Community Health Nurse

Heartland Alliance Health•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Heartland Alliance Health’s (HAH) mission is to transform healthcare for the most vulnerable – particularly people experiencing homelessness, mental illness or addictions, or struggling with multiple chronic illnesses – improving health for all and the well-being of our community. The Community Health Nurse provides quality primary health care service to special populations. The individual is a registered professional nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level as a community health nurse generalist, who synthesizes nursing and public health practice to promote and preserve the health of individuals, families and groups to improve the health of the community. Within the nursing process framework, the Community health Nurse performs comprehensive assessment and validation of the reactions and responses of individuals, families or groups to actual and potential problems and provides intervention, evaluation and/or referral to meet identified client needs. Through collaboration with health professionals and other team members, the Community Health nurse works to implement client care plans and to manage and coordinate continuity of care. The community health nurse participates in activities focused on health promotion, disease prevention, care of acute and chronic illness and restoration of health. The community health nurse is accountable for the outcome of their practice. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required. Degrees in nursing preferred.
Active Illinois Registered Nurse licensure required prior to start date.
Two to three years of community health experience required.
Documented experience in evaluating standards of care based on the quality assurance process may be required.
CPR certification required

Nice To Haves

Certification as a Community Health Nurse a plus.
HIV nursing certification or experience a plus, and may be developed upon hire.

Responsibilities

Performs a comprehensive and accurate assessment of: individuals – by completing the health history, lifestyle risk assessment, physical assessments and appropriate growth and development assessments and by identifying social and cultural factors that influence health; families - by assessing family specific risk factors, related problems and completing the family risk assessment when appropriate; groups - by utilizing and/or collecting group data such as vital statistics, demographics, socioeconomic, cultural and environmental characteristics and appropriate community members
Determines relevant diagnoses based on health needs of: individuals - by analyzing appropriate health assessments; families – by analyzing family health assessments and groups – by analyzing group and special population data
Develops plans at each level of prevention (primary secondary and tertiary) that specify nursing actions for: individuals – by providing direct care to meet physical and psychosocial needs; families – by prioritizing problems and establishing mutually agreed upon goals specific to the stage of family development; groups – by using program planning and group concepts to meet the health needs of the group
Guided by the plan, intervenes to promote health, prevent illness and restore health for: individuals – by implementing nursing plans independently and prescription treatments and standing orders under the direction of physicians and mid level providers and by facilitating and monitoring client referrals and linkages to other internal and external social services and health care services as appropriate; families – by implementing interventions with the participation of the family members; groups – by implementing programs based on assessed needs of groups and by developing health education presentations and participating in the training of groups of clients and other community providers
Evaluates responses to interventions in order to determine progress toward goal achievement and to revise the database, diagnosis and plan for: individuals – by evaluating individual client interventions; families – by evaluating family interventions; groups – by evaluating groups interventions
Applies theoretical concepts as a basis for decisions in practice from the disciplines of: nursing - including community health theory related to individuals and social, behavioral and the physical sciences; transcultural nursing theory - community and public health related to families; community and public health theory related to groups
Collaborates with other multidisciplinary professionals and community agencies to provide high quality health care
Coordinates clinic and health care outreach services in conjunction with other team members to meet clients primary health care needs and ensure continuity of care
Plans, implements and coordinates new community health programs with appropriate supervision from the appropriate program director to meet the needs of special populations
Participates in quality assurance activities through protocol development, collaborative and peer review by: assisting in protocol development and identifying indicators of quality care; developing protocols and identifying appropriate criteria for the evaluation of care; evaluating standards of care based on the quality assurance process, developing protocols and procedures that guide the delivery of care
Assumes responsibility for professional development and contributes to the professional growth of others
Develops in depth knowledge of daily program operations, policies and procedures
Acts as a preceptor in the orientation of new health care personnel, interns and volunteers.
Serves as a consultant to other health care providers and agencies, sharing specialized knowledge when appropriate
Documents comprehensive, accurate and continual data on client records and program reports
Advocates for special populations through education to the public and consultation with clients, consumers and health care professionals
Practices within the legal and ethical guidelines established by the Nurse Practice Act, the Code of Nurses, the Social Policy Statement and the Standards of Practice for the Community Health Nurse.
Adheres to professional standards as outlined by the governmental bodies, American Nurses Associations (ANA), Nurses Association of College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NAACOG), the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), private funding sources, Agency plans/policies and unit guidelines. Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in house and external staff training to ensure that he/she understands and continues to adhere to such standards. Initiates requests for assistance or guidance from Supervisor to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
Other duties may be assigned.