Community Health Nurse

Community Health Nurse

The Community Health Nurse manages health services across Housing Forward's programs, provides basic nursing care and medical case management to clients. This position, along with the Lead Volunteer Nurse, oversees the weekly medical clinics at two sites and coordinates the staffing with medical volunteers. The nurse also coordinates health education sessions, serves as principal medical liaison with all medical partners to coordinate care, and assists clients enrollment in health insurance. This position also serves on a rotating basis on the CTA Outreach Program.

Manages health program and provides basic nursing care and medical case management for participants across Housing Forward's programs, including Interim Housing, Supportive Housing, Sojourner House and Street Outreach programs.

• Complete medical histories and assessment of new clients at Sojourner House.
• Assists and educates clients who have not accessed traditional healthcare due to barriers such as lack of health insurance, mental illness, substance use and resistance to care.
• Completes all health assessments to screen for healthcare needs.
• Assesses the need for emergency medical services when necessary.
• Provides basic nursing care services for clients with acute and chronic illness.
• Administers COVID and other rapid tests and coordinates PCR testing for clients.
• Identifies and addresses client risk factors and/or obstacles to care.
• Works with clients to establish a plan of care that may include lifestyle and behavior modification as well as medical treatment.
• Educates clients in understanding their health needs, medical diagnoses, medication management including access to medications, and prevention activities to reduce the impact of disease and/or disability.
• Provides nursing services/consultation at various locations
• Works with the Care Team of MacNeal Hospital to coordinate care of the medically compromised residents of Sojourner House.

• Collaborates with local health care entities and departments to manage health emergencies including health outbreaks and epidemics, and provides linkage to services and resources (medical, dental, vision, etc.)
• Assists participants in establishing care with a primary care provider or specialist as needed.
• Works with client and assigned case manager to identify and secure insurance coverage or other sources of payment for medical services.
• Communicates the care preferences of clients, serving as their advocate, working with clients to obtain appointments/referrals, and verifying that interventions meet the client's needs and goals of treatment.
• Requests Release of Information (ROI) from clients if health information is needed for medical records.
• Actively maintains relationship with the agency's medical partners, including Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine, McNeal Medical Center, and Cook County Health and Hospital System.

• Along with the Volunteer Lead Nurse, manages the Medical Clinics at the Interim Housing and Anderson Emergency Shelter.
• Ensure that medical intakes and medical histories on all new clients in Interim Housing and Emergency Shelter are completed
• Works with the Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager to recruit skill-based volunteer nurses, students,, and residents as needed.
• Schedules clinic staff including residents, nurses, and students to staff at the weekly clinics.
• Provides mandatory orientation for volunteers on an ongoing basis.
• Keeps a monthly inventory of over-the-counter medications and medical supplies: replenishing them as indicated.
• Stocks and refills First Aid Boxes and Spill Kits located at all Housing Forward's locations.

• Serve on a rotating team of Outreach Workers assigned to the CTA trains.
• Provide medical assistance or supplies to riders on the CTA trains who require such assistance
• Facilitate transfer to area emergency department as needed
• Maintain an inventory of medical supplies needed for distribution on the train and replace supplies as needed.
• Complete required documentation
• Attend 3-day mandatory CTA safety training

• Participates in agency meetings, trainings, weekly meetings, and other trainings/meetings as instructed.
• Participates in supervision, coordinates care of clients, and communicates concerns/issues regarding clients in a timely manner
• Documents all client interactions in HMIS or Salesforce and maintains "hard copy" client files for medical clinics.
• Collects and reports statistical information for program reporting.
• Participates or organize participation by other staff in health activities as they appear, such as podiatry services, health fair, vaccine fair, etc.
• Completes necessary Continuing Education Courses to maintain nurse's license.
• Works two evenings per week, one evening at the medical clinic until 8:30pm and one evening in rotation on the CTA until 11:30pm. Start times will be adjusted to accommodate evening hours.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Current/active license as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois
• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing is required.
• Case management experience preferred.
• Must have smartphone to utilize Agency communication and collaboration tools.

Key Competencies:

• Strong engagement and interpersonal skills
• Excellent nursing assessment skills
• Non-judgmental communication, detail oriented, team player
• Knowledge of the health care system, including regulations and resource availability
• Experience using Motivational Interviewing to help clients identify and reach their desired goals.
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Willingness and ability to learn HMIS and other data tracking system
• Ability to work independently

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stand, walk, walk up and down stairs, kneel, drive an automobile with the ability to lift 35 pounds.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.