Exciting opportunity for a Registered Nurse (RN) to play a pivotal role on one of the Office of the Governor’s newly launched, innovative Safe Options Support (SOS) teams that will provide comprehensive care to homeless New Yorkers, living on the streets and in the subway systems, as well as individuals transitioning out of homelessness. The SOS teams will consist of a Team Leader, Licensed Mental Health Clinicians, Care Managers, Peer Specialists, and a Registered Nurse. The team will support participants in the community through the application of the highly acclaimed, evidence-based model, Critical Time Intervention.
The SOS RN will address the physical/medical health needs of program participants in community settings and during their transition to permanent housing. The nurse will have the unique opportunity to engage with New Yorkers who have found themselves in precarious situations that have negative impacts on their physical and mental well-being, with limited access to traditional healthcare options. The nurse will provide interventions that are supportive or restorative of life and well-being. They will also support connections to traditional medical and specialty care to manage health conditions and prevent escalation and unnecessary hospital admissions.
The team RN will also work to reduce health gaps and disparities caused by environmental, physical, and social determinants of health by developing health care plans, providing nursing services, and referring patients with social and emotional needs to other community resources. The SOS team will follow participants in the community for up to 12 months pre and post-housing placement, ensuring that they become both linked and engaged with identified community providers and that their support network is sufficient to meet their medical and social needs.
The role will require field-based work, and a willingness to work flexible hours. This is an exciting opportunity for a nurse who is looking to transform community healthcare in NYC and make long-lasting positive changes in the lives of homeless New Yorkers.
Essential Position Functions:
- Undertake, interpret, and monitor the assessment of participant’s physical, cognitive & psychosocial health and well-being needs.
- Engagement begins either at known “hang-outs” or “Hot spots” within the transit system or during an inpatient hospital admission or emergency department visit with Job Description 2.2022 involvement in transition planning, including a needs assessment of community transition supports essential to stabilizing the participant.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate care, interventions, and treatments in line with evidence-based practice to meet fundamental and complex care needs.
- Undertakes reassessment of participants when changing conditions/needs/deterioration are identified.
- Advise participants on health maintenance and disease prevention including effects of diet and physical activity and provide case management when indicated.
- Connect and actively link participants to community-based resources that promote overall well-being and health.
- Provide physical and general psychological comfort and support to participants in the community and in their homes.
- Provide consultation and collaborative management with team members, and other agencies observing cultural sensitivity, confidentiality, and participants’ rights.
- Develop effective working relationships with other health care clinicians in the acute and non-acute settings to assist in advocating for participants’ best interests.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate care plans.
- Promote community awareness of the needs of participants and potential participants and the resources available to meet their care needs.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in participants’ conditions and record medical information and vital signs.
- Participate in team and administrative meetings and provide nursing input on the development and implementation of treatment/service plans.
- Participate in risk management and quality assurance concerning health-related issues.
- Offer medication reconciliation and overall education on their prescribed medication observe, and record effects, and monitor for side effects.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
