RN Youth Homelessness

Organization Overview

Face to Face Health and Counseling is a non‑profit organization dedicated to advancing economic and health equity for youth ages 11–24. We do this work through a comprehensive approach that includes housing, mental health, medical, youth justice, education & employment, and community services. We take a strengths‑based and trauma‑informed approach to our work and center the needs of young people impacted by racism and other forms of oppression and marginalization.

Founded in 1972, Face to Face serves more than 3,000 youth annually.

This position is at Safe Zone, our drop‑in center, open to youth ages 14‑24. The Registered Nurse (RN) at Safe Zone provides outreach services to Safe Zone clients onsite. The nurse works with the nurse practitioner to provide coverage, and at times is the only healthcare professional at this site. The RN is part of a multidisciplinary team at Safe Zone drop‑in center for homeless youth in St.

Paul that works together to comprehensively assess and address patient health needs.

The RN provides health education including reproductive health care and birth control, helps triage needs that require referrals to other providers, provides basic first aid, nurse visits for pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted infection screenings, emergency contraception. The RN is a Safe Zone staff resource and helps transfer patients to the clinic on Arcade, when needed. This position is 30 hours per week.

This position has a strong focus on building relationships with youth. Youth experiencing homelessness need to build trust with a provider before they feel comfortable receiving healthcare, so the nurse will meet clients where they are, generally in the common spaces until rapport has been built. Youth across the state and the country are experiencing an increased level of mental health crises as well as substance use, which has made our harm reduction model even more critical.

The successful candidate will be a self‑starter who is able to grow our healthcare services at Safe Zone and is able to work autonomously when the NP is not present. The nurse needs to be comfortable working with diverse populations, engaging with youth in a drop‑in setting, and approaching healthcare from a harm reduction model.

This role is cross‑trained to support both the Safe Zone and Arcade Clinic locations. While the primary worksite is Safe Zone, the RN may occasionally provide coverage at the Arcade Clinic based on staffing and operational needs. The position will also be cross‑trained in front desk and medical assistant workflows to ensure smooth clinic operations and team coverage when needed.

• Provide nursing support to clients and be available to Safe Zone staff for client consultation related to health needs.
• Triage patient phone calls and walk‑in clients.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; creating health outcomes and goals in partnership with the client; understanding that youth are on a journey; following nursing philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
• Maintain safety checks on the AED, stock first aid supplies, schedule pickup of sharp’s containers.
• Help run staff emergency “drills” as determined by Supervisor and Manager of Safe Zone.
• Provide non‑directive, factually accurate, and unbiased information and education.
• Complete Nurse Visits, documenting in our EHR.
• Maintain patient trust and protect operations by keeping information confidential.
• Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing team strategies.
• Ability to float to the Arcade Clinic if staffing requires.
• Ensure a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection‑control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Chart care provided in organization database.
• Provide occasional coverage at the Arcade clinic, as requested, to support staffing needs.
• Step in and help to “get the job done” when short‑staffed, including…