Community Access Team Nurse

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program•Boston, MA

13h•$40 - $58

About The Position

Boston Health Care for the Homeless is seeking a Registered Nurse to work at SPOT (Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment) and the Finland Clinic – a low-barrier site offering urgent care, primary care, medication assistance, and wound care. The ideal candidate for this role is a compassionate and self-motivated individual who embraces the mission of BHCHP and is committed to delivering high quality nursing care utilizing a harm reduction approach in a low-threshold community environment. We are looking for a nurse who is public health conscious to join our CAT Team. Our team’s guiding principle is to meet patients where they are on the spectrum of drug use and recovery, to decrease overdose deaths, and to connect patients more effectively to services and care in line with their individual health goals. In this role, the nurse will be on the front line of innovative approaches to the drug overdose crisis and a pivotal part of improving drug user health. While working at team sites the RN will provide in-the-moment, low-threshold medical access to patients who may otherwise not present to traditional clinics. In instances of sedation, the CAT RN will ensure that patients are triaged and safely monitored in a supportive and compassionate environment. The RN will also support patients with wound care, health education, connection to HIV prevention and treatment services, primary care services, and other clinical care needs as they come up.

Requirements

Commonwealth of Massachusetts RN license.
Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience is preferred.
Strong assessment skills; u nderstanding substance abuse and behavioral health issues.
Interest and experience with underserved population preferably.
Experience in understanding the effects and management of sedating medications and polysubstance use.
Experience with chronic wound care management.
Knowledge of opioid overdose management and brief interventions
Interest in public health, primary and preventive nursing/medicine
Interest in working with disadvantaged groups.
Self-directed, motivated, and flexible with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Pharmacological understanding of medications or drugs that cause sedation.
Clear Understanding of the “Outpatient Evaluation of the Sedated Patient and Monitoring of Selected Patients Whose Sedation is Due to Intoxication” policy.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual candidates and people with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Direct nursing care to ensure that all needs of the patients are met, conforming to established policies and procedures, as well as Department of Public Health regulations.
Serves as the first responder in the case of a medical emergency at all sites.
Provides nursing visits, medication assistance, care coordination, and sedation monitoring.
Non-judgmental clinical support for patients who are acutely intoxicated from a substance to prevent overdose.
Accurate assessment of sedation and documentation, involving the rapid response team as clinically indicated.
Supportive engagement of patients with substance uses disorder in a manner consistent with risk reduction principles, counseling and connection to treatment programs.
Responsible for updating and maintaining accurate treatment records, flow sheets and other documentation.
Responsible for ensuring that the medical aspect of the clinical site is fully equipped and operational daily.
Maintains a direct line of communication and professional approach staff, including clinical and non-clinical partners.
Maintains the standards of accurate and complete recording and reporting ensuring that the clinical record for each patient is current and accurate.
Functions as part of a team that includes other RNs, case managers, MDs, NPs, PAs, and EMTs.
Based on the needs of the Program, may be required to be available for other shifts as needed.
Open to job sharing.