Public Health Nurse (RN)

Description

Are you a compassionate and dedicated nurse with a passion for making a meaningful impact? We’re seeking a Public Health Nurse (RN) who thrives in a dynamic, client-centered environment and is committed to serving marginalized communities.

In this role, you’ll provide vital nursing care to two priority populations: People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as transgender women. Using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach, you’ll deliver specialized care, including HIV, HCV, and STI screening and treatment.

What You’ll Do

• Offer low-barrier, compassionate, nonjudgmental care that meets clients where they are.
• Provide health navigation, risk reduction counseling, and support for episodic clinics.
• Work collaboratively with program staff to promote health equity and well-being.
  
  

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission-driven team that prioritizes inclusivity and respect.
• Use your skills to create positive change and improve lives.
• Enjoy a supportive, dynamic work environment that values your expertise.
  
  

This is more than a nursing job—it’s an opportunity to advocate, connect, and inspire and be a champion for public health. If you’re passionate about harm reduction, community health, and making a difference, apply today!

Representative Duties

• Providing Patient Triage: the safe, effective and appropriate disposition of health related problems
• Provide patients with accessible care that operates within the harm reduction framework
• Administers comprehensive evaluation of patient telephone callers and walk-in patients, develops care plan, consults with other disciplines as needed, and implements plan including referrals
• Advocates for patient care as nurse member of multidisciplinary medical team
• Care plan is communicated to patients in a timely manner
• Documents triage encounters in medical record, documenting all appropriate activities and plan
• Conduct community and Street outreach
• Provide coverage across other public health sites in Cambridge and Boston
  
  

Health Navigation

• Delivers personalized services to our patients to improve their care using careful assessment, planning, coordination and delivery of care, and outcome evaluation of the plan
• Coordinates follow up care for acutely ill patients including primary care and specialty visits including HCV treatment, substance use services, PrEP, nPEP, and behavioral health.
• Coordinates preventative services for defined population including education, vaccinations, monitoring and arranging for lab tests and referrals
• Evaluates adherence to care plan to promote patient’s well-being
• Documents services in medical record, documenting all appropriate activities and plan
  
  

Providing direct patient care, using nursing procedures as appropriate for a Registered Nurse

• Provides episodic care as appropriate to the target populations with an emphasis on HIV and HCV prevention and behavioral issues (i.e. medication compliance, safe sex) and provide follow-up as indicated.
• Assists with patient care under the direction of appropriate medical provider and/or under nursing scope of practice
• Administers medications and vaccinations, (PO, IM, SC, ID).
• Checks supplies for nursing patient encounters and notifies manager or supply ordering designee if additional stock needed
• Administers all medical tests and procedures as per protocol
• Assists with preventative medicine efforts (e.g.: flu, STD, vital sign checks, occupational health)
• Clearly communicates interventions to patients
• Communicates changes to plan of care
  
  

Maintains comprehensive knowledge of medical issues

• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of medical developments in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and HCV infection, pain management, health issues related to homelessness and injection drug use, as well as and behavioral issues (i.e. medication compliance, safe sex, social and behavioral effects of drug use) as well as other medical conditions appropriate.
• Learn and maintain knowledge regarding harm reduction, and cultural competency regarding drug use.
• Seeks out continuing education opportunities related to essential job functions
• Completes continuing education requirements per the Massachusetts Board of Nursing regulations
• Obtains ACRN or other certifications related to essential job functions within 2 years of hire
• Understands and maintains universal precautions in all clinical activities
  
  

Age Specific Care

• Provides age-specific care per Fenway Health policy
  
  

Provides Health Education

• Provides community health education
• Provides patient education related to their medical and psychosocial needs
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of vaccines, medications, and other therapeutic interventions as appropriate to our outpatient clinic
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of FH policies, procedures and services including those of TFI
• Maintains knowledge of community resources
• Assists in training other employees in the medical department including orientation of new staff, volunteers, and students
  
  

Effectively communicates with patients, co-workers on medical team, in medical department and across departments

• Demonstrates competency in EMR, Microsoft Outlook, CareWeb and/or Care360, and other health informatics platforms
• Complete all data entry and documentation in a timely manner
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled general staff meetings as well as Nursing meetings (e.g. MDSM)
• Is available to meet with team members during assigned work hours
• Understands and abides by HIPAA regulations
• Demonstrates a commitment to strong customer service
• Ability to work as a team member
  
  

Meets Agency Participatory Expectations

Requirements

Performs other related duties as required

• ASN/BSN/MSN and current licensure as Registered Nurse (RN) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Familiarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS (e.g., ANAC certification), and People Who Use Drugs (PWUD)
• Commitment to community and public health
• Current CPR Certification
• BLS certification required
• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway’s efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 or more years’ experience in an ambulatory care setting
• Experience in a harm reduction setting
• Experience providing harm reduction services to people who use drugs
• Experience providing sexual health services to the LGBTQIA+ community
• Experience with electronic medical records/Epic strongly preferred
  
  

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.