Tonasket Family Medical Clinic RN

Position Summary:

The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Rural Health Clinic provides compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals and families in an outpatient, primary care setting. The RN plays a key role in assessing patient needs, performing triage, providing clinical support to providers, delivering direct care, coordinating chronic disease management, and promoting wellness. The RN also provides clinical oversight and support to Medical Assistants (MAs), including competency validation within scope. The RN functions as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team and supports the unique healthcare needs of rural communities.

Position Responsibilities:

Patient Care:

Conduct patient assessments, including health history, vital signs, and current symptoms. Administer medications, treatments, and vaccinations as prescribed by healthcare providers. Assist physicians and nurse practitioners during examinations and procedures. Provide wound care, injections, and other minor medical procedures. Educate patients and families about preventive care, medications, and overall health and wellness. Prepare patients for visits, review medications, and reconcile medical histories.

Triage and Care Coordination:

Perform telephone triage, evaluating patient symptoms and providing guidance on appropriate next steps in accordance with clinical protocols. Conduct in-person triage for walk-in patients or those presenting for same-day care, assessing acuity and prioritizing care needs. Manage message and inbox triage, reviewing patient portal communications, determining urgency, and routing to appropriate providers or services. Coordinate same-day appointments and facilitate timely access to care. Communicate effectively with providers regarding patient status, changes in condition, and urgent needs.

Chronic Disease Management:

Monitor patients with chronic illnesses and collaborate with healthcare providers to manage their conditions effectively. Educate patients on self-management strategies, lifestyle modifications, and medication adherence. Support care gap closure initiatives, including preventive screenings and follow-up care.

Extended Care Coordination:

Serve as a clinical liaison for Extended Care patients, facilitating communication between patients, families, providers, and interdisciplinary teams. Coordinate care needs, including follow-up appointments, referrals, and continuity of care services. Communicate clinical updates and concerns to providers in a timely manner. Complete and support prior authorizations and related documentation as needed to ensure timely access to care and services.

Emergency Response:

Respond to medical emergencies within the clinic's scope, providing immediate and appropriate care. Stabilize patients before arranging transfers to higher-level healthcare facilities if necessary.

Vaccination Program:

Serve as the primary vaccine coordinator for the clinic. Oversee vaccine program operations, including inventory management, ordering, and maintaining adequate stock levels. Ensure proper vaccine storage, handling, and documentation, including monitoring cold chain requirements and compliance with Washington State Department of Health guidelines. Administer vaccines in accordance with provider orders and standing orders. Maintain knowledge of current immunization schedules for pediatric, adult, and special populations. Participate in vaccination clinics and community immunization outreach efforts as needed. Educate patients and families on vaccine benefits, risks, and follow-up schedules. Document immunizations accurately in the EHR and applicable state registries.

Clinical Oversight and Staff Support:

Provide clinical guidance and support to Medical Assistants (MAs) and other clinical support staff within the scope of licensure. Participate in training, onboarding, and competency validation of MAs, ensuring alignment with clinical standards and regulatory requirements. Support maintenance of clinical competencies and adherence to established protocols and workflows. Collaborate with leadership to identify and address clinical skill gaps and training needs.

Community Outreach:

Work collaboratively to achieve District-wide promotion of health education programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives to promote preventive care and healthy living. Collaborate with local schools and community groups to raise awareness about healthcare issues.

Documentation and Record Keeping:

Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records using electronic medical record systems. Document all patient interactions, treatments, medications, and follow-up plans accurately and comprehensively.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

Collaborate effectively with physicians, nurse practitioners, other RNs, and support staff to ensure coordinated patient care. Participate in regular team meetings to discuss patient cases, clinic procedures, and quality improvement initiatives. Support clinic workflow efficiency, including rooming patients and assisting with care team coordination.

Infection Control:

Adhere strictly to infection control protocols, ensuring a safe and sanitary environment for patients and staff. Educate patients on infection prevention practices. Performs other duties as assigned, provided skill, abilities, and qualifications are the same or training is provided as appropriate. Organization's expectations of

Employee:

Represents North Valley Hospital and facilities positively and professionally by exemplifying the vision, mission, values, and goals of North Valley Hospital. Maintains attendance by working the hours of the position. Follows policies and procedures regarding attendance, vacation, holidays, sick leave, and leaves of absence. Uses the timekeeping applications efficiently and accurately. Adheres to dress code; appearance is neat and clean; wears name badge while on duty Uses good customer service skills by relating to staff/healthcare providers, patients/residents, customers, and the general public courteously and diplomatically under all circumstances. Compliance with all organizational policies and procedures. Participate in

CQI/QAPI

activities, NVHD Performance Improvement Initiatives, and Disaster Preparedness education/exercises, and complete duties as assigned in case of emergencies/ICS stand-up. Completes mandatory training in a timely manner. Demonstrates the ability to make decisions, take appropriate action, and follow tasks through to completion. Effectively collaborates with peers and team members, using tactful, diplomatic communication techniques in potentially sensitive or emotionally charged situations. Demonstrates leadership responsibility and skills, including planning and completing duties with minimal direction from the supervisor when appropriate. Performs other duties as assigned, provided skills, abilities, and qualifications are appropriate and sufficient training is provided.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical demands:

While performing duties of the job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and must have speech, vision, smell, touch, and hearing corrected to normal range. The employee must frequently lift/push/pull up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental requirements:

Must be able to apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form; must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure; must be able to read, write, and speak clearly.

Work environment:

Works inside in close working quarters with co-workers. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Exposures:

Muscular strain, body fluids, behavior of clients/patients/residents, infectious material, chemicals/cleaning solutions, potential allergens such as plants/flowers, and noxious odors.

Role Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing Current license in Washington State as a Registered Nurse or WABON-approved Compact RN license Current CPR certification; ACLS preferred Current WA DOH-approved Suicide Prevention Training Minimum of 2 years of experience in a rural health clinic setting

Essential Skills and Experience:

Ability to engage patients, families, and team members with courtesy, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity in all situations. Strong clinical judgment, assessment, and critical thinking skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to thrive in a rural healthcare setting serving diverse populations. Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems. Demonstrated flexibility, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Clear and professional verbal and written communication skills, including effective telephone etiquette. Ability to perform patient triage and prioritize care needs in a fast-paced outpatient environment. Bilingual skills in Spanish or other languages preferred. North Valley Hospital District is committed to providing high-quality patient care and fostering a collaborative healthcare environment. If you are a dedicated professional looking to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply for this position.