Position: Research Nurse Coordinator

Department: General Internal Medicine Research (OBAT)

Schedule: 24 hours per week, On-site

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for collaborating with the multidisciplinary Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Program Team in caring for opioid dependence and poly substance issues at BMC and through the State of MA. Directs, supervises and provides clinical leadership in caring for patients with addictions in the primary care practice, overseeing the activities of the support staff in the OBOT clinic. Provides skilled nursing services to opioid dependent patients and their significant support systems.  Ongoing assessment, intakes, evaluations, triage, teaching, inductions, stabilizations, and monitoring of patients in opioid treatment program receiving buprenorphine and vivitrol. Provide primary care of patients within the opioid treatment program, as well as support and services to patients from other settings referred to program for stabilization and assessment. Collaborates with team members, clinic settings at BMC and outside referral sites, works with providers from addiction settings in assisting patients and supporting their referral needs.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical:

• Performs initial assessment and intake obtaining social, medical, mental health, substance abuse and medication history.

• Reviews intake assessment with OBOT clinical team to review patients' condition, readiness, eligibility for study enrollment as a research subject and to establish appropriate plan of care for patient.

• Ensures collaboration, communication, and participates in meetings with OBOT team as needed and required.

• Provides ongoing education and proactive support of patients and coordination of services. Assists in creation of clinical forms.

• Completes appropriate documentation with excellent record keeping.

• Collects pertinent data using appropriate assessment techniques.

• Consistently uses clear concise and effective communication written/oral and comply with departmental policies when sharing/documenting relevant patient care data.

• Collects specimens (such as oral swabs); evaluates takes clinical actions per protocol.

• Works with the pharmacy and the OBOT clinic team in obtaining medication orders, prescriptions, refills, and communication as needed.

• Counsels patients regarding relapse prevention and pharmacotherapy. Provides follow up care in person and via telephone, proactively, including assistance scheduling clinical visits.

• Collect data for the bureau of substance abuse services on new patients, quarterly and at discharge: submit this data as required.

• Assist in phone triage including prescription refills as needed, follow up of test results, critical values and medical issues.

Management:

• Reviews staff work and assures that work is completed properly; determine employee proficiencies.

• Provide Clinical supervision and assistance to program coordinator in State hotline and screener functions.

• Provides supervision, clinical assignments, and day to day operations of assigned staff.

• Evaluates probationary employees’ work performance and recommends employment continuations or discharges.

• Maintains open communication with OBAT Director, Director of Operations, Medical Director, CARE unit Director, and GIM Section Chief.

• Conducts training for RN trainees from STATE OBOT B sites as well as other statewide sites and National RN visitors.

• Recommends employees for promotions or non-promotions.

• Conducts investigations of employee incidents involving clinical practice issues, including review of employee personnel file, discipline record, and evaluations. Imposes appropriate disciplinary action as needed.

• In the absence of the OBAT Director or the Director of Operations, assumes responsibilities for clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and families.

Education:

• Performs Narcan administration trainings to patients, families, and significant others for overdose prevention.

• Tracks Narcan administration data and report to the State.

• Provides formal and informal case presentations, case discussions, review of clinical practice guidelines and standards.

• Provides education to Practice assistant, program coordinator and nurse trainees with focus on addiction treatment, medical complications related to disease and treatment of these diseases and complications.

• Perform orientation groups for new patients to the OBOT clinic on addiction, treatment, wellness, co-morbidities and self help measures.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program, associate's, or bachelor's of science degree program by time of hire.

• BSN preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Required:

• Massachusetts licensure as a registered nurse by time of hire.

• Maintain R.N. staff competencies on an annual basis.

• OBAT RNs are required to obtain CARN Certification within one year.

Additional certifications a plus:

• Certification in Treatment of Substance Abuse preferred.

• Certification from accredited clinical research program preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Three-five years of nursing experience preferred. 

• Experience with patients with addictions and/or health behavior change counseling preferred.

• Experience working with substance abusing populations.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required. Computer skills required, preferably with Word, Excel and Access.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Strong patient communication and patient education skills.

• Ability to be highly organized, detail-oriented, and timely.

• Ability to work productively across academic clinical departments.

• Position requires tact and diplomacy to successfully motivate and educate faculty, and advanced knowledge of research regulations and research compliance requirements, including Protection of Human Subjects.

• Attend relevant trainings related to job responsibilities including: Nurse Care Manager Model of Addiction Treatment, Addiction-101, and any other relevant trainings.

JOB BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs
• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base.
• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.
• Generous paid time off

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn’t dictate health.

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Compensation Range:

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being. 

NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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