Registered Nurse (RN) - SAGE

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) is part of DESC’s SAGE (Support, Advocacy, Growth and Employment) multidisciplinary team, which provides case management services to homeless and formerly homeless adults with mental illness. The RN primarily supports clients needing psychiatric and other medical attention through medication coordination and management, client education, health assessment, and related services. The position works under the supervision of the Clinic Nursing Supervisor. The role provides direct nursing care, helps clients access appropriate health services, coordinates care within DESC and with external providers, and supports clients through emergencies and care transitions. The RN also contributes to therapeutic and educational groups, maintains clinical records, participates in quality assurance and training, and helps maintain a safe environment. The work calls for trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and motivational-interviewing approaches, as well as patience, flexibility, sound clinical judgment, and the ability to build trusting relationships with clients who may be difficult to engage. This is a full-time, union-represented position with a day shift from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; regular days off are Saturday and Sunday. The position is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Requirements

Registered Nurse licensed in the State of Washington and in good standing.
If licensed under the Nurse Licensure Compact Multistate License (NLC MSL), comply with RCW 71.12.740 and NLC MSL Rule 402.2 as a condition of employment.
Interest or experience working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
Ability 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 desire to serve homeless clients with mental illness.
Ability to remain open and receptive to constructive feedback.
Ability to communicate and coordinate with staff from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of peculiar or disturbing behavior.
Commitment to cooperation and continuity across programs and to consideration and respect for clients.
Ability to sit, communicate with employees and vendors, lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and skill working with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Experience working with homeless or formerly homeless individuals.
Crisis intervention and stabilization experience.
Familiarity with recovery principles, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, intensive case management, illness management, and relevant evidence-based or emerging best practices.
Bilingual Spanish/English.
Ability to respond positively and empathetically to all persons, understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement, and provide non-judgmental responses to sensitive issues.
Ability to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and sometimes stressful environment.

Responsibilities

Provide direct nursing services, including clinical assessments, medication administration, wound care, foot care, and other treatments.
Triage, assess, and support clients in obtaining primary, urgent, prenatal, mental health, reproductive, sexual health, dental, vision, and specialty care, as appropriate.
Coordinate care within DESC and with external health care providers.
Provide life-saving efforts during a client medical emergency in the building until a higher level of care arrives.
Educate clients about acute and chronic conditions, self-care, medications and their effects, and other relevant health topics.
Lead therapeutic, educational, and support groups focused on client health, medication, behavior management, and other relevant topics.
Coordinate care transitions with internal DESC programs and external health care partners.
Use critical thinking, clinical judgment, patience, and flexibility in frequent client contacts.
Build trusting relationships using a warm and accepting approach that includes trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing.
Participate in supervision, program meetings, and in-service trainings.
Comply with clinical accountability policies and procedures, maintain current and complete clinical records, and participate in quality assurance activities.
Participate in verbal de-escalation and assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
Perform other duties as assigned.