Staff Nurse - CHC of Meriden - 24 hours/week - $600 Signon Bonus!

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) is one of the country’s most creative and dynamic providers of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services, and a leader in practice-based research, health professionals training, and use of innovative technologies to advance health and healthcare. CHC is designated as a federally qualified health center and a patient-centered medical home by HRSA, the Joint Commission, and NCQA, respectively. We deliver more than 500,000 patient visits per year from primary care hubs and community clinics across Connecticut, all connected by technology and common standards for quality.

About the Role

The Primary Care Nurse (PCN) provides high-quality, comprehensive, professional nursing care to individuals and families throughout the lifespan. As part of a clinical team, the PCN works at the top of their licensure to enhance the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of care through both the performance of professional nursing responsibilities and the delegation of technical and clerical functions as appropriate to medical assistants. The role includes providing patients with both general and focused health education regarding preventive, chronic, and episodic health care issues.

The PCN collaborates with primary care providers to coordinate care, support transitions between levels of care, and counsel, educate, and support patients in improving health status. Applies principles of advanced access, planned care, the chronic care model, and rapid cycle performance improvement using the PDSA approach at CHC.

Responsibilities

• Support primary care of patients under the planned care model.
• Collaborate with primary care providers (PCP) to identify needs for preventive care, evidence-based chronic disease care, and care coordination.
• Provide general and specific health care education.
• Work with patients to identify and monitor self-management goals.
• Collaborate care with other community-based providers.
• Follow up on emergency room visits and hospital discharges.
• Assist providers with exams, treatments, and procedures as needed.
• Ensure safe, accurate, and clinically appropriate collection, storage, and processing of all biologic specimens.
• Administer medications, including vaccines and immunizations, orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intradermally, or via nebulizer at the order of the prescribing provider and under standing orders as established by CHCI.
• Adhere to CHC protocols regarding documentation of medication, route, dosage, and information provided to the patient.
• Monitor patient response to medication; detect, report, and respond to any adverse reaction.
• Provide patient education as appropriate to the administered medication.
• Perform a wide range of nursing activities as needed and after initial prescription by the primary care provider, such as wound care and catheterization.
• Accurately document all aspects of patient care in the medical chart on a timely basis.
• Schedule tests and referrals for specialty care on the order of the provider.
• Maintain strict infection control standards in accordance with CHCI protocols and universal precautions, OSHA, and CLIA standards.
• Act as a resource person for medical assistants regarding patient preparation, needs, and procedures.
• Monitor and ensure follow-up of all abnormal Pap smear results, STDs, lead screens, and other tests and screens performed at CHCI.
• Oversee the maintenance of supplies and equipment, ordering supplies as necessary.
• Maintain compliance with agency mandatory annual training (Patient Safety, Abuse, Age-Based Competencies, EOC, Abuse trainings, etc.).
• Expert use of the electronic health record to ensure timely, safe, confidential storage and retrieval of patient information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associates of Science in Nursing (ASN).

Schedule

• Part-time: Wednesday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
• One Saturday a month from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Benefits

As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Community Health Center Inc. is proud to serve as an eligible practice site for clinicians participating in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Programs and multiple HRSA loan repayment programs across Medical, Behavioral Health, and Dental. Eligible providers may qualify for valuable financial assistance programs, including:

• NHSC Loan Repayment
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Loan Repayment
• Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
• Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program (CT SLRP), which mirrors the HRSA-administered NHSC program

Our organization maintains strong HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area) scores of 21 for primary medical care, 21 for mental health, and 25 for dental services.

Location: Community Health Center of Meriden, CT.