Urgent Care RN

Job Summary: The Urgent Care (UC) RN works collaboratively as an active member of the UC Team to provide therapeutic family centered patient care. The UC RN directly supports the UC Lead RN and receives delegated tasks to support patient care activities and team operations. The UC RN will intermittently assume some leadership responsibilities of the UC Lead RN when required by their absence. The UC RN systematically and continuously collects and assesses data related to patient health status in order to develop, execute and evaluate the plan of care. The UC RN utilizes evidence to drive clinical decisions and practice related to individual and population health. The UC RN establishes goals and strategies for meeting care coordination needs across settings with the patient, family, and/or other care providers. The UC RN considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and fiscal accountability in planning and delivering care. The UC RN delegates and supervises care in accordance with the Alaska Nurse Practice Act, TCC policies and nationally-accepted standards governing nursing practice. The UC RN participates in continuous quality improvement initiatives for the organization.

The Urgent Care RN will possess expert level clinical skills acquired through training, work experience, and certification. The UC RN has experience delivering evidenced-based care and nursing interventions in an urgent/emergent medical practice setting. This nurse maintains the clinical competencies required to perform physical assessments and patient care procedures for moderate to high complexity patients with acute or chronic health conditions. This nurse has high level critical thinking ability and clinical judgement and can independently evaluate and treat patients with low or moderately complex complaints using standing orders. The UC RN maintains required training and competencies to provide life save interventions for patients to include ACLS, PALS, and NRP and possess or can obtain appropriate specialty certification (such as TNCC).

Adhere to the TCC Ch'eghwtsen' model of service and guiding principle which requires providing timely and effective service along with the ability to interact with others in a way that inspires trust and demonstrates respect, compassion and empathy.

Essential Functions: This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbent(s).

Representative Duties: Under general supervision of the Lead RN job incumbent will:

1. Telephone, VTC, and in-person patient triage (for symptom management).

2. Conduct nurse-only visits to provide low to moderate complexity patient care under standing orders.

3. Review and act on test results (lab, x-ray).

4. Review and manage communications from internal and external customers.

5. Initiate and monitor intravenous (IV) infusions.

6. Collect and appropriately handle lab specimens to include phlebotomy.

7. Assist or perform procedures (e.g. ECGs, dressing changes, subcutaneous or intra-muscular injections, wound care, etc.).

8. Provide patient education.

9. Execute delegation protocols.

10. Assist with medication management (e.g. medication refills, organizing medication boxes for elders, etc.).

11. Complete accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record.

12. Assist with management of urgent and emergent patient care situations.

13. Is expected to mentor and train less experienced clinical staff and serve as a resource for clinical nursing skills within Urgent Care.

14. Assist with the coordination of care across the continuum (e.g. inpatient, outpatient, home, skilled nursing facility, schools).

15. Assist with the management of patients with multiple chronic health conditions, acute episodes of care, and behavioral health challenges while promoting and supporting prevention and wellness.

16. Will actively work to ensure that all UC encounters provide a patient care experience in alignment with TCC values.

17. Will work cooperatively with the UC Team Lead to ensure that all AAAHC standards are met and that compliance with these standards is occurring on a continual basis.

18. Will be responsible to help develop and cultivate a strong spirit of effective teamwork amongst UC staff.

19. May float to other teams and departments as needed.

Other Responsibilities:

20. Performs other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned. TCC expects that all nurses will maintain the ability to perform basic clinical patient care skills. Clinical skills competencies will be demonstrated annually per the requirement of individual roles and as needed in support of general patient care services.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Current Alaska licensure as a Registered Nurse in good standing. BSN or higher degree is preferred.

2. 5 years of experience in direct patient care nursing with at least 2 years in urgent care, emergency medicine, or inpatient acute care with a minimum of 6 months experience in a tribal health organization.

3. Specialty certification in an aspect of ambulatory care nursing preferred. TNCC or equivalent certification strongly preferred.4

. Current BLS or ability to obtain or renew prior to beginning work. Current ALCS and PALS certification preferred.

5. Experience working with Alaska Native peoples or cross-cultural experience preferred.

6. Must pass background check pursuant to federal Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Knowledge and experience documenting patient care in an electronic medical record.

2. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.

3. Ability to make knowledgeable clinical assessments and judgments.

4. Ability to educate staff and patients in a positive, non-demeaning manner.

5. Ability to provide counseling and emotional support with compassion and respect for the individual.

6. Ability to provide support to the members of the care team (teamwork).

7. Must possess initiative and ability to work independently.

8. Ability to maintain confidentiality of medical records.

Supervision: This position has no routine supervisory responsibilities but can be called upon to act as Urgent Care Lead RN on a temporary basis.