Vaccine Nurse (Part-Time, Temporary)

Temporary, part-time position for 28 weeks starting early September through mid-March, with a maximum of 19 hours per week.

About the Role

The vaccine nurse will work alongside Somerville’s Public Health Nurses to administer vaccines to patients in both community and residential settings. They will assist with all aspects of the vaccine clinic planning process, including confirming space reservations, volunteer coordination, supply inventory, and vaccine administration. The nurse vaccinator is expected to vaccinate persons 6 months and older based on the current CDC immunization schedule and availability of vaccines at the Health Department.

Responsibilities

• Administer vaccines safely and efficiently according to CDC and MDPH immunization practices
• Adhere to safety and infection control procedures while administering vaccines and overseeing safe clinic flow for staff and vaccine recipients
• Participate in Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) and report immunization data in a timely manner while following HIPAA standards and confidentiality laws
• Ensure safety of vaccines including complying with MDPH vaccine storage and handling requirements
• Provide vaccine educational information to families, including possible side effects, immunization schedules, and schedule return visits as needed for continuity of care
• Comply with Massachusetts Records Retention laws and report any adverse events using VAERs form with immediate notification to supervisor and medical director
• Triage phone calls and walk-in patients, appropriately scheduling appointments based on need, including coordinating and performing home visits for vaccine administration
• Participate in ongoing training and education related to vaccine administration and safety
• Document vaccination administration using Color software documentation system
• Execute transport per the department’s protocol for emergency transport of vaccines in the event of a power outage or vaccine temperature storage issue
• Provide back-up coverage for essential public health nursing functions, including Direct Observation Therapy for Tuberculosis cases and infectious disease case investigation, dependent on department needs
• Respond to urgent City events or emergencies as directed by Director of Public Health Nursing
• Other tasks as assigned

Requirements

• Valid, current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts
• BSN or Associates Degree in Nursing
• Prior vaccine management experience preferred
• Prior experience working at vaccine clinics required
• Access to reliable personal transportation and ability to travel throughout the community and transport vaccines
• Physically able to bend, lift 30 pounds, and move up and down stairs
• Current CPR and First Aid certification
• Bilingual/Bicultural experience preferred
• Strong preference for a connection to the Somerville area
• Some evening and weekend hours are required

Skills & Knowledge

• Considerable knowledge of nursing theory, practices, principles, and techniques employed in public health
• Ability to apply principles and practices of public health, especially surrounding vaccine hesitancy
• Knowledge of available resources and organizations in Somerville and Cambridge
• General knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health
• Familiarity with ICS principles and Local Board of Health (LBOH) involvement in emergency response
• Ability to deal tactfully with others, exercise good judgment, and maintain effective working relationships
• Proficient in vaccine preparation and administration
• Technical experience with Color platform, MIIS, Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Physical effort involves sitting, walking, stooping, and standing, with occasional lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects such as books, office equipment, and clinic supplies.
• Fine motor skills required for activities such as writing, typing, and manipulating standard nursing supplies.
• Visual demands include reading documents, computer screens, and written reports, with the ability to see objects up to 20 inches away and beyond 20 feet, including depth perception and peripheral vision.
• Auditory ability to listen and comprehend, as well as conduct physical assessments.

Pay

$40 per hour