Staff Nurse

Position Summary:

Triages and assesses the nursing care needs of children with behavioral and/or mental health

conditions or special healthcare needs; plans and coordinates care based on needs, and evaluates

the significance of social, environmental and emotional factors relative to behavioral and/or mental

health conditions and the effectiveness of care provided. Provides nursing component within the

care coordination and/or clinical support roles for a Division of Child and Community Health

Regional Center. Ensures that services utilize the principles of family-centered, community-based,

comprehensive, and culturally competent care in the provision of services to children with special

health care needs.

Position Responsibilities:

Support regional center/clinic functions. Provide planning and care coordination functions

such as: follow-up contacts with the family and community partners; coordinate and triage

referrals; work with referral sources and agencies; and organize staffings and family

meetings.

• Provide care coordination services regarding resources and referrals to the family of the

child with special health care needs. Assist the family in coordination of and utilizing

community, regional, or tertiary health care resources in order to restore, maintain, and

promote health.

• Conducts initial patient physical assessment by rooming patients and obtaining height,

weight, blood pressure, and other vitals as needed. Determine needs of the child and

family by means of discrimination between normal and abnormal physical, behavioral,

psychosocial, and developmental findings. Reports all findings on medical record and to

ARNP.

• Develop and implement multidisciplinary care coordination plan (based on the principles of

family driven care, the child’s condition, age, psychological, educational, and

socioeconomic conditions) that prescribes interventions to attain expected outcomes.

Integrate contributions of the child and family into the multidisciplinary care plan.

• Assist the family, as appropriate, to follow through with the child’s treatment

recommendations. Evaluate and document effectiveness of multidisciplinary plan of care.

• Implement patient/family teaching plan based on identified health education needs of the

child and family.

• Assist the family to obtain necessary knowledge of health care financing entities such as

Medicaid, EPSDT, SSI, state waivers, Iowa Cares, and the Hawk-i program. Evaluate and

document effectiveness of patient/family teaching plan.

• Document patient assessment and plan of care in the patient record and generate

appropriate health reports.

• Coordinate a continuum of care across community settings, facilitating communication

between family and various providers. Serves as an advocate for the child and family.

• Serve as the liaison with community care providers and tertiary care providers, by providing

expert knowledge related to systems of care needed by children with special health care

needs and their families.

• Follow and maintain all patient care and safety standards, per UI Healthcare Policies and Procedures.

• Perform other projects or tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

1. An Associate’s degree in Nursing, Diploma in Nursing, Baccalaureate degree in Nursing, or Master’s degree in Nursing (MNHP or MSN) is required. Current license to practice nursing in Iowa or ability to obtain license at time of hire.

2. Proficiency in computer software applications, including demonstrated experience in using email and MS Office applications.

3. Valid Driver’s License, plus the ability to meet the University of Iowa Fleet Safety Program driving standards (University of Iowa Operations Manual Part V, Chapter 19) and ability to travel within Iowa.

4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience or capacity to

demonstrate positive interpersonal skills and work as a cooperative team member.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Nursing experience in pediatrics is highly desirable.

2. Nursing experience in pediatric mental or behavioral health or with children with special health

care needs is highly desirable.

3. Experience providing care coordination for families with a child with a special healthcare need.

4. Previous experience working with community health care resources.

5. Fluency in speaking and writing Spanish.

6.  Experience using electronic patient records systems.

Percent of Time: 80%25

Location: Oelwein, IA

Salary:  Minimum $46,070  Maximum $84,509

Benefits Highlights:  Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. 

University of Iowa Healthcare is recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.^®

Child Health Specialty Clinics is a community-based public health agency that serves children and youth, birth through 21, who live in Iowa and have or are at an increased risk for a chronic condition, and have a need for special services.  Chronic conditions can include physical, developmental, behavioral and or emotional issues.  Services are provided through family to family support, care coordination and clinical services.  Child Health Specialty Clinics is committed to ensuring Iowa’s children and youth with special healthcare needs have access to health care that provides for their health and well-being.

Application Process: In order to be considered, applicants must upload a resume and cover letter (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.  Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For additional questions, please contact Lisa Dismang at lisa-dismang@uiowa.edu