Registered Nurse (RN) - Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Nurse Specialist

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Days Off : Saturday, Sunday

Shift : 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

About DESC :

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION

The Registered Nurse (RN) will outreach and support individuals who have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) and prescribed medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The RN will act as a member of DESC's interdisciplinary 'Opioid Treatment Network' (OTN) team to provide low-barrier access to medications for opioid use disorder. DESC currently provides the medications : buprenorphine, Suboxone, Sublocade, Brixadi and Vivitrol to treat opioid use disorder. RN will work closely with individuals living in permanent supportive housing sites, scattered sites, shelters, encampments and those who live houseless, to formulate comprehensive MOUD induction and care plans. The RN will provide daily support through outreach to individuals engaged in the MOUD induction and stabilization process. The RN will provide client-centered care through the lens of harm-reduction. Work is done under the supervision of the Nursing Supervisor and Nurse Manager.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Coordinate MOUD induction and care plans for individuals starting or restarting MOUD.
• Administer Sublocade injections, Brixadi injections and Vivitrol injections as well as other formularies of MOUD.
• Assess and monitor patients during the induction, stabilization, and maintenance phases of MOUD treatment using an approach that is patient-centered, includes harm reduction strategies and occurs in non-traditional settings.
• Integrate care with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatric providers, nurses, substance use professionals, peer support specialists, mental health case managers and primary care providers.
• Provide counseling and education about MOUD treatment options to clients and utilize shared decision-making to establish client goals.
• Comprehensive data tracking for MOUD clients per grant deliverables
• Follow state and federal guidelines and program-specific policies and procedures for opioid dependent patients in collaboration with prescribing providers and dispensing pharmacies.
• Utilize critical thinking, clinical judgment, patience and flexibility in frequent contacts with clients.
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Provide ongoing assessments of individuals receiving MOUD treatment.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assess and intervene in emergent medical situations, including individuals experiencing overdose
• 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, Nursing Director or Medical Director.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Strong applicants can 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. Applicant should be highly skilled in time management and possess the ability to prioritize competing tasks in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and sometimes stressful environment. Employee will be working both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER :

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$103,545.12 - $114,309.12 annually