What are the responsibilities and job description for the Registered Nurse position at Helen Keller Services (HKS)?
Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Do YOU want to work on a team that is committed to empowering individuals? At Helen Keller Services, our employees work in an environment that is more than just a workplace, it’s a community.
Since 1967, Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are DeafBlind or have a combined hearing and vision loss. HKNC is dedicated to working with each person to achieve their desired goals towards independence, employment, and quality of life, based on their talents, preferences and aspirations. We currently have an exciting career opportunity available to join the HKNC team as a Part-Time Registered Nurse. The Registered Nurse is responsible for the assessment and treatment of the health care needs (emergent, urgent, and routine) for all participants at HKNC. This requires a well-experienced RN who can work independently, along with in-person and telephone triage/supervision. The RN must be able to communicate their findings to the supervisor and other related healthcare professionals. To provide seamless nursing support, the RN will be called upon episodically to cover nursing shifts in the event of inclement weather or during absences for nursing staff. This position has an anticipated schedule of 8 hours per week.
Pay Rate: $45/hourly
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Medication:
- Administer medication to consumers who:
- Are unable to self-administer their medications (prescribed and over-the-counter medications)
- Request nursing assistance in the administration of their medications (prescribed and over-the-counter medications)
- Monitor the consumer’s response after giving the medication
- Medication / Health Education
- Initiates / conducts formal and informal medication education classes with consumers in an effort to foster the consumers inter/independence with medication administration including, but not limited to:
- The proper use of a seven-day medication box
- The correct filling of a seven-day medication box
- The correct procedure for ordering prescribed medications
- Provide health education to consumers, including but not limited to:
- Health promotion strategies
- Illness Prevention
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Participates in the HKNC sponsored vaccination program:
- Provide vaccinations as indicated for HKNC consumers / staff
- Observe individuals for adverse reactions
- Complete NYS or HKNC required documentation
- Tuberculosis Testing:
- Measure and record induration
- Using accepted metrics, ascertain if the Mantoux test is positive or negative
- Report findings to Director of Medical Services
- Perform health assessments to:
- Identify new symptoms indicating potentially under / undiagnosed conditions or complications
- Report the findings to all appropriate healthcare providers while following HIPPA regulations of medical information sharing, including but not limited to:
- Prescriber of Record
- At-Home Healthcare Provider
- Family members with Medical POA as appropriate
- HKNC Director of Medical Services
- Assess / treat each consumer’s unique health problems in a holistic manner recognizing:
- Consumers:
- Knowledge deficits
- Importance of participation in the process
- Leading to empowerment
- Need for self-determination
6. Execute medical regimens as prescribed by:
A. Licensed physicians / MD / DO / OD
B. Nurse practitioners
C. Physician assistants
D. Dentists
E. Other licensed providers as authorized
7. Coordinator for Automatic External Defibrillator Monitoring Program
A. Perform regulatory testing of units
B. Keep appropriate records in accordance with regulatory guidelines
8. Arrange outside medical appointments for consumers with private local physicians, urgent care centers and hospitals
A. Arrange for interpreting support and drivers if indicated
B. Accompany the consumers to the medical appointments as necessary. To accomplish this, the individual may be required to use a personal vehicle on occasion.
9. Create supply orders for medical stock for both Medical Service Office and Residence Nurses Office for approval by the Director of Medical Services
14. Assist the Director of Medical Services in processing admissions paperwork, within the confines of the RN licensure.
A. Conducts the medical intake when new consumers first arrive.
B. Contacts at-home healthcare providers for necessary information / required paperwork
10. The RN participates as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team in the planning and implementation of the health care needs of consumers.
11. Performs other clinical/administrative healthcare related duties, when necessary, at the discretion of the Director of Medical Services.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job does not have supervisory responsibilities. However, in the absence of the Director of Medical Services, the RN can:
- Arrange for nursing coverage in accordance with the instructions of the Director of Medical Services and based on the needs of the HKNC consumers.
- Serve as the telephone triage nurse for the nursing staff should medical issues arise when the Director of Medical Services is unavailable.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a graduate of a New York State approved education program as a Registered Professional Nurse.
He/she must possess sufficient clinical experience to be able to perform each essential duty in a satisfactory manner without direct supervision. The RN must take the initiative in expediting effective resolution in critical and/or emergency medical situations and relay that information to the director of medical services.
Methods of communication used by persons who are DeafBlind at a conversational level must be developed within one year. Knowledge of Deaf and DeafBlind culture is required.
Knowledge of MS Office including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook is required. Strong report writing skills required.
He/she must become familiar with all HKNC consumers:
Preferred mode of communication
DeafBlind diagnosis
Self-administration status congruent with the New York State Guidelines for the Self-Administration of Medication
The RN must have an understanding of HIPAA regulations and must develop working knowledge of the HKNC Medical Service Department’s policies and procedures.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- Must have a valid, unencumbered NYS RN license.
- Must have a current valid Healthcare providers BLS certification from an approved American Heart Association healthcare providers training centers.
- Must have completed a current course on:
- Advanced Infection Control – Approved by New York State
- New York State Child Abuse and Reporting course
- Basic life support certificate
- Must participate in the HKNC sponsored Universal Precautions In-Service
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. we offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including:
- 4 weeks paid vacation annually
- 12 says paid Sick Time annually
- 2 Personal Days
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Short Term Disability/ Life Insurance
- Voluntary Ancillary Benefits
- 403b Program with Employer Match
- Career Advancement Opportunities
Salary : $45