Community Engagement Nurse

Job Summary
We seek a Community Engagement Nurse to work within the mobile clinic, serving patients with barriers to accessible healthcare for the Mobile Health Initiative (MHI). While working with our mobile clinic at targeted sites in the community, you will provide in-the-moment, low-barrier clinical care to patients who may otherwise not engage in the health system. Specific responsibilities for this role will include clinical nursing assessments and triage for patients in coordination with medical support onsite, via telehealth, or through appropriate referrals. Depending on the community, other responsibilities may include providing harm reduction education and supplies, and STI testing in addition to assisting with linkage to care for individuals interested in addiction care. This role offers an outstanding opportunity to deliver public health screening, assess client risks/strengths/needs, engage in motivational interviewing, and help negotiate immediate and short-term goals that promote health and well-being. You will collaborate with team members from various backgrounds and learners from the various UMN academic health center schools.

This position is hybrid, mostly in-person, 20 hours per week (50% appointment). The workdays will vary based on the applicant's availability and will be agreed upon in collaboration with the MHI team, the community health worker, the applicant and community partners. Depending on schedule availability, this position may require some evening/weekend hours as needed for events. Travel for events is sometimes required and travel costs will be compensated.

Responsibilities

Direct Clinical Care (60%)

• Provide medical care for clients in need. This would includes work within your scope of practice including, but not limited to, phlebotomy, wound care, nurse-protocol medication assessment and management, administration and/or distribution of CLIA-waived point of care tests e.g. (respiratory viral testing, UDS, UPT, COVID, h/h, CMP, A1c). Physician backup will be available for any testing or evaluation outside of one's scope of practice.
• Assess and monitor health status, factors influencing health, needs and assets for the patient and community.
• Help address health problems and hazards affecting clients and the community.
• Communicate with the patient and community about health, factors influencing it, and how to improve it.
• Promote equitable access to services and care.
• Function as a primary nurse to staff the mobile unit during MHI events.
• Administer medications per medical standing orders.
• Exercise independent judgment within the scope of practice and standing orders.
• Provide education and resources to patients on various public health topics.
• Ensure patient confidentiality in all settings.
• Strengthen, support and mobilize the community to improve health.
• Teach learners foundational principles of nursing care and street outreach through experiential learning.

Communication (20%)

• Provide updates to the MHI team and medical supervisor on successes, challenges, needs, safety concerns, etc. weekly or as needed.
• Report activities monthly in writing (format to be developed with MHI team).
• Provide input and help write new or revised policies and procedures.

Team-Based Collaboration (20%)

• Engage in interprofessional collaboration, including working directly with students (MD, RN, etc.), engaging in community-based research activities, and pursuing opportunities for scholarship.
• Assist in linking clients interested in medication-assisted treatment (suboxone) to community health centers.
• Attend virtual or in-person meetings regularly, with frequency to be determined.
• Collaborate to champion policies and plans that improve health equity and toward a strong public health infrastructure for the community.
• Assess needs for professional growth and participate in education that increases knowledge and skills in areas of responsibility.
  

All required qualifications must be included in the application materials

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS plus at least four years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least eight years
• Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Minnesota
• Experience working with underserved populations
• Interest in public health, primary and preventive nursing/medicine, and working with disadvantaged groups
• Willingness to collaborate with community-based organizations

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years nursing experience strongly preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively with people who are skeptical of the healthcare system, government, and other agencies
• Flexibility to work in less controlled environments as would be expected in street medicine, such as weather, safety concerns, and exposure to individuals using substances
• Strong assessment skills, self-directed, motivated, and flexible with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Wound care experience or willingness to learn
• Understanding of Opioid Use Disorder as a medical disease
• Pharmacological knowledge of opioid overdose management and brief interventions
• Passion for engaging with people from diverse cultures and willingness to develop programs that meet the cultural needs of our patients
• Willingness to discuss fundraising opportunities to make this work sustainable
• Interest in working with learners, including mentorship and on-the-job training

Mission
Establish mobile health partnerships between community organizations and the University of Minnesota by offering support to increase access to healthcare services and improve health outcomes for Indigenous, refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities and those underserved and disproportionately impacted by social injustice and COVID-19.

Goal
The goal is to address healthcare disparities and poor health outcomes occurring in communities that lack access to care because of the health impact of social disparities and racial injustices.

By providing services close to home for the communities that need them most-and by collaborating with trusted community partners- we will work to address some of the barriers to health care related to social, cultural, economic, and geographic challenges.

The Mobile Health Initiative is part of the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs. The Office of Academic Clinical Affairs leads this health sciences-wide effort to provide urgently needed community care services to reduce health disparities.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).