Registered Nurse (Rn) - Otn

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Days Off: Saturday, Sunday
Shift: Office Day
Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan
JOB DEFINITION:
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.
MAJOR DUTIES AND 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.

Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Registered Nurse, licensed in the State of Washington, in good standing.
• 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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.
Salary Description
$99,547.44 - $109,902.00