Infectious Disease Nurse Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY:

The Infectious Disease (ID) Nurse Coordinator role provides patient-centered nursing care in the specific setting of addressing HIV care and treatment in a multi-disciplinary team approach. This role is integral to counseling, starting, and maintaining patients on HIV treatment medications and STI treatment and prevention, as well as assisting with management of barriers to care. The ID Nurse is responsible for coordinating clinical care needs for HIV-positive patients and acting as a clinical bridge and additional touchpoint for patients at greater risk of complications from HIV. In addition to providing screenings and education as needed, this nurse will also assist with paperwork, lab orders, referrals to internal programs, and medication bridges or refills between appointments, all aimed at reducing gaps in care for patients living with HIV. This position will conduct patient visits for HIV/STI testing and treatment, intake and linkage to HIV care for new or re-engaging patients, and ongoing care assistance for HIV continuity patients. The nurse will provide targeted medical case management to a panel of HIV-positive patients primarily with detectable viral loads, low CD4 counts, and/or anyone deemed eligible by a referring provider.

The ID Nurse Coordinator will operate with a very high degree of flexibility and autonomy guided by written policy and standing orders, and with clinical oversight by an on-site licensed independent practitioner. This position will report primarily to the Sexual Health Services Program Manager for HIV care and treatment-related functions, but separately to the Director of Nursing for annual competencies, trainings, and other as needed.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Analytical and Critical Thinking

• In accordance with Chase Brexton policies and standing orders acts as a primary point of care for HIV positive patients experiencing difficulty with medications or at risk of becoming not adherent to medications, and utilizes assessment skills to evaluate patient needs and formulate a plan of care, as part of the multi-disciplinary care team.
• Revises outcomes and interventions based on results and patient feedback, collaborating with both the patient and other members of the care team.
• Identifies opportunities to introduce and implement STI/HIV/pregnancy prevention measures to patients and partners in accordance with Chase Brexton policies and procedures.
• Takes ownership of patient care needs and follows through on care provision to close communication loops and address needs within our organizational service abilities.
• Identifies patients at risk for poor outcomes and those who may require more intensive services for HIV and primary care; provides additional outreach and frequent follow up (by phone and in-person) to this population.
• Provides HIV PEP and PrEP case management, including urgent new diagnosis care coordination, transition care management, high risk clinical tracking, complex medication management and system utilization to appropriate patients.
• Provides early intervention services, HIV patient intakes and lab coordination, same-day appointments, and targeted case management to patients with HIV who are newly diagnosed, newly entering or re-entering care at Chase Brexton, not virologically suppressed, or at risk of becoming not virologically suppressed.
• Performs point of care testing or phlebotomy as needed during patient visits to collect bloodwork for testing.
• Ability to escalate care as appropriate for additional physical assessment, lab result interpretation, medication needs, linkage to more complex or recurring care service lines, and to facilitate rapid intervention in times of crisis or urgent complexity.

Teamwork

• Collaborates with multi-disciplinary team to address both physical and psychological aspects of health to provide care for the whole patient.
• As applicable, collaborates with provider, pharmacy, social work, or other staff for education on health promotion, disease prevention, and/or management of disease.

Patient Focus

• Provide culturally, linguistically, and age-appropriate HIV care, treatment, and risk reduction education, along with prevention, counseling, testing, and referrals for related concerns in accordance with applicable Chase Brexton policies regarding STI/HIV testing and treatment.
• Access appropriate resources inside and outside the organization to meet patient needs.
• Demonstrates awareness of cultural, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and racial differences and their potential to impact patient outcomes.

Communication

• Distribute linguistically and culturally appropriate educational literature/information.
• Utilizes interpreter services for patient communication as necessary.
• Attends nursing department staff meetings and participates in committee meetings as assigned.
• Represents Chase Brexton at internal and external workgroups and community gatherings and shares information appropriately.
• Provide appropriate SBAR report to licensed independent providers or external entities as needed for triage or additional patient assessment beyond RN scope of practice.

Checking, Examining, and Recording

• Documents telecommunications that reflect care specific to the actual or potential health needs of the caller/patient, and communicates effectively with other team members to provide continuity of care to the patient.
• Collects health status data relevant to the patient's present problem in a continuous, systematic, and complete manner.
• Completes review of systems and physical assessment and correlates with patient's health history to prepare patient for further examination or treatment as appropriate.

Integrity

• Maintains confidentiality in all situations, and demonstrates mindfulness of professional role even while not acting in a professional capacity or at work.
• Adheres to organizational policies and standing orders regarding STI/HIV/reproductive testing, treatment, and linkage to other internal and external services.
• In collaboration with other staff, reviews policies and guidelines to ensure standards of care are consistently delivered and meet the needs of community members.
• Monitors, evaluates, and updates data needed regarding HIV care and treatment reporting to various partner agencies to ensure continuous quality improvement.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Correspondence is always professional, accurate and delivered in a timely manner.
• Experience with documentation in an Electronic Medical Record
• Ability to work with computers in word processing, and database applications preferred.
• Must be flexible and adapt to a fast-paced and constantly changing environment.
• Self-motivated and driven, able to prioritize competing responsibilities and work in a largely autonomous setting.
• Phlebotomy experience required or independent external training obtained prior to start date.
• Required: outstanding communication skills with staff, patients, and community members. Must be able to effectively communicate with patients using both medically appropriate and patient-understood terminology.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Required: Graduate from an Accredited School of Nursing; Current Maryland Nursing License
• Preferred: 3+ years of nursing in an ambulatory, acute care, or public health setting
• Familiarity with sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, HIV care and prevention, and trauma-informed care practices.
• Significant related experience with priority populations served may substitute for some of the above requirements.
• BSN or advanced degree preferred
• CPR certified by scheduled start date.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is typically performed in a hybrid office environment.
• Must have a valid driver's license and transportation.
• Ability to commute between clinic site (MVC) and county or partner sites.
• Ability to lift 30-50lbs.

Additional note: This role requires a high degree of critical thinking and autonomy but is not allowed to clinically practice independently above or beyond the scope of organizational policy and standing orders governing the role. Independently practicing outside of clinic policy, RN scope, or legal authority may result in immediate termination and referral to the Maryland Board of Nursing.