Community Clinic Nurse (LPN or RN)

Location: St. Thomas Community Health Center - Columbia Parc - 3943 St. Bernard Ave, New Orleans, 70112
Department: Clinical Operations & Population Health
Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer
Job Type: Full-Time

Position Summary:

St. Thomas CHC is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) to serve as a clinical leader, mentor, and coordinator within our team-based primary care model. This role is responsible for overseeing the daily activities of medical assistants (MAs), supporting provider needs, maintaining clinic flow, and playing a key role in population health outreach and community engagement. This is a leadership position focused on team supervision, care coordination, and health system improvement.

This is a competitive salary opportunity for LPNs, and may also appeal to early-career Registered Nurses who are passionate about community-based care and interested in potential loan repayment eligibility through the HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Medical Assistant Management

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  Supervises and mentors medical assistants, ensuring adherence to workflows, documentation, and patient care standards.
• Supports optimization of provider support and clinic flow through coordination with clinic staff.
• Serves as a clinical resource and supports MA onboarding, training, and performance improvement in collaboration with Nursing Leadership.

Provider Support & Clinic Operations

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  Facilitates smooth clinic operations by ensuring patients are prepared for visits, supporting follow-up coordination, and aligning preventive care needs.
• Helps maintain schedule efficiency by identifying and filling gaps in provider availability.

Community Engagement & Health Promotion

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  Develop and maintain relationships with local schools and community organizations to provide access to physicals, vaccines, and wellness services.
• Participate in or coordinate school-based clinics, vaccine events, and other outreach efforts to extend care beyond the clinic walls.

Population Health & Preventive Outreach

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  Use population health tools and payer reports to identify patients overdue for preventive or chronic care.
• Partner with health coaches and front desk staff to bring patients back into care.
• Help close care gaps and support quality measures for prevention and chronic conditions.
• Align outreach with insurance priorities like reducing ER use, increasing screenings, and meeting value-based care goals.
• Support ACO efforts through follow-up, quality tracking, and improved patient outcomes

Care Coordination & Patient Support

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  Supports care teams by identifying patients in need of chronic condition support and facilitating appropriate referrals, including to health coaches.
• Educates patients on clinical devices (e.g., BP cuffs, glucometers, CGMs) and injectable medications to improve self-management.
• Promotes medication adherence through patient education and ongoing support.

Inventory & Equipment Oversight

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  Oversee vaccine, medication, and medical supply inventory, ensuring timely reordering and proper storage.
• Monitor for and report broken or malfunctioning equipment, helping ensure a safe, well-equipped care environment.

Other Duties

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  Attends nursing and general staff meetings as scheduled.
• Supports the policies and procedures of St. Thomas Community Health Centers and assists in policy review as requested.
• Demonstrates consistent and timely attendance
• Promotes positive and productive communication with clinic staff.
• Utilizes established communication channels and appropriate lines of authority for problem-solving.
• Assists in documentation of incidents and participates in safety and emergency preparedness drills.
• Performs other duties as requested by the Chief Nursing Officer and Medical Director.
• Maintains HIPAA compliance.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Current and valid LPN or RN license in (Louisiana)
• CPR/BLS certification
• Experience supervising or leading clinical support staff 
• Strong organizational, communication, and teaching skills
• Strong experience with pediatric wellness care, immunization schedule and administering immunizations 
• Experience with adult heatlh maintenance care and preventive immunizations
• Comfort working with EHR systems and basic clinical data reports

Preferred:

• Background in community or public health settings
• Familiarity with population health tools, ACO participation, or value-based care initiatives
• Bilingual or culturally responsive communication skills

Work Environment & Schedule:

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  Clinic-based, Monday–Friday, with some Saturdays and community or school-based events
• Team-oriented, collaborative, and mission-driven workplace culture
• Involves both administrative and clinical oversight responsibilities

Benefits:

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  Competitive salary commensurate with licensure and experience
• Full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, PTO, holidays)
• Professional development opportunities
• A strong culture of mentorship, teamwork, and service to the community

St. Thomas Community Health Center is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive care and improving the health of our community through prevention, outreach, and teamwork.