Infectious Disease Outreach Nurse

Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 12,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 60 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply. 

To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.

Job Summary:

Hours:  Full- time, 8:00 am-5:30 pm

***NOW OFFERING A $4,000 SIGN ON BONUS***

We are looking for an Infectious Disease (ID) Outreach Nurse experienced in infectious disease care and passionate about public health and harm reduction for a unique opportunity working on an innovative multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting successful outpatient management of serious injection related infections among people experiencing homelessness.

You will collaborate directly with hospital teams and outpatient Infectious Disease Specialists to provide care coordination and intensive adherence support for outpatient antibiotic therapy. As part of a multidisciplinary outreach team, you will provide case management in a variety of outreach settings (including shelters, outreach clinics, drop-in centers, and the street as needed) to ensure successful completion of antibiotic therapies as well as successful attendance at medical follow up visits.

In this role, you will meet with patients while in the hospital to build rapport and help develop patient centered care plans and provide contingency planning in the case of patient directed discharges. In the outpatient setting, you will follow patients until completion of antibiotic therapy and assist with linkage to comprehensive harm reduction, HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention and treatment services, and primary care. 

Responsibilities: 

• Provide comprehensive nursing assessments; assesses wound and infection status, obtain vital signs, brief mental / behavioral health assessments, assesses any intravenous lines.
• Assess medication adherence and provides adherence support including medication administration (including directly observed therapy) when indicated; collaborate with shelter nurses, transitional facilities staff, etc. to ensure care is coordinated and that the patient receives the necessary medication adherence support.
• Administer vaccines and injectable medications and provides wound care as indicated. 
• Along with other team members, visit patients in clinics or outreach sites to provide nursing care and case management services; responsible for updating and maintaining accurate treatment records, flow sheets and other documentation; track patient appointments, referrals and other care activities and follow up with patients to ensure that they keep their appointments and assist in rescheduling missed appointments.
• Identify any structural barriers patients face in accessing medical care and adhere to medications, and work with the interdisciplinary team to address those barriers (e.g., housing, transportation, drug treatment, food, clothing, benefits, etc.); communicate effectively and professionally with BMC Hospital Infectious Disease Services, BHCHP staff, home infusion providers, visiting nurse agencies, rehabilitation centers, and other team members.
• Link patients to clinical services.
• Provide supportive engagement of patients with substance use disorder in a manner consistent with Harm Reduction Principles—provide non-judgmental care, offer patient-centered risk reduction counseling and connection to comprehensive harm reduction services; work collaboratively as part of a team including medical providers, team nurses, program manager, peer recovery coach/phlebotomist, and case manager
• Coordinate daily outreach activities of the BOLT team.
• Triage new patient referrals and manage enrollments of patients into the program.
• Assist in ordering in maintaining supplies and tracking budget for the ID Outreach Program
• Provide equitable and culturally appropriate care for a wide range of diverse populations, including communities of color, LGBTQIA communities, non-English speaking populations, people with substance use disorders, and behavioral health challenges and people experiencing homelessness.

Qualifications:

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts RN license required; minimum of 2 years of nursing experience.
• Expertise in substance use disorder, infectious diseases, opioid overdose management, wound care, and harm reduction principles, strongly preferred.
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, strongly preferred.
• Experience with documenting in EMRs; EPIC strongly preferred.
• Mental Health experience, including knowledge of trauma informed care, a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and work effectively with diverse staff and patient population.
• Lived experience, a plus.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, a plus.
• Willingness to travel to outreach/various sites.

Compensation and Benefits:
***NOW OFFERING A $4,000 SIGN ON BONUS***

• The compensation starts at $35.22 per hour and increases based on years of experience.
• BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred dollars added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.

Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BHCHP pledges not to discriminate against and encourages those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds to apply, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA identifying, first generation college students and adults without a college degree, Bilingual and Bicultural persons; and individuals from low economic backgrounds.

Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.

Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.

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