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HIV Patient Educator – Infectious Disease Clinic

(RN, MPH, MSN)

Location: University Medical Center

Department: Infectious Disease Clinic
Schedule: Full-Time, Day Shift

Position Summary

The HIV Patient Educator is responsible for providing comprehensive patient education, counseling, and support services for individuals living with HIV within the Infectious Disease Clinic at University Medical Center. This role focuses on empowering patients through education, promoting treatment adherence, reducing barriers to care, and supporting positive health outcomes.

The RN HIV Patient Educator develops individualized patient education and care plans, conducts health and substance use assessments, and provides interventions aimed at preventing illness progression and reducing the transmission of HIV. The Educator collaborates closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, case managers, and community partners to ensure coordinated, patient-centered care.

In addition to direct patient education, the RN HIV Patient Educator supports community outreach initiatives, HIV prevention programs, and health promotion activities designed to improve engagement in care and overall wellness.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Education & Counseling

• Provide individual and group education for patients living with HIV and their families.
• Educate patients on HIV prevention, transmission, treatment options, disease progression, and self-management strategies.
• Conduct medication treatment and adherence counseling to improve retention in care and treatment outcomes.
• Explain laboratory results, treatment plans, medication regimens, and preventive healthcare recommendations within scope of practice.
• Assess patient learning needs and develop individualized education plans.
• Provide education regarding chronic disease management, including co-occurring medical conditions.
• Deliver risk-reduction counseling and health promotion interventions.

Patient Assessment & Care Planning

• Conduct comprehensive assessments related to patient education, health literacy, adherence challenges, substance use, and psychosocial barriers.
• Develop individualized patient care and education plans.
• Identify factors that may contribute to illness progression or increased risk of HIV transmission.
• Collaborate with providers to support comprehensive treatment planning and care coordination.
• Monitor patient progress and modify educational interventions as needed.

Advocacy & Patient Navigation

• Assist patients in accessing healthcare services, insurance resources, transportation assistance, medication programs, and community support services.
• Identify social determinants of health that may impact care outcomes and engagement.
• Facilitate referrals to internal and external resources as appropriate.
• Advocate for patient needs within the healthcare system and community.
• Support linkage and retention in HIV care.

Community Outreach & HIV Prevention

• Participate in community education and outreach activities focused on HIV awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment.
• Promote HIV prevention strategies, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
• Assist in developing educational materials and community presentations.
• Build collaborative relationships with community organizations and public health partners.
• Support clinic-based and community-based health promotion initiatives.

Program Support & Documentation

• Assist in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV education programs.
• Maintain accurate patient education documentation within the electronic health record.
• Track patient participation, outreach activities, and program outcomes.
• Support grant-funded initiatives and reporting requirements as applicable.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, confidentiality standards, and regulatory requirements.

Professional Practice

• Maintain current knowledge of HIV treatment guidelines, prevention strategies, and emerging best practices.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care team meetings and case reviews.
• Support quality improvement initiatives designed to enhance patient outcomes and care engagement.
• Demonstrate professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to health equity.
• Serve as a clinical resource regarding HIV education and patient engagement strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

Required:

• Two (2) years of experience in HIV patient education, counseling, advocacy, case management, public health, nursing, or a related healthcare setting.

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN), Public Health, Health Education, Social Work, Counseling, or related healthcare field.

Licenses & Certifications

Required:

• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• HIV-related training, certification, or demonstrated experience in HIV care and education.

For RN Candidates:

• Current Louisiana Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Nursing, Public Health (MPH), Health Education, Social Work, Counseling, or related field.
• Two or more years of HIV clinical experience, including patient education and adherence counseling.
• Experience working with underserved, vulnerable, or high-risk populations.
• Experience with Ryan White-funded programs and grant-supported healthcare initiatives.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use disorders, and behavioral health interventions.
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification.
• Bilingual language skills.
• Experience using EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and public health principles.
• Knowledge of current HIV treatment guidelines and HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP and PEP.
• Knowledge of social determinants of health and health equity practices.
• Ability to provide effective patient counseling, coaching, and motivational interviewing.
• Strong patient education and presentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to build trust and establish effective relationships with diverse patient populations.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and care coordination skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Why Join University Medical Center's Infectious Disease Clinic?

At University Medical Center, the HIV Patient Educator plays a critical role in improving the lives of individuals living with HIV through education, advocacy, care coordination, and community outreach. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes while working alongside a dedicated multidisciplinary team committed to advancing health equity, improving access to care, and supporting individuals throughout their healthcare journey.

WORK SHIFT:

LCMC Health is a community. 

Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little “come on in” attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health’s culture of everyday extraordinary

About University Medical Center

University Medical Center, a world class academic medical center in LCMC Health’s incredible community of care, is the largest medical training center for healthcare professionals in Louisiana and has long served as the region’s safety net hospital for poor and underserved communities for 300+. Learn more about University Medical Center’s legacy and our vision of becoming the epicenter of medical care, education, and research.

Your extras

• Deliver healthcare with heart. 
• Give people a reason to smile. 
• Put a little love in your work. 
• Be honest and real, but with compassion.  
• Bring some lagniappe into everything you do. 
• Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of-a-kind care. 
• See opportunities, not problems – it’s all about perspective. 
• Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other. 
• Love what makes you, you - because we do

You are welcome here. 

LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.  LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.

Simple things make the difference. 

1.    To get started, take your time to fully and accurately complete the application for employment. Incomplete applications get bogged down and are often eliminated due to missing information. 

2.    To ensure quality care and service, we may use information on your application to verify your previous employment and background.  

3.    To keep our career applications up-to-date, applications are inactive after 6 months and, therefore, require a new application for employment to be completed. 

4.    To expedite the hiring process, proof of citizenship or immigration status will be required to verify your lawful right to work in the United States.