Registered Nurse

Coalition Mission

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves.

Our Philosophy of Service

We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and healthcare are available to everyone.

• We Create Lasting Solutions To Homelessness By
• Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities, and fostering their hope that a better life is possible;
• Building strong, caring, and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care, and supportive services;
• Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion, and diversity and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve;
• Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation, and professional development;
• Using resources judiciously and effectively.

About the Role

The Registered Nurse works collaboratively within an Integrated Health Care for the Homeless team. The RN in this position is responsible for performing both independent and delegated duties in the provision of comprehensive health care to all Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) patients.

Responsibilities

• Provides skilled nursing care according to accepted community standards of quality healthcare.
• Provides patient-centered care within an integrated, trauma-informed, harm-reduction model.
• Performs quick and accurate triage assessments with appropriate recommendations of care as outlined in SSHC nursing protocols via telephone or in-person.
• Empowers patients by providing appropriate health education and information, including but not limited to addressing common chronic and acute health conditions in this population, such as diabetes management, hypertension management, nutrition, wound care, and disease prevention.
• Administers medications in a safe, evidence-based manner following written protocols or direct provider order, including but not limited to immunizations, antibiotics, insulin, normal saline, Depo-Provera, and testosterone injections.
• Enters patient data and retrieves that data on a weekly basis for analysis with the Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing, Medical Director, and Revenue Cycle team as appropriate.
• Collaborates with other members of the multi-disciplinary health care teams including but not limited to medical assistants, primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, psychiatric providers, peer specialists, dental assistants and hygienists, pharmacists, patient navigators, case managers, client access representatives, inventory and lab coordinators, and nurse educator.
• Coordinates care with internal programs including but not limited to Health Outreach Program, Housing First, Assertive Community Treatment, Respite, and Medication Assisted Treatment Program.
• As a member of an OBH licensed Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment team, provides treatment services such as case management, crisis services, initial intake program screenings, individual medication assisted treatment (MAT) counseling, and administering scales to assess withdrawal.
• Provides transitional, chronic, and complex care management.
• Provides nursing services as needed for CCH programs external to SSHC, including but not limited to, Health Outreach, Samaritan House, Beacon, Hospital-based Respite and TCM, West End Health Center, Fort Lyon, Housing First, and SIB.

Requirements

• AD, BSN, or MSN in nursing from an accredited college or university.
• Current licensure from the State of Colorado to practice as a Registered Nurse.
• Certification in Basic Life Support.
• Successful completion of the privileging and credentialing process for RNs at the Coalition.
• Preferred experience in ambulatory, public, or community nursing.
• Preferred experience in mental health, emergency department, or critical care.
• Bilingual, English-Spanish preferred.

Skills

• Sound critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Consistently superb customer service skills; excellent interpersonal/assertive communications skills demonstrating a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Knowledge of homeless issues and demonstrated sensitivity to and a desire to work with underserved populations.
• Ability to perform treatments and laboratory procedures independently and/or as requested by the health care provider.
• Adheres to Universal Precautions per CDC guidelines and OSHA regulations.
• Adheres to HIPAA regulations per standards developed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Provides appropriate patient education that is tailored to both the individual’s learning style, education and/or reading level, and is sensitive to their health beliefs.
• Possesses good communication skills.
• Possesses good crisis intervention skills.
• Possesses the initiative to learn and practice triage protocols.
• Can triage patients, either in person or via telephone according to current triage protocols at SSHC.
• Ability to assess and provide urgent/emergent care for patients when necessary.

Benefits

We offer a full suite of benefits for our eligible employees and their dependents. We’re proud to offer same- and opposite-sex domestic partner coverage.

• Health Insurance - HMO or PPO
• Dental plans, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance
• Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement savings matching
• Extensive paid time-off, including holidays, sick leave, and vacation

The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire.