Public Health Clinic Nurse (RN)

Job Summary

Are you a registered nurse passionate about transforming lives through collaborative, high-quality addiction treatment? If you are ready to drive ongoing medical management, handle care coordination, provide relapse prevention and overdose education, and support patient self-management, we want you on our team. Join our Substance Abuse Services Program within the Strengthening Families Division as a Registered Nurse. In this central role, you will champion a collaborative care model as a Public Health Clinic Nurse (RN), maximizing the impact of prescribing providers and delivering high-quality Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment. You will lead interprofessional coordination alongside medical providers, counselors, and support staff to provide comprehensive care across all treatment phases including patient screening, assessment, education, care planning, medication dispensing, stabilization, and maintenance. This position is a Regular Full-time (1.0 FTE). The expected starting salary range for this position is between $39.90 $42.72 per hour. Salary is open to negotiation based on experience and qualifications. This is a professional nursing classification that involves both clinical and administrative work and is under the direction of an immediate supervisor. This role provides clinical care and education to patients seeking treatment and supports other providers in doing so. Depending on assigned program, work may involve providing counseling, conducting testing and specimen collection, and providing medications. Distinguishing Characteristics This is a standalone nursing classification. Employees are given latitude in decision making ability, with complex situations discussed with their supervisor. This position may involve providing input in the development and evaluation of program services and providing training and mentorship to a team of multi-disciplinary staff. Work is sensitive and confidential, requiring a high level of discretion. Career Path Options Options to continue your career at the Health Department depend on your interest, education, and training. Possibilities include: Public Health Nurse I Public Health Nurse II Clinic Coordinator Nurse Supervisor Essential Functions Provide direct clinical nursing care to patients, including nursing assessments, point-of-care testing, patient education, and treatment. Oversee appropriate medication inventory management and dosing. When appropriate, maintain appropriate clinical documentation and enter billing information for nursing visits conducted. Coordinate care with other Department staff members and external healthcare staff. Work with Physician/Medical Director, Program Manager, and other staff to implement clinical quality improvement efforts. Examples of Key Duties Conducts health assessments and provides guidance, education, and treatment to patients according to physician orders. May provide recommendations and input into the development and evaluation of the program and provided services. Collaborates with members of the healthcare team to provide high-quality care and monitors the progress of patients throughout the prescribed treatment plan, including visiting patients in the community. Fosters effective working relationships with community-based agencies and services to offer referrals when additional care and resources are needed. Maintains a secure inventory of controlled substances and prescription medications in accordance with state and federal regulations. Participates in monitoring, requisition, and documentation of the use of medical supplies and equipment. Accurately records patient data, including medical and health history and pharmacy records, in their Electronic Health Record. The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program. Performs other duties as assigned. Safety & Emergency Preparedness Adheres to all workplace and trade safety laws, regulations, standards, and practices. Understands and properly follows established procedures in preventing and responding to unsafe or emergency situations. Identifies and reports potentially unsafe practices or conditions. Operates equipment, tools, machinery, and vehicles safely and understands processes for reporting an accident or injury. Understands and applies knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform assigned emergency response role during an emergency.

What You Bring to the Table

Knowledge and Skills Intermediate knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs, Electronic Medical Records software. Knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, and techniques including trauma-informed, patient-centered care. Leadership and mentorship skills. Strong critical thinking and assessment skills to make informed decisions regarding patient care. Skilled in data entry. Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information. Skilled in communication: Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner. Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information. Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations. Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information. Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience. Foundational Competencies Knowing and managing oneself: Understands that all equity, trauma-informed, and restorative practices start with oneself. Exercises a high degree of self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. Is willing to learn, apply, and model agency values and ethical standards. Restorative practices and conflict resolution: Articulates through words and actions authentic commitment to create an environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal opportunities and impartial treatment. Centers work inequity and trauma informed and restorative practices to achieve and maintain collaboration and teamwork and to effectively work with historically underrepresented and/or underserved populations to advance community health. Utilizes restorative practices to address harm and promote healing to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities. Collaboration and engagement: Provides balanced and objective information to help teammates, partners, and the public understand problems, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Works directly with partners within the Department, in the community, and members of the public affected by the work to obtain feedback and understand diverse points of view, concerns, and aspirations. Identifies preferred solutions together, incorporating advice and recommendations to the maximum extent possible. Evidence informed practices and decision-making: Applies evidence informed practices and methodologies to achieve the greatest impact in delivery of services to internal and external customers and partners. Incorporates the social determinants of health into public health work. Integrates research and evidence into the decision-making process. Seeks to systematically identify and eliminate inequities resulting in differences in health and in overall living conditions. Utilizes evidence informed practices to increase equity in systems and policy. Creates a robust culture of assessment and evaluation and continuous process improvement. Cross cultural communication and Engagement: Understands that cultural awareness, appreciation, and humility can only occur when you practice curiosity and open-mindedness. Operates with a high level of humility and cultural agility to achieve effective intercultural communication, engagement, and collaboration in the workplace and in the community. Is open to feedback and continuously self-reflects on one's own actions and responses. Centers personal accountability on the Department's mission, values, and ethical standards.

Who Should Apply

The items below are the requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values work experience, lived experience, and education and realizes that people take different paths to acquire knowledge. Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing. Three years of Registered Nursing experience. We will consider any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position. Professional Certifications, Licensure, and Other Requirements We require or prefer the below for this classification. Current State of Washington Registered Nurse License or multi-state license endorsement required. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers and AED certifications required within 90 days of hire. Immunizations and immunization screening required at hire and annually based on program area.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Work Environment Work is performed in a trauma-informed, patient-centered environment within a clinical setting. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly clinical environments, including communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, and biohazardous materials and waste. Depending on the assigned program, work may be performed in the community, including homeless encampments. Exposure to hazards include those found in community environments. The potential for dealing with dissatisfied or angry customers exists, requiring skills in conflict resolution. Work is up to 100% in person. Physical and Cognitive Demands Regularly required to sit or stand at a desk continuously. Regularly communicate clearly with customers in-person, over the phone, and via written communication, including communicating with dissatisfied or angry customers, throughout the duration of a shift. Capable of reading physical and electronic documents and working for prolonged periods on a computer monitor. Fine motor skills sufficient to grip and manipulate paper and operate a telephone, a computer mouse and keyboard, and standard medical equipment. Reaching and gross manipulation capabilities sufficient to pick up and use standard office supplies and clinical equipment. Regularly move throughout the clinic. Depending on program, may be required to traverse from parking to community areas of varying levels of accessibility. This position may require lifting, carrying, pulling, or moving objects up to 10 pounds consistently, 20 pounds frequently, and exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally. Regularly maintain awareness of surroundings to identify and address potential safety issues. Regularly work effectively in the presence of visual, auditory, or other distractions. Work effectively when exposed to workplace stressors, such as emotional and/or confrontational individuals. Learn, recall, and apply specialized information. Effectively perform frequent task-swapping and work with frequent interruptions. Tools and Equipment Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, copy machine, etc.). General medical equipment (e.g. Blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, EKG, etc.). Travel Some travel may be required, and is typically local or regional, to meet with clients, conduct business, or attend training.

Benefits

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department offers an excellent pay and benefits