Job Description

The Faster Paths nurse provides skilled nursing services to patients with substance use disorders, including many patients experiencing homelessness and co-occurring mental health conditions. . Responsibilities include ongoing assessment, intakes, evaluations, triage, teaching, medication inductions, stabilizations, and monitoring of patients with opioid use disorder as well as referrals to long-term care. Collaborates with team members, clinic settings at BMC and outside referral community health settings, works with providers from addiction settings in assisting patients and supporting their referral needs. Ideal candidate possesses experience in addiction-based settings.

Position: Faster Paths Program, Registered Nurse

Department: Research - General Internal Medicine

Schedule: Part Time, Per Diem, must have occasional weekend and weekday availability

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Creates respectful, dignified, non-judgmental care environment for people with substance use disorders. Uses medically accurate, non-stigmatizing, person-first language in oral and written communication.

• Provides skilled nursing services to patients with opioid and other substance use disorders and their significant support systems. Ongoing assessment, intakes, evaluations, triage, teaching, inductions, stabilizations, and monitoring of patients in bridge clinic.

• Provides primary nursing care of patients within the bridge clinic, as well as support and services to patients from other settings referred to program for stabilization and assessment.

• Collaborates with team members, clinic settings at BMC and outside referral sites, works with providers from addiction settings in assisting patients and supporting their referral needs.

• Initial assessment and intake obtaining social, medical, mental health, substance use and medication history.

• Review intake assessment with clinical team and establish appropriate plan of care for patient.

• Revise patient plan of care with the bridge clinic team as needed to address patient needs and issues.

• Collaboration, communication, and meetings with bridge clinic team as needed and required.

• Review consents and treatment contracts with patients, obtaining signatures and giving patient a copy.

• Ongoing management of patients receiving medications for opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders.

• Education and assessment of patients looking to access opioid treatment programs.

• Linkage to community addiction services and including assisting patients at BMC in accessing opioid treatment programs by referral for direct admission.

• Assessment of signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal using the COW (Clinical Opioid Withdrawal) scale and assessment of signs and symptoms of alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal using the CIWA (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment).

• Assessment and monitoring of patients in the induction, stabilization, and maintenance phases of treatment.

• Counseling patients on evidence-based HIV prevention services, including pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, PEP) with the support of bridge clinic providers.

• Ongoing education and support of patients in all phases of treatment including; nursing visits scheduled and random, urine toxicology screens, routine labs and as needed, medication teaching, monitoring, and medication refills.

• Follow State and Federal guidelines in providing care to patients with substance use in collaboration with licensed, prescribing physicians, providers, and pharmacy.

• Complete appropriate documentation with excellent record keeping.

• Collects pertinent data using appropriate assessment techniques.

• Prioritizes data according to the patient’s immediate conditions and needs.

• Involves the patient, significant others and appropriate health care providers in the collection of data when appropriate.

• Consistently uses clear concise and effective communication written/oral and comply with departmental policies when sharing/documenting relevant patient care data.

• Provides follow up care in person and via telephone when needed, including sharing appropriate lab results in collaboration with providers.

• Works with the pharmacy and the Faster Paths team in obtaining medication orders, prescriptions, refills, and communication as needed.

• Assesses emergent situations and provides required patient care assistance when unexpected needs/crisis situations occur, e.g., substance use adverse effects.

• Manages milieu and calming/reassuring patients who are anxious, distressed, agitated.

• Provide wound care and dressing changes, assist providers with abscess incision and drainage.

• Assesses patients for safety and seeks assistance as needed.

• Works with the clinical teams to provide supportive care for patients experiencing withdrawal.

• Utilizes clinic space and resources to support patient needs.

• Perform other duties as specified by the providers, and nursing leadership.

Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Nursing degree: Diploma, ASN or BSN (preferred), Ability to obtain BSN within 4 years

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

Required

• Massachusetts licensure as a registered nurse.

• Maintain R.N. staff competencies on an annual basis.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

EXPERIENCE:

• 1-3 years clinical experience required.

• Experience with patients with substance use disorder and/or health behavior change counseling required

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Computer skills required, preferably with Word, Excel and Access.

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to adapt in fast-paced clinical environment

• Experience working in primary care or mental health setting preferred.

• Strong patient communication and patient education skills.

• Ability to be highly organized, detail-oriented, and timely.

• Ability to work productively across academic clinical departments.

Compensation Range:

$31.97- $46.39

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

NOTE This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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