Description

Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless is seeking a Street Outreach Nurse who will be responsible for leading panel management and care coordination for patients of the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Medical Street Outreach program. We are looking for someone who is skilled and experienced in working with individuals experiencing homelessness in unsheltered settings, to support the team’s response to the public health priorities of the opioid crisis and infectious diseases related to drug use (e.g. the current HIV outbreak among injection drug users and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness). In this role, the Street Outreach Nurse will meet with patients where they are: on the street and/or in encampments in the Minneapolis area to provide care with the goal of improving health outcomes for individuals affected by these public health priorities. Working closely with medical providers, this position will assess patient’s health care needs and provide care such as medication management, point of care labs, wound care, and vaccinations as well as connect patients to health care homes for ongoing care.

Hennepin County Public Health is committed to advancing health and racial equity. We recognize racism is a public health crisis. We are committed to change, and to co-creating solutions with those impacted to support communities where everyone experiences optimal health and wellness. Diverse voices are critical to this mission. We encourage you to join us in this work!

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.

Location and hours:

This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at Health Care Homeless clinic sites, in street outreach with the outreach team, and remote as job duties require. Work hours will typically be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin.

New employees who are hired into remote or hybrid positions between January 2, 2022, to December 31, 2024, will receive $500 toward the cost of establishing consistent internet connectivity, payable upon completion of 6 months of employment.

About the position type:

This is a full-time, benefit earning position.

This position is internally classified as a Nurse, Staff.

Click here to view the job classification specification.

In this position, you will:

Work collaboratively with the HCH Medical Outreach Team in following the objectives as related to the public health priorities of the opioid crisis and drug related infectious disease work and do the following:

Engage with patients who are unsheltered or are adjacent to the unsheltered community who do not seek traditional methods of health care.

While building relationships and trust, promote harm reduction while identifying health needs, and assess readiness to engage in health care.

Offer focused street medicine through a trauma-informed and harm-reduction lens, which may also include the facilitation of access to social services including needs assessment, housing, case management, benefits, legal help, and assistance with basic needs.

Partner with HCH medical providers to help patients access medications specific to the public health priorities, primarily: medications for opiate use disorder, antiretroviral medications for patients living with HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, screening/treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and treatment of other infections related to drug use.

Collaborate with other community street outreach agencies and Hennepin County departments and participate with staff on broader county projects.

Participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement projects for street outreach.

Collaborate with Outreach Supervisor to establish work plans and timelines, monitor progress, and evaluate results.

Document data, plans, clinical actions, client progress, response to care, and other relevant patient information in Epic and in compliance with statute and rules of confidentiality.

Need to have:

Graduated from an accredited school of nursing.

Possession of a valid license, in good standing, as a Registered Nurse, or a permit to practice, issued by the State of Minnesota.

CPR certification.

A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit to travel to various locations within Hennepin County.

Nice to have:

Experience working with:

Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Advanced phlebotomy techniques.

Panel Management and Medical Case Management.

Indigenous populations/programs focused on providing healthcare to Indigenous people.

Individuals with mental health and substance use disorder.

Electronic medical record system, specifically Epic and/or a similar system.

Experience establishing outreach connections, program collaboration, meeting patients outdoors, and street outreach.

Ability to:

Work in interdisciplinary team.

Communicate both verbally and in writing.

Demonstrate understanding of cultural differences and the impacts of racism on service provision, organizational effectiveness, and on relationships with staff, partners, and those we serve.

Be a strategic, adaptive, and creative thinker.

Knowledge of public health approaches and practices.

Knowledge of the impacts of racism on health and the social determinants of health.

About the department:

Hennepin County Public Health’s vision is for all people who live, work and play in Hennepin County to experience optimal health grounded in health and racial equity. Our department works to improve the health of all county residents by addressing the social and environmental factors that impact their health and offering programs and services that help them to be healthy. We promote physical and mental health, prevent illness and injury associated with communicable diseases and environmental conditions, and reduce chronic diseases.

About Hennepin County:

Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align to one or more of our overarching goals -- that Hennepin County residents are healthy, protected and safe, self-reliant, assured due process, and mobile.

Our employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge - select Guest.

Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.

Your future. Made here.

This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.

This position will have access to systems or other documentation that contains HIPAA data.

Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience.

Final candidates may be required to pass a driver's license check, complete a drug test that may include testing for cannabis, and/or a criminal background check.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Rebecca Maddaus

Rebecca.Maddaus@hennepin.us

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Street Outreach Nurse