,643 - $144,906 annually) minimum in first year. Rates of pay vary based on schedule. This position is non-exempt and therefore eligible for overtime.

Position Description/Requirements: The Community Health Nurse is part of a mobile response and outreach team that coordinates and delivers health services in the community setting. Community Health Nurses respond to patients in conjunction with the Community Health Social Workers in patient's homes and in the field. See attached job description for complete details.

Puget Sound Fire Overview: Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority is an internationally accredited full-service, all risk fire and rescue department that provides services to the citizens of Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Fire Districts 37 & 43. Our workforce is comprised of approximately 475 employees.

Work Location: Throughout the course of your work, you may report to various stations throughout our service area.

Typical Schedule: During training, 7:30am- 5:30pm, Mon-Thurs. After training, you will be assigned to a rotating 12-hr or 24-hr shift schedule.

Union Membership: Yes, this is a union represented position.

General Purpose: The Community Health Nurse is part of a mobile response and outreach team that coordinates and delivers health services in the community setting. Community Health Nurses respond to patients in conjunction with the Community Health Social Workers in patient's homes and in the field.

The Community Health Nurse's primary focus is to respond to urgent care requests, triage / assess, and connect patients to acute care services. The RN also works to identify, engage, and connect high-need individuals to the right medical, behavioral, and social services in the community.

The RN works in a team with a Social Worker, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team that includes Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians, law enforcement, and community organizations.

Essential Functions:

• Respond in the field (i.e. patient's homes, encampments, etc.) with the Community Health Social Worker to examine, screen, treat, and coordinate delivery of health to individuals with behavioral health needs either referred to the program or identified through the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
• Co-response to 911 callers with low-acuity medical, behavioral, and social needs.
• Triage and assess patient needs.
• Coordinate and deliver appropriate on-scene acute care services.
• Providing clinical nursing functions within scope of practice.
• Identify high-risk patients with complex needs.
• Make whole person assessments.
• Connect high-risk patients to whole-person care services.
• Moving, lifting, or transferring of patients.
• Provide and promote excellence in customer service for community members and partnering providers.
• Pilot test new workflows and digital tools to improve tracking and communication between health and social service agencies.
• Employee may support Public Relations and/or Public Education events at offsite locations.
• Employee may be required to attend program related conferences/training.
• Other duties as assigned.

Successful Incumbents for the Position Will Have:

Knowledge:

• Social services available within the community, greater King County, and the State of Washington as well as any federally related programs.
• Emergency medical incident reporting system.
• HIPAA rules and regulations as related to the continuation of care.
• Department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Personal computer systems as applicable, including MS Office Suite.

Skills:

• Exercise independent judgment and initiative in managing multiple projects and assignments.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with both external and internal customers.
• Communicate with others both orally, in writing, and electronically, using technical and non-technical language.
• Understand and follow oral and/or written policies, processes, and instructions.
• Proper use of telephone etiquette and techniques to properly assist a diverse assortment of inquiries and persons.
• Operation of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including personal computers and related software such as word processing and spreadsheet programs.

Abilities:

• Work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple priorities, utilize effective time management skills, and exercise sound administrative and clinical judgment.
• Provide care for patients within certified scope of practice.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of medical terminology.
• Develop and demonstrate familiarity with local community resources.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the EMS delivery system within the department and King County.
• Integrate into the fire department culture within a paramilitary organization.
• Work autonomously, independently organize, prioritize, and manage time.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.
• Assist in building healthy interagency relationships.
• Travel to multiple fire stations and other locations.
• Develop curriculum and deliver training and educational materials.

Skills for the Position May Be Gained Through Education, Certification, Relevant Job Experience or a Combination, Such as:

Education:

• Unencumbered RN license in the State of Washington.
• Certified in first aid and CPR (Health Care Provider).
• Preferred: BSN/BA in nursing.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years' experience as an RN required.
• Preferred: Experience working with elderly or a Public Health background.
• Experience in a community/outpatient setting providing care management/coordination.
• Spanish or other second language ability.
• 5 plus years of experience in clinical healthcare setting, home health, chronic care, or other related acute care healthcare delivery setting.
• Experience working with underserved or vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge and experience working closely with emergency services (ride-alongs, etc.)

Licenses and Other Requirements:

• Driver's License
• Unencumbered RN license in the State of Washington

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and listen. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to manipulate, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools as listed above, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Must be able to assist patients and lift when necessary, utilizing lift assistance devices when available and appropriate.

Work is performed in an office environment and may include working as part of a two-person team (or crew of more), in public or resident's private areas during non-emergency operations, and near emergency operations, subject to multiple interruptions from inter-office activities, telephones, walk-in employees, and citizens, etc. Employee is required to periodically support department field operations or be required to work at other Fire Department locations. Employee may also be called back for support services.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits: Puget Sound Fire offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance – free for employee-only coverage and family coverage for as low as $100 – $155 per month • Employer Contribution of 3% to 457 Deferred Compensation Plan • Longevity Pay starting at 2% after 5 yrs. service • Paid Vacation- 93.6 hrs. earned in 1st year (accruals increase with years of service) • Sick Leave- 130hrs earned per