Healthcare for the Homeless - Sign on Bonus!

The Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Program of Manchester at Catholic Medical Center, is made possible through generous support from the Manchester Health Department and Catholic Medical Center. All persons who are experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of being homeless, are welcomed. No one is turned away due to an inability to pay.

DESCRIPTION

Delivers health care to client/patients of all ages whose needs range from basic to complex and are rapidly changing by utilizing the nursing process. Creates a therapeutic environment while identifying and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling, and the provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general direction of the Project Director and the direct supervision of the Nurse Practitioner/ QA-Clinical Coordinator of HCH / MCHT and within established policies and procedures, the incumbent performs the following essential functions:

1. Assessment:

• Interviews the client/patient and/or family to obtain a comprehensive history and to obtain data about client/patient's developmental status and behavior.

• Examines the client/patient to obtain objective physical data.

• Reviews available clinical data from referral and lab results, etc. as part of data base.

• Completes a physical, psychosocial and environmental/safety assessment based on interview, examination and review of available clinical data.

• Documents data and assessment on appropriate form according to guidelines.

• Communicates client/patient status and assessed needs to members of interdisciplinary team.

• Reassesses client/patient status at established time frames and as indicated by the client/patient's status.

• Reports status and changes in status as appropriate.

• Assesses potential for development of crisis situations based on combination of subjective and objective cues.

2. Planning:

• Develops an individualized approach to deliver nursing care to the individual client/patient and family.

• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team to develop an integrated plan of care.

• Initiates discharge planning as an integral part of the plan of care at the time of admission.

• Documents plan of care appropriately.

• Acts as a resource to others planning care.

• Documents evidence that client/family is involved in care planning process.

3. Implementing Plan of Care:

• Acknowledges, transcribes, coordinates and implements the medical diagnostic and therapeutic orders.

• Performs nursing care actions.

• Promotes client/patient's dignity during provision of care.

• Provides calm, supportive and therapeutic environment for client/patients and their families.

• Assesses the client/patient's response to and understanding of care provided.

• Documents implementation of care appropriately.

• Reports client/patient's response to care as indicated.

• Acts as a resource to nursing students in provision of client/patient care.

4. Evaluating Plan of Care:

• Reviews and updates the plan of care in collaboration with the client/patient/family and other interdisciplinary team members.

• Anticipates client/patient's abilities and incorporates anticipated needs into plan of care.

• Identifies components of the nursing regime that may be delegated to allied nursing personnel and provides teaching and guidance when necessary.

• Carries out treatment and corrective measures in collaboration with and under the direction of the physician.

• Prepares and shares the overall responsibility for the keeping of proper clinical records.

• Participates in determining conditions, resources and policies essential to the delivery of nursing care services.

• Interprets philosophy and objectives of the project and communicates to clients, families, students and community groups.

• Maintains professional competence through participation in continuing education and other appropriate learning experiences.

• Functions as a role model for clinical experience of selected students of nursing, new and/or potential staff and others.

• Acts as a primary case manager.

• Maintains appropriate productivity standard.

• Adheres to safety, organizational and ethical standards including company safety standards, infection control standards and standards of confidentiality.

• Identifies needs for new or revised policies and procedures.

• Provides service with maximum efficiency to meet the quantitative standards.

• Conducts or coordinates at least one educational/informational program per year.

• Functions as a member of a team and other committees, task forces, or projects.

• Conducts outreach in community for purposes of assessing, case-finding, and engaging persons in need of health care at clinic site.

• Coordinates care and resources with community partners on behalf of patients.

• Functions as a preceptor for new staff members.

• Participates in Total Quality Management peer review activities.

WORK SCHEDULE:

• Work schedule may include 8 to 12 hours per day with weekend, evening, and night coverage based on agency needs. Staff is expected to cover for absences by rotating or working extra time. Staff is assigned to the service area of the Agency to meet client /patient needs. Occasional requirement to cover special events.

Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate from an approved school of nursing; BSN preferred.

Experience:

• Equivalent of 2 years in a nurse position in a relevant setting.

Licensure / Certification:

• Current registration in the State of NH as a Registered Nurse.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.