Registered Nurse (RN)

About the role

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Responsibilities

• Cook up client care with a multidisciplinary team of social workers/case managers, chemical dependency professionals, peer support specialists, psychiatric nurses and other mental health staff.
• Under the guidance and direction of the ARNP Supervisor, coordinate medical aspects of care, including monitoring and administration of medications in a manner that meets the unique needs of clients.
• Provide education to clients regarding their treatment, medical and mental health condition.
• On-going assessment of mental status and the positive impact and side effects of current treatment.
• Provide specialized training and consultation to other staff members on medical/mental health issues relating to clients and their care.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for team clients.
• Comply with the agency’s clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Assess clients for range of health care needs and facilitate linkage and on-going connection to relevant urgent, primary and specialty health services.
• Advocate for clients’ access to community resources and services, especially primary health care services, ensuring that clients’ needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Coordinate services closely with CDF, CDIS and MCT supervisors and case management staff.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Promote and maintain positive relationships with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation and physical 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.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse, licensed in the State of Washington, in good standing. If licensed under the Nurse Licensure Compact Multistate License (NLC MSL), compliance with RCW 71.12.740 and NLC MSL Rule 402.2 is a condition of employment.
• 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.
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by program and staffing needs.
• Valid Washington state driver’s license and insurable driving record.
• Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.
• Ability to relate to a wide range of people, demonstration of highly developed communication skills, and a desire to serve homeless, mentally ill clients.
• Ability and interest in providing case consultations with a multi-disciplinary staff.
• Ability to remain open and receptive to constructive feedback.
• Ability to communicate with and coordinate with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Preferred qualifications

• 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.
• Bachelor of Nursing degree.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues.

Benefits

• 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.

Pay

$108,556.56 - $119,855.04 annually