OCES is hiring Clinical Assessment and Eligibility RNs to support the 23 cities and towns that make up its service area. There is a need for nurses to assess and monitor people who need Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) in the Personal Care Management (PCM) program and in the Adult Family Care (AFC) program.
Currently, OCES has a team of 21 nurses who assist older adults and people with disabilities thrive in the community by helping to meet a consumer’s long-term personal and health goals while teaming with a Care Manager.
For the OCES nurse, their day can start with a Home Care, Personal Care Management, or Adult Family Care referral. After an assessment, the consumer’s clinical eligibility is determined, and a Plan of Care is developed by a team of caring staff members. Based on needs and preferences, services such as a Home Health Aide, Supportive Day Care, Adult Day Health, Companion, Personal Emergency Response System, Medication Assistance, Home Delivered Meals, or Nutrition counseling may be offered. Some of the services are delivered by OCES directly, and some are delivered by other Providers, but OCES monitors these to ensure services are delivered with quality and compassion.
There is a great need for community services for a fast-growing and aging population. For this reason, there is a great need for community nursing assessments to ensure that health and safety needs are being met for people who wish to age in place. OCES RNs take the time to educate consumers about healthy living and teach consumers how to manage chronic health conditions based on the recommendations of their Primary Care Physician.
“The best part about nursing at OCES is that we are given the opportunity to really make a difference in a consumer’s daily life,” says Brenda Bernard, RN and Home Care Services Manager at OCES. “After spending some time with consumers, I am able to share their unique story by documenting their social and health history, and can draw a parallel to why there is a need for services to support them in the community. We are able to listen nonjudgmentally and allow the consumer to choose the best way to live, but we are there to educate and be of service should the consumer want more assistance.”
OCES offers their staff opportunities for professional development and advancement, and places an emphasis on work/life balance with greater flexibility than is often seen in the nursing profession. A full-time schedule is 35 hours a week, Monday through Friday with the opportunity to transition to a 4 day work week. Generous paid time off is provided including vacation time, personal time, sick time and 11 paid holidays. Additional benefits include medical, dental, life and disability insurances, a 401(k) plan, and an innovative Employee Wellness Program, which encourages and supports employees in healthy lifestyle choices.
According to Nicole Long, CEO of OCES, “An OCES nurse make a difference in the community and the consumers they serve every day. OCES is continuously looking for talented individuals who support our core values to join our nursing team.”
For more information on becoming part of the OCES team and making a difference in the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, click here.