Registered Nurse (RN) - WellConnect

Registered Nurse

The RN is a member of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for providing on-going wraparound services to adults living in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). The Registered Nurse works primarily with Medicaid-eligible clients in need of psychiatric and other medical attention. This position will share responsibility for coordinating the medication services for the team. Work is done under the supervision of the Nursing Supervisor, Senior Nurse Manager, and Nursing Director, and in full cooperation with other clinical supervisors. The WellConnect Office is open 10 hours/day M-F, weekends & holidays. All staff will work at least one weekend day in their weekly schedule and rotate holiday shifts. Team members also participate in on-call rotation to provide 24-hour crisis coverage. Two staff will be on-call at any given time to ensure back-up coverage and safety while doing crisis work.

DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

The following are the major duties and responsibilities of the position:

• Under the guidance and direction of the Nursing Supervisor, coordinate medical aspects of care, including monitoring and administration of medications in a manner that meets the unique needs of clients.
• Provide education to clients regarding their treatment, medical and mental health condition.
• Develop and engage clients in health promotion activities such as health and wellness clinics, smoking cessation efforts, and client education programs for disease prevention.
• On-going assessment of mental status and the positive impact and side effects of current treatment.
• Provide specialized training and consultation to other staff members on medical/mental health issues relating to clients and their care.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for team clients.
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

The following are the clinical and social support duties of the position:

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing components of on-going case management services to individuals living in PSH.
• Assess clients for a range of health care needs and facilitate linkage and on-going connection to relevant urgent, primary and specialty health services.
• Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, especially primary health care services, ensuring that clients' needs are met, and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in the planning, organizing, and facilitating of group treatment services for consumers served by the mental health program.
• Coordinate services closely with mental health program supervisors and case management staff.

The following are other duties of the position:

• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Comply with the agency's clinical and general policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance review activity as requested.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

The following are the minimum qualifications for the position:

• Registered Nurse, licensed in the State of Washington, in good standing. If licensed under the Nurse Licensure Compact Multistate License (NLC MSL), compliance with RCW 71.12.740 and NLC MSL Rule 402.2 is a condition of employment.
• Knowledge of psychiatric medications, side effects, and methods of administration.
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency-related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
• Ability to meet WellConnect scheduling requirements including a regular schedule of either Tue-Sat or Sun-Thu with a mix of 8am-4pm and 12-8pm shifts (including holidays). Participation in regular on-call rotation (paid) to provide 24-hour crisis coverage (both on the phone & in person) for mental health issues for WellConnect clients.
• Interest or experience in working with adults who are experiencing or who have experienced homelessness and are disabled by mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Flexibility, willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, accept new responsibilities and work cooperatively with team members to accomplish goals of the program.
• Able to prioritize multiple responsibilities, work independently, and exercise professional judgment. Interest in or experience working with participants who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior. Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Respect for participant rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential. Clear understanding and respect for the importance of maintaining participant confidentiality.

The following are the preferred qualifications for the position:

• Bachelor of Nursing degree
• Nursing certifications
• Bi-lingual in Spanish/English.
• Experience working on a PACT or ACT team

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 will be required to sit for long periods of time, communicate with other employees by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.