Job Summary:
The Health Center RN provides comprehensive primary care to diverse patient populations. They offer a range of services, including preventative care, chronic disease management, and health education, with a strong emphasis on patient-centered care. Their responsibilities include patient assessment, care coordination, medication administration, and health education, all within a collaborative team environment.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:
A. Patient Care
• Triage: Screen patient telephone calls for providers. • Clinical Assessments: Perform clinical assessments, utilizing knowledge of disease process and treatment. • Office Staff Assistance: Assist office staff in triaging call-in and walk-in appointments. • Scheduling and Workload Coordination: Coordinate with office staff in monitoring and adjusting scheduling and workload of providers to insure the smooth flow of patients. • Standing Orders: When requested by Nurse Manager, carry out standing orders for medication refills, ordering tests, and routine health maintenance services per Health Center protocols. • Intake and Interview: Interview patients for health history and clinical information updates. • Nursing Assessments: Conduct nursing assessments and preliminary patient work-ups. • Vital Signs: Take patient vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, etc.). • Treatment and Procedures: Apply and change dressings/bandages. • Medication Administration: Administer IM, SQ, intradermal, and inhaled medications and vaccines. • Allergy Injections: Administer allergy injections, as per local site protocols. • Catheterization: Perform catheterization per provider orders and within the scope of health center protocols. • Vision Screening: Conduct vision screening. • Audiometry Screening: Perform EKG's (if provided on site). • Other Procedures: Assist in suturing procedures and other procedures as per health center protocols, for example starting IV's, and responding to Code Blue/defib needs.
B. Laboratory
• Testing: Perform laboratory tests as per health center protocols. • Record Tests and Results: Record tests and results in appropriate EMR. • Phlebotomy: Draw and prepare specimens for in-house or outside laboratory testing.
C. Pharmaceuticals
• Dispensing: Dispense pharmaceuticals as per provider orders and in accordance with health center, NCHC, Vermont, and Federal guidelines. • Inventory Management: Monitor inventory levels and outdates of on-site pharmaceutical supplies.
D. Records
• Medical Records: Document nursing activities and relevant patient care information in medical records as per health center protocols. • Tracking Systems: Record and maintain records and statistics (e.g. immunizations, perinatal data, etc.) as per protocols or request.
E. Infection Control
• Instrument Sterilization: Clean and sterilize instruments. • General Office Infection Control: Maintain general office infection control.
F. Quality Assurance
• Participate in Development and Implementation: Participate in the development, implementation, audit, and continuous evaluation and improvement of protocols, services and programs provided by the health center.
G. Other
• Productivity Standards: Meet the productivity standards that are set forth by your Supervisor and/or NCHC Division protocols. • Position Qualifications:
Position Qualifications:
Graduate of an accredited RN program Licensed in the State of Vermont Provider-level CPR/BLS required ACLS and PALS required at some sites Minimum one-year experience in a community health center, medical office, or similar setting Familiarity with public health and community health issues Knowledge of disease processes and treatments Knowledge of medications and their effects/side effects Effective communication skills with patients of all ages Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment Skilled in multitasking and managing priorities Strong problem-solving abilities Able to perform basic medical office lab tests Proficient in written and verbal communication Computer proficiency, including email, spreadsheets, word processing, and EMRs High level of confidentiality required Physically able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand/walk for extended periods Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination required Exposure to bodily fluids and communicable diseases expected Must be able to work under stress and in emergency situations during irregular hours