Registered Nurse: COVID-19 Response – HEART Team
- Summary
SUMMARY:
Are you a Registered Nurse who has the passion, desire, and drive to serve those most vulnerable in our community? Do you want to work in an environment that values diversity and approaches situations with a focus on racial equity? If your answer is a capital YES! then Public Health’s COVID-19 Homeless Response is the place for you.
The Health Engagement Action Resource Team (HEART) provides both proactive and reactive visits to homeless service sites to assess practices for health, safety, wellness, and infection prevention. The HEART RN will be deployed under the guidance of a Public Health Nurse (PHN) to King County homeless shelters, encampments, and other service sites to conduct COVID-19 prevention and testing activities. The HEART RN will split their time between a handful of assigned sites to build supportive relationships with shelter staff and work collaboratively to fortify infection control practices.
This registered nurse position is a member of the Community Health Services Division COVID-19 Response and will have the opportunity for cross-training to Isolation and Quarantine Center and the Mobile Assessment Team (MAT). Isolation and Quarantine centers provide a safe, clean, and comfortable place to stay for people who can't safely self-quarantine or isolate in their own home, or don't have a home. MAT is responsible for providing COVID-19 testing for people who are at high risk for severe illness from the disease and are not able to access testing at a hospital, clinic, or other site.
Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.
JOB DUTIES:- Work under the direction of HEART Public Health Nurse and in collaboration with Environmental Health Services staff and community partners to provide proactive technical assistance on COVID-19 and influenza infection prevention to assigned sites.
- Collaborate with site staff to gain an understanding of the resources and limitations of each site; work collaboratively with site staff to update standard operating procedures related to infection control and prevention.
- Support public health nurse in training/education of site staff and residents on infection control protocols.
- Assist sites in implementing mitigation strategies as identified by HEART staff in site assessments.
- Collaborate with mobile testing team to support COVID-19 testing events for site staff and guests. Collect nasopharyngeal (NP), mid-turbinate (MT) and anterior nares (AN) swabs within scope of professional duties and store properly.
- If COVID cases are identified, work with investigations team to help shelter staff identify close contacts; assist in referring guests with suspected or positive COVID-19 illness to Isolation and Quarantine.
- Assist PHN in implementing site plans for providing basic supports for guests with influenza-like illness or other communicable diseases as needed
- Provide patient vaccine education and participate in vaccination efforts for influenza and, when available, COVID-19.
This position may also be asked to deploy to other COVID-19 response activities including emergency winter shelter support and vaccination efforts with appropriate training and supervision provided.
EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:- Knowledge of COVID-19 disease and infectious disease management and control.
- Ability to provide nursing assessment and monitoring of patients. This includes intake assessments, monitoring patient's health, support psychosocial stability, and complete discharge activities.
- Ability to be trained in nasopharyngeal (NP), mid-turbinate (MT) and/or anterior nares (AN) specimen collection.
- Ability to provide crisis intervention/de-escalation with high-risk and special needs populations.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, be flexible, and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to carry out assignments and responsibilities reliably in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of protected health information at all times.
- Demonstrated ability to clearly and effectively communicate orally and in writing with supervisor, co-workers, and healthcare providers.
- Demonstrated ability to work in community settings with culturally and socio-economically diverse populations.
- Ability to apply concepts of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and equity & social justice principles to nursing practice
- Washington State Driver’s License or the ability to provide transportation to work locations with limited or no public transportation services is required.
- Ability to travel between work sites on a regular basis.
LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:- Current Washington State Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing.
- Associate Degree in Nursing Science from an accredited school of nursing
- Washington State Drivers' License or the ability to provide transportation to work locations may be required.
- Current BLS-CPR for Healthcare Providers
- Must be willing to provide options counseling
Desired Qualifications:- Understanding of and familiarity with homeless services and affordable housing in King County.
- Two years clinical experience (inpatient or outpatient).
- Training in or knowledge of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed care.
- Behavioral Health nursing experience.
- Knowledge and experience with substance use disorder treatment.
- Experience in emergency response
- Bilingual
- Bicultural
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified applicants including new graduates.First consideration will be given to those who apply by November 24, 2020.
WORK SCHEDULE: These positions are fully benefited, 8-hour day shift Monday-Friday with 1-2 late evening shifts per week with differentials for evenings. Full and part time positions available. May also work outside of assigned shift and/or location in order to meet operational needs. These are not remote work positions.
WORK LOCATION: Based out of Chinook building in downtown Seattle and will travel to assigned shelter locations throughout King County to be clustered geographically.
CONTACT: For more information, contact Amy M. Curtis, BSN, RN, Healthcare Recruitment Specialist at amy.curtis@kingcounty.gov
APPLICATION PROCESS:The following completed items are required to be considered for this vacancy:- NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application
- Completed supplemental questions that are supported in your application. These answers will be reviewed to determine competitiveness. Please do not use "see resume" in your answers as these will be considered incomplete.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the required information in the application. If you reference "see resume" on your application it will be considered incomplete. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience. The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:- The selected candidate will be required to submit a background check. Records are not automatically disqualifying.
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required trainings on time.
- Supplemental Information
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Have you used an electronic health records system? If so, what systems are you proficient in using?02Have you ever been subject to review, challenges, and/or disciplinary action, formal or informal, by an ethics committee, licensing board, medical disciplinary board or related professional association?
- Yes
- No
03Have you ever been involved, as a health service provider, in a malpractice claim or suit?- Yes
- No
04Have you ever had your license to practice nursing in any jurisdiction revoked, denied, suspended, reduced, or relinquished?- Yes
- No
05Are you willing to provide pregnancy options counseling to women and possibly administer Plan B?- Yes
- No
06Are you willing to accept a term-limited temporary (TLT) position?- Yes
- No
07Seattle & King County Public Health has a strong commitment to equity and social justice. All staff are given training in Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) as well as Trauma Informed Care (TIC). Please describe why working for an agency that values ESJ and TIC is important to you.08Do you possess BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers? If so, please attach documentation of your current BLS/CPR certification. If you do not, please describe how you would obtain certification by time of job offer. Failure to obtain this BLS/CPR certification will result in job offer being delayed or rescinded.09Are you bilingual? If so, what language(s) are you proficient in reading, writing and speaking?10Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program Participant And Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
11If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff12If internal, do you have permission from your current supervisor to apply for a Special Duty Assignment?- Yes
- No
- N/A
13Please provide your nursing credential number.Required Question