Registered Nurse (General Staff RN)

Position Title:                     Registered Nurse
Department:                        Nursing 
Supervisor:                         Director of Nursing
Status / Hours per week:   Non-Exempt / 40 hours per week 

Primary Function:

The Registered Nurse provides quality nursing care, education and patient advocacy and clinical case management.  The RN participates in problem-solving by working as a team member within the team and across the health center.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participates in regularly scheduled team and department meetings.
• Delivers patient care and patient education in a manner that is appropriate to patient’s age, physical ability, educational level and culture. Demonstrates proficiency in adapting care to meet the needs of the following patient populations: neonatal, pediatric/adolescent, adult, geriatric.
• Provides case management for the addiction medication program and for the patients in recovery.
• Demonstrates clinical competence, self-direction and sound judgement in the provision of ongoing clinical monitoring of patients with chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, CHF, etc.
• Schedules and conducts appropriate nursing appointments as needed or directed by provider including but not limited to blood pressure checks, immunizations, PPDs, patient education, premarital testing and counseling, wound checks, patient education, etc.
• Triages patient telephone calls according to telephone triage guidelines and makes necessary arrangements for follow-up. Prepare monthly report on telephone triage statistics.
• Interviews patients, completes or update medical histories, and performs clinical assessment of patients as needed.
• Upon the order of a physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant, administer medications, immunizations, injections, and perform other procedures.
• Conducts patient education at time of provider visit and/or in separately scheduled nursing education appointments.
• Communicates with laboratory, radiology, urgent care and other departments to obtain results of diagnostic tests and examinations and follow up on information as needed.
• Communicates with other UCHC staff and departments such as family planning, guidance and counseling, health education, ER follow-up nurse, etc. to ensure comprehensive patient care.
• Communicates with providers and specialists in other facilities to obtain result of consultations and emergency room visit as needed.
• Coordinates follow-up of abnormal lab results.
• Maintains adequate supply of vaccines, immunization information sheets and “blue books” by performing monthly inventory, completing usage reports and ordering vaccines.
• Maintains adequate supply of medications by performing monthly inventory and completing order form.
• Documents all nursing assessments and interventions using SOAP note format.
• Documents all addiction service clinical case management and tracks related data as required.
• Provides cross coverage for other nursing positions as needed.
• Ensures that all diseases cited in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health list of Reportable Diseases are reported to the Local Board of Health.
• Ensures that Sexually Transmitted Diseases are reported to the State Lab.
• Completes patients’ forms (camp, physical, WIC, school) as needed.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Maintains ability to communicate clearly with patients and with staff.

Minimum Basic Knowledge:

• Licensed Registered Nurse (B.S.N. preferred) in Massachusetts

Experience & Qualifications:

•    Two years of nursing experience, preferably in an ambulatory care or community health setting.
•    Experience with addiction services a plus.
•    Experience in a culturally diverse setting.
•    Bilingual language skills in Spanish or Portuguese Creole desirable. 

Independent Action:

• Functions independen