A Wesley Nurse is unlike any other healthcare professional you’ll ever meet. They don’t work in a clinic or a hospital, rotate patients through appointments, and aren’t just there to care for people’s physical needs. A Wesley Nurse is an advocate, empowering patients to take ownership of their health and wellbeing. A Wesley Nurse is a navigator, helping patients connect the dots between the different health services and resources within their own community. A Wesley Nurse is a partner, building relationships to reduce the socio-economic barriers that often contribute to health crisis. A Wesley Nurse is an educator, encouraging healthier choices that prevent chronic disease and promote holistic health and wellbeing. Above all, a Wesley Nurse focuses on the intentional care of the spirit and improving health outcomes – body, mind, and spirit. They are deeply rooted in their communities, walking alongside families and individuals to ensure a healthy, happy, and thriving life for all. Wesley Nurses bring life to our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God.”
Essential Duties:
- Implement the nursing processes of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation at the individual, family, community, and population levels.
- Identify expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient, family, or community.
- Practice in a collaborative manner with patients, families, communities and key stakeholders, such community organizations, churches, businesses, neighborhood residents, local government, to attain expected, measurable outcomes.
- Practices ethically, delivering care in a manner that preserves and protects the patient’s autonomy, dignity, rights, and spiritual beliefs and practices. Practices in a manner that is congruent with the principles of cultural diversity and inclusion.
- Utilizes evidence-based practice interventions such as, but not limited to, health education, motivational interviewing, counseling, prayer, caring presence, active listening, advocacy, referrals,
- Asset-Based Community Development, and Trauma Informed Care to promote health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. Coordinates care delivery for patients and families.
- Establishes, nourishes, and maintains relationships with stakeholders in the community (i.e., residents, associations, organizations, businesses, coalitions, schools, etc.) Stays current with Public Health guidelines and practices.
- Keeps current with knowledge of resources available to patients.
- Communicates effectively in all areas of practice. Shows initiative and can work independently.
- Engages with least served communities. Advocates for patients, families, and communities.
- Maintains appropriate records necessary to document the functions and activities of the Wesley Nurse.
- Attends the educational sessions which are provided in response to identified learning needs. Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
- The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education/Experience:
- Registered Nurse, graduate from an accredited school of nursing required.
- Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing preferred.
- At least 2 years clinical and/or community health nursing experience preferred. An accredited Faith Community Nurse course must be completed within the first two years of employment.
- Language Ability: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Fluent in English. Bilingual in Spanish required.
- Reasoning Ability: Must have critical thinking skills and be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Certificates and Licenses: Current state of Texas nursing license. BCLS and CPR. Computer Skills: Demonstrates working knowledge of the Internet, Outlook, Power Point, Word and Excel applications.
- Other: Ability to work in a changing environment and as part of a team, taking on tasks at all levels Ability to drive and have access to a vehicle; maintain current driver’s license and auto liability insurance. Frequent travel required within the nurse’s community as well as occasional travel within the MHM 74 county service area. Some travel may include overnight stays.
- Work Environment and Physical Demands: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the team member will have direct contact with patients and clients. Position necessitates bending, stooping, twisting, turning, walking, climbing steps, sitting, and standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and maneuver 30 pounds.
- Commitment to Health Equity: Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. believes that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” it must recognize the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is both the process and goal by which Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to carry out that purpose. Health Equity is a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunities for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.