Registered Nurse- Adult

About the Role

Under general supervision, provides nursing and health care services to individuals and families in an outpatient primary care environment with assignments in adult medicine. Responsible for the management, provision, and evaluation of nursing care in their center area of assignment. Assists with telephone and face-to-face patient communications, physical exams, lab testing, patient education. Responds to patient needs and assures health care services for patients and families are reflective of Lowell Community Health Center mission and values. Incumbent works as part of the nursing team and assists in the continuity of medical/health care for patients.

Essential Duties

• Assists with provision of care that includes treatment, teaching and counseling
• Recognizes and interprets symptoms of patient's conditions and reports to appropriate health care provider
• Provides direct nursing services to patients and their families, including: nursing assessment, nursing intervention/referral, health care education
• Assesses patients' needs based upon evaluation of current functioning and strengths, review of previous health/medical plan of care, and medications. This includes support system being utilized, vocational status, and identification of any special needs (i.e., physical, emotional, or substance abuse/psychiatric history)
• Able to prepare patients for examination: completes history, reviews systems, and current physical health status
• Takes B/P, weight, height, temperature, other measurements and/or vitals as appropriate to complete health assessment
• Performs vision and hearing screenings if appropriate
• Obtains urine, sputum specimens as appropriate
• Completes laboratory/radiology imaging reconciliation
• Administers appropriate immunizations and injections
• Maintains clinical logs for central area
• Develops a system for summarizing clinical and laboratory data for evaluation and planning purposes, and quality assurance
• Assists with the planning and implementation of educational programs for patients and families to increase awareness of relevant medical conditions, decrease risk-behaviors, and increase responsibility for self-care
• Attends and participates in in-service education programs for staff, quality assurance programs, and risk-management programs

Qualifications

• Current CPR/BLS Certification
• Registered Nursing License in Massachusetts required

Experience

• 1+ years of experience in an ambulatory or outpatient setting is desirable, with a focus on pediatric and/or adult nursing

Skills

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Bilingual skills in English and Khmer, Spanish, Portuguese, Kiswahili, Pashto, desired

Work Environment

• Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses and other department staff
• Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs
• May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases. Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure