Days Off: Sunday, Monday

Shift: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday (full-time, 37.5 hours per week)

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

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

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 DESCRIPTION:

The Registered Nurse (RN) acts as a member of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for providing nursing services to adults experiencing homelessness. DESC’s STAR center provides 24-hour, low-barrier, enhanced supportive services. Here, the RN will provide in-the-moment, low-threshold medical access to clients who may otherwise not present to more traditional clinics. Work is done under the supervision of the Clinic RN Supervisor, Outpatient Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, and Medical Director.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide direct nursing services, including clinical assessments, medication administration, wound care, foot care, and other treatments.
• Triage, assess, and support clients to acquire primary care, urgent care, prenatal care, mental health care, and reproductive, sexual health, dental, vision and specialty care, as appropriate. Coordinate care within DESC and with external health care providers as needed.
• Provide life-saving efforts in the case of a client medical emergency in the building, until higher level of care arrives.
• Educate clients about acute and chronic conditions, self-care, medications and their effects, and other relevant health topics.
• Lead therapeutic, educational, and support groups focused on client health, medication, behavior management, and other relevant topics.
• Coordinate care transitions with internal DESC and external partner health care providers.
• Be able to use critical thinking, clinical judgment, patience, and flexibility in frequent contacts with clients. Have strong communication and customer service skills.
• Build trusting relationships with clients who may be wary and difficult to engage by employing a warm and accepting approach that includes trauma informed care, harm reduction and motivational interviewing. Demonstrate a commitment to this approach through language and behavior.
• Participate in 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 activities.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation and be willing and able to assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Registered Nurse licensed in the State of Washington OR Registered Nurse licensed under Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and will apply for Washington State endorsement within 60 days of hire.
• Knowledge of psychiatric medications, side effects and methods of administration.
• Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
• Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.
• Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.
• Ability to relate to a wide range of people, demonstrate highly developed communication skills, and have a desire to serve homeless, mentally ill clients.
• Ability to remain open and receptive to constructive feedback.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of peculiar or disturbing behavior.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Nursing degree
• Nursing certifications
• Knowledge and skill in working with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders; with homeless or formerly homeless individuals; and crisis intervention and stabilization experience.
• Familiarity with Recovery Principles, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Integrated Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders, Intensive Case Management, Illness Management, and relevant Evidenced based/Emerging best practices.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.

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. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and sometimes stressful environment.

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.