Nurse, Public Health (Health Care for the Homeless Project)
THE POSITION
The Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless is seeking a full-time Public Health Nurse who has an interest in, and skill and experience working with, people experiencing homelessness. This position will provide outreach, triage, nursing care and care coordination services to adult individuals in various locations in downtown Minneapolis where homeless live and receive services.
Effective January 6, 2019, there will be a general salary adjustment of 2.5% to the minimum and maximum of the range.
Location and hours:
Successful candidates must be able to travel to local shelters and community clinics for work. This position will work out of two locations, 614 Sout 3rd Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 and 165 Glenwood Ave North, Minneapolis, MN 55405. Work hours for this position are Monday through Friday and include working two to three evenings each week. Work hours will vary and can range from 7a.m. to 9p.m.
In this position, you will:
- Partner with local hospitals and clinics to ensure that homeless patients' care plans can be successful in the homeless community--focus on putting supports in place to ensure care plans are followed despite homelessness such as follow up appointments in Health Care for the Homeless clinics, and home health and medication management arrangements in shelters
- Coordinate admissions to the Respite Program; work closely with area hospital social workers and discharge planner,eligibility, support workers, and shelter staff.
- Work with community agencies to identify homeless individuals who are in need of medical care; serve as a contact person for these agencies to assist them with getting an identified clients into needed health care services
- Complete health needs assessments for each adult admitted to the Respite Program. Provide professional public health nursing services to assess the following: health history, current health status, current medications, presence of chronic conditions, need for preventive care, risk factors screening, mental and chemical health concerns, connection to primary medical care, access to health insurance, and financial and housing issues.
- Identify needed services based on health assessment; develop a care plan for each client based on identified needs; utilize resources within Health Care for the Homeless and its partners to meet client needs.
- Provide needed nursing services such as dressing changes, medication set up, and vital signs monitoring.
- Provide health education, counseling, consultation and care coordination based on needs identified in care plan.
- Document assessment, care plan and client encounters in an electronic medical record (Epic).
- Develop and maintain client relationships to provide consistent follow-up and case management to assist in meeting identified needs.
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with community service providers. Educate potential referral sources about availability of Respite Program and services offered.
- Prepare case plans, statistical and narrative reports that document client interactions.
- Serve as an active team member of the Health Care for the Homeless' multi-disciplinary team: attend meetings; participate in program planning, development and evaluation; and assist with reports and special projects.