Community Health Nurse (RN)

The Community Health Nurse is part of a mobile response and outreach team that coordinates and delivers health services in the community setting. Community Health Nurses respond to patients in conjunction with the Community Health Social Workers in patient’s homes and in the field.

The Community Health Nurse’s primary focus is to respond to urgent care requests, triage / assess, and connect patients to acute care services. The RN also works to identify, engage, and connect high-need individuals to the right medical, behavioral, and social services in the community.

The RN works in a team with a Social Worker, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team that includes Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians, law enforcement, and community organizations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Respond in the field (i.e. patient’s homes, encampments, etc.) with the Community Health Social Worker to examine, screen, treat, and coordinate delivery of health to individuals with behavioral health needs either referred to the program or identified through the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
• Co-response to 911 callers with low-acuity medical, behavioral, and social needs.
• Triage and assess patient needs.
• Coordinate and deliver appropriate on-scene acute care services.
• Providing clinical nursing functions within scope of practice.
• Identify high-risk patients with complex needs.
• Make whole person assessments.
• Connect high-risk patients to whole-person care services.
• Moving, lifting, or transferring of patients.
• Provide and promote excellence in customer service for community members and partnering providers.
• Pilot test new workflows and digital tools to improve tracking and communication between health and social service agencies.
• Employee may support Public Relations and/or Public Education events at offsite locations.
• Employee may be required to attend program related conferences/training.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUCCESSFUL INCUMBENTS FOR THE POSITION WILL HAVE:

Knowledge:

• Social services available within the community, greater King County, and the State of Washington as well as any federally related programs.
• Emergency medical incident reporting system.
• HIPAA rules and regulations as related to the continuation of care.
• Department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Personal computer systems as applicable, including MS Office Suite.

Skills:

• Exercise independent judgment and initiative in managing multiple projects and assignments.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with both external and internal customers.
• Communicate with others both orally, in writing, and electronically, using technical and non-technical language. 
• Understand and follow oral and/or written policies, processes, and instructions.
• Proper use of telephone etiquette and techniques to properly assist a diverse assortment of inquiries and persons.
• Operation of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including personal computers and related software such as word processing and spreadsheet programs.

Abilities:

• Work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple priorities, utilize effective time management skills, and exercise sound administrative and clinical judgment.
• Provide care for patients within certified scope of practice.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of medical terminology.
• Develop and demonstrate familiarity with local community resources.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the EMS delivery system within the department and King County.
• Integrate into the fire department culture within a paramilitary organization.
• Work autonomously, independently organize, prioritize, and manage time.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.
• Assist in building healthy interagency relationships.
• Travel to multiple fire stations and other locations.
• Develop curriculum and deliver training and educational materials.

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE OR A COMBINATION, SUCH AS:

Education:

Unencumbered RN license in the State of Washington.

Certified in first aid and CPR (Health Care Provider).

Preferred: 

•BSN/BA in nursing.

Experience:  

Minimum of 5 years’ experience as an RN required.

Preferred: 

• Experience working with elderly or a Public Health background.
• Experience in a community/outpatient setting providing care management/coordination.
• Spanish or other second language ability.
• 5 plus years of experience in clinical healthcare setting, home health, chronic care, or other related acute care healthcare delivery setting.
• Experience working with underserved or vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge and experience working closely with emergency services (ride-alongs, etc.)

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

•  Driver’s License
• Unencumbered RN license in the State of Washington

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Opens: August 31, 2026

Closes: September 13, 2026 (review candidates September 14th)

1st Interviews: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Ridealongs: Week of October 5, 2026

Final Interviews: Monday, October 12, 2026     

Contingent Offer, start background screening:  by October 13, 2026 

Final Offer: by October 26, 2026 (dependent upon timing of background screening)

Anticipated Start Date: November 9, 2026, or sooner, depending upon candidate availability