Hybrid Community Health Nurse at Housing Forward

Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Community Health Nurse manages health services across Housing Forward’s programs, provides basic nursing care and medical case management to clients. This position oversees the weekly medical clinic and coordinates its 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. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

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.

Nursing Duties:

• Conducts medical intakes and completes medical histories on all new clients in Interim Housing and 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

Care Coordination Duties:

• 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. 
• Works with client to find a primary care provider and establish a medical home                                                                                                                                                                                               
• 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.
• Works with the Care Team of MacNeal Hospital to coordinate care of the medically compromised residents of Sojourner House.
• Requests Release of Information (ROI) from clients if health information is needed for medical records/case management/housing opportunities.

Medical Clinic Duties:

• Manages the Medical Clinics during the regular shelter season.               
• 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. 
• 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 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 in all the shelter sites, Support Center and Oak Park office.

Other:

• Develops a cooperative working relationship with Housing Forward staff & volunteers
• 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 and maintains “hard copy” client files for medical clinic.
• Strictly follows HIPPA guidelines.
• Collects and reports statistical information for program reporting and to maintain funding.
• Actively participates with health activities as they appear, such as podiatry services, health fair, vaccine fair, etc.
• Completes necessary Continuing Education Courses to maintain nurse’s license.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

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.  

BENEFITS: 

• Health Insurance: PPO, HSA, HMO Plans with premiums ranging from 0% to 10%, for employee, per month based on salary. 
• Dental 100% of cost paid for employee. 
• Vision 100% of cost paid for employee. 
• Life $50,000 life and AD&D paid for employee. 
• MyStrength, wellness benefit paid for employee. 
• Generous Paid Time Off 10 paid vacation days annually, years 1-2, after 24 months increases to 15 days 10 paid sick days annually 10 paid holidays annually 3 paid personal days annually. 
• Retirement Plan with company match of 3% 

SALARY: $80,000 - $83,000 

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.? 

?Housing Forward does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability.  

 ?Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be all-inclusive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties, as necessary. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.