Registered Nurse (RN) - OTN

DESC•Seattle, WA

1d•$106,030 - $117,066•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides and coordinates care for individuals suffering from opioid use disorder in DESC’s low-barrier buprenorphine program. The RN acts as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide buprenorphine services to our community’s most vulnerable population, many of which are experiencing homelessness, mental illness and a range of comorbidities. This position provides the opportunity to participate in community engagement in shelters, encampments and permanent supportive housing. The RN will provide client-centered care through the lens of harm reduction and trauma-informed care. Work is done under the supervision of the Nursing Supervisor and Nurse Manager at DESC’s 216 James St. Clinic.

Requirements

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.
Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.
Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.
Ability to relate to a wide range of people, demonstrate highly developed communication skills, and have a desire to serve homeless, mentally ill clients.
Ability to remain open and receptive to constructive feedback.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of challenging behaviors
Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds.
Subscribe to the philosophy of harm reduction and trauma-informed care.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and skill in working with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders; with homeless or formerly homeless individuals; and crisis intervention and stabilization experience.
Familiarity with Recovery Principles, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Integrated Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders, Intensive Case Management, Illness Management, and relevant Evidenced based/Emerging best practices.
Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Bilingual in Spanish/English.
Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and sometimes stressful environment.

Responsibilities

Coordinate a low barrier office-based opioid replacement treatment program focused on a population of clients who have difficulty accessing traditional buprenorphine services.
Integrate care with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatric providers, nurses, substance use professionals, peer support specialists, mental health case managers and primary care providers.
Participate in contingency-management and ongoing care coordination for individuals with stimulant-use disorder.
Assess and monitor patients in induction, stabilization, and maintenance phases of treatment with clients wanting buprenorphine or intramuscular naltrexone, using an approach that is patient-centered and includes harm reduction strategies and motivational interviewing in a non-traditional setting.
Provide counseling and education about treatment options to clients and work together with them to set and monitor goals.
Follow state and federal guidelines, as well as program-specific policies and procedures for opioid dependent patients in a collaboration with prescribing providers and dispensing pharmacies.
Provide screening, counseling and care coordination for both HIV and Hepatitis C.
Ability to use critical thinking, clinical judgment, patience and flexibility in frequent contacts with clients.
Have strong communication and customer service skills.
Demonstrate leadership ability as well as using interdisciplinary team concepts.
Provide ongoing assessment of mental status and the positive impact and side effects of treatment.
Be available for drop-in clients as well as those with scheduled visits, keep posted hours, and perform community outreach.
Assess clients for a range of health care needs and facilitate linkage and on-going connection to relevant urgent, primary and specialty health services to ensure continuity of care.
Advocate for patients’ access to a variety of community resources and services.
Collaborate closely with other DESC services, particularly substance use disorder staff.
Consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care and that patients’ needs are being met, and rights maintained.
Provide nursing services and basic wound care.
Serve as an educational resource and provide consultation for DESC staff.
Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings.
Comply with the agency’s clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews.
Participate in verbal de-escalation and crisis interventions in emergent situations and be willing and able to assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
Other duties as assigned by the Nursing Supervisor, Nurse Manager or Medical Director.