At CrescentCare, we bring caregivers and the community together as partners in health and wellness for all. Our experience builds on more than 40 years of impact through our founding organization, NO/AIDS Task Force. In 2014, we became a Federally Qualified Health Center to offer an expanded range of health and wellness services for anyone and everyone who is seeking healthcare services in Greater New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.

Our Mission

Strengthening our entire community through whole-person healthcare and education.

Position Summary

Incumbent is a graduate of an accredited nursing program, who holds Louisiana state licensure as a Registered Nurse. The RN is skilled in the ability to work directly with patients providing a continuum of nursing services including but not limited to drawing labs, providing vaccinations, obtaining a thorough assessment and history, and recording signs and symptoms. Keeps up with changing clinical guidelines regarding general patient care and patient-specific clinical conditions. Discusses wellness and adherence with patients as necessary.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains clinical competency as demonstrated in providing direct patient care and licensure as well as maintaining current knowledge in nursing practice.
• Performs functions within the scope of practice contained in Louisiana Professional Standards, and Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) practices.
• Triages patients and phone calls for urgent appointments, the need for urgent care, and referring to an emergency department if deemed necessary.
• Collects information concerning an individual’s health status systematically and continuously including vital signs (height, weight, temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation) as appropriate for the visit type.

• Records and communicates to determine nursing care needs, according to the following criteria:

• The priority of data collection is determined by the individual’s immediate condition and needs.
• The collection and recording of data provides for systematic collection, frequent updating, accessibility, and appropriate confidentiality.

• Documents findings and nursing procedures properly in the patient’s medical record.
• Communicates with the care team practitioner concerning patient care issues and functions as part of the care team using evidence-based guidelines.
• Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and cost in planning and delivering patient care.

• Determines nursing decisions in an ethical manner.
• Receives phone message and transmits them to the care team in a timely manner. Assists and communicates with the care team concerning patient care issues (e.g., change in condition, refill requests, patient incidents.)
• Facilitates medication refill requests, verifies medication requests with care team and obtains prior authorization as needed and maintains appropriate documentation.
• Maintains universal/standard precautions for infection control.
• Completes patient record checks for provider appointments, assures that referral results are obtained, and all lab results are available prior to the appointment.

• Maintains nursing logs as required by policies and procedures.
• Assists care team with examinations and procedures as assigned within scope of practice.
• Assures complete and accurate recording of immunizations in LINKS.
• Collects samples such as urine, blood, and stool specimens, in the clinic as ordered, and prepares specimens for transport to lab.
• Instructs patients in home-collection of urine, stool, and sputum specimens, when appropriate.

• Provides education to patient and patient’s personal support system in areas such as disease management, safer sex, medication adherence, injections, etc., as appropriate.
• Documents services performed for medical record keeping, compliance, billing, and reporting purposes.
• Assists with patient check-outs and scheduling patient specialty appointments and diagnostic tests as ordered by provider.
• Maintains order in labs and exam rooms, including stocking supplies. Notifies supervisor when supplies are needed.
• Reviews provider orders, lab requests or follow-up needs with patient.

• Clarifies any order or treatment regimen believed to be inaccurate, or contraindicated, by consulting with the appropriate licensed practitioner and notifying the ordering practitioner when the registered nurse makes a decision to NOT administer the medication or treatment.
• Accepts only those nursing assignments that are commensurate with one’s own education preparation, experience, and authorized scope of practice as well as knowledge and ability.
• Follows CrescentCare guidelines for LSBN mandatory reporting of any unsafe nursing practice when there is reasonable cause to suspect actual harm or risk to patients by sing the agency’s reporting mechanisms including reporting through nursing leadership.
• Serves as the nursing professional on CrescentCare Care Teams responsible for the overall care of patients as defined within their agreement with their collaborating providers.
• Promotes teamwork, good interpersonal relations and communication among staff at the healthcare setting at the local level.

• Participates in Health Fairs, employee and volunteer health programs, immunization campaigns, and home visits as appropriate.
• Assists in educational programs for staff and participates in team meetings.
• Maintains compliance with FTCA policies, LSBN, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies’ statuses and standards including CrescentCare Standards of Care.
• Assumes additional responsibilities as directed by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate’s Degree in Nursing
• Louisiana Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing
• BLS certifications as necessary

• Valid Louisiana Driver’s License
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Necessary technical skills to use electronic health record, incident reporting system, email, and other information systems
• HIV/AIDS knowledge preferred
• Experience with the LGBT community preferred

• Spanish and English-speaking (bilingual) preferred

Total Compensation Package

We believe the investment we make in our staff is among the most important. Our compensation package includes:

• Comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage options
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Employer-paid Dental
• Employer-paid life insurance & AD&D
• Employer-paid Wellness Program
• Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-sponsored vision insurance
• Employer-sponsored short-term disability insurance
• Vacation time (accrue 10 days in first 12 months) and sick time (accrue 6 days in first 12 months)
• Eleven (11) paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match beginning in employee’s second year