Registered Nurse

Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Do YOU want to work on a team that is committed to empowering individuals? At Helen Keller Services, our employees work in an environment that is more than just a workplace, it’s a community.

Since 1967, Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are DeafBlind or have a combined hearing and vision loss. HKNC is dedicated to working with each person to achieve their desired goals towards independence, employment, and quality of life, based on their talents, preferences and aspirations. We currently have an exciting career opportunity available to join the HKNC team as a Full-Time Registered Nurse . The Full-Time Registered Nurse is responsible for the assessment and treatment of the health care needs (emergent, urgent, and routine) for all consumers at HKNC. This requires a well-experienced RN who can work independently, along with in-person and telephone triage / supervision. The RN must be able to communicate their findings to the supervisor and other related healthcare professionals.

Although the regular hours are assigned during the week, it is understood given the needs of the consumers and the inherent nature of the nursing profession, the RN will be called upon to extend their working hours to meet the health and safety needs of the consumers. To provide seamless nursing support, the RN will be called upon episodically to cover nursing shifts in the event of inclement weather or during absences for nursing staff.

Pay Rate : $90-92k annually

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Medication :
• Administer medication to consumers who :
• Are unable to self-administer their medications (prescribed and over-the-counter medications)
• Request nursing assistance in the administration of their medications (prescribed and over-the-counter medications)
• Monitor the consumer’s response after giving the medication
• Medication / Health Education
• Initiates / conducts formal and informal medication education classes with consumers in an effort to foster the consumers inter / independence with medication administration including, but not limited to :
• The proper use of a seven-day medication box
• The correct filling of a seven-day medication box
• The correct procedure for ordering prescribed medications
• Provide health education to consumers, including but not limited to :
• Health promotion strategies
• Illness Prevention
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Participates in the HKNC sponsored vaccination program :
• Provide vaccinations as indicated for HKNC consumers / staff
• Observe individuals for adverse reactions
• Complete NYS or HKNC required documentation
• Tuberculosis Testing :
• Measure and record induration
• Using accepted metrics, ascertain if the Mantoux test is positive or negative
• Report findings to Director of Medical Services
• Perform health assessments to :
• Identify new symptoms indicating potentially under / undiagnosed conditions or complications
• Report the findings to all appropriate healthcare providers while following HIPPA regulations of medical information sharing, including but not limited to :
• Prescriber of Record
• At-Home Healthcare Provider
• Family members with Medical POA as appropriate
• HKNC Director of Medical Services
• Assess / treat each consumer’s unique health problems in a holistic manner recognizing :
• Consumers :
• Knowledge deficits
• Importance of participation in the process
• Leading to empowerment
• Need for self-determination

6. Execute medical regimens as prescribed by :

A. Licensed physicians / MD / DO / OD

B. Nurse practitioners

C. Physician assistants

D. Dentists

E. Other licensed providers as authorized

7. Coordinator for Automatic External Defibrillator Monitoring Program

A. Perform regulatory testing of units

B. Keep appropriate records in accordance with regulatory guidelines

8. Arrange outside medical appointments for consumers with private local physicians, urgent care centers and hospitals

A. Arrange for interpreting support and drivers if indicated

B. Accompany the consumers to the medical appointments as necessary. To accomplish this, the individual may be required to use a personal vehicle on occasion.

9. Create supply orders for medical stock for both Medical Service Office and Residence Nurses Office for approval by the Director of Medical Services

14. Assist the Director of Medical Services in processing admissions paperwork, within the confines of the RN licensure.

A. Conducts the medical intake when new consumers first arrive.

B. Contacts at-home healthcare providers for necessary information / required paperwork

10. The RN participates as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team in the planning and implementation of the health care needs of consumers.

11. Performs other clinical / administrative healthcare related duties, when necessary, at the discretion of the Director of Medical Services.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job does not have supervisory responsibilities. However, in the absence of the Director of Medical Services, the RN can :

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a graduate of a New York State approved education program as a Registered Professional Nurse.

He / she must possess sufficient clinical experience to be able to perform each essential duty in a satisfactory manner without direct supervision. The RN must take the initiative in expediting effective resolution in critical and / or emergency medical situations and relay that information to the director of medical services.

Methods of communication used by persons who are DeafBlind at a conversational level must be developed within one year. Knowledge of Deaf and DeafBlind culture is required.

Knowledge of MS Office including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook is required. Strong report writing skills required.

He / she must become familiar with all HKNC consumers :

Preferred mode of communication

DeafBlind diagnosis

Self-administration status congruent with the New York State Guidelines for the Self-Administration of Medication

The RN must have an understanding of HIPAA regulations and must develop working knowledge of the HKNC Medical Service Department’s policies and procedures.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. we offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including :