Officers,
We are seeking RNs to assist with coverage of admissions at the Ernie Turner Center (ETC) detox. SCF and CITC are currently exploring a partnership in the detox facility and SCF has agreed to help support CITC in short term staffing of the unit during their vacancies. Admission RNs are a critical part of the staffing, and currently, ETC has not been able to fill beds due to staff vacancies and medical leave. This impacts the community immensely being the only detox facility in Anchorage. There are currently 50-60 people calling in daily to access detox. Without RNs to help facilitate admissions, waits to access treatment increase, motivation for treatment decreases, and customers are not able to access outpatient and residential treatment services to begin their long term recovery process. This is a critical need for the community.
Please join me in volunteering to cover shifts after business hours (5-8pm) during the week and 4 hours on weekend (flexible times). Attached are the shifts available in June. This is a good opportunity to go above and beyond to help your community. I will be happy to write letters of appreciation and awards for those who help out.
Admissions at detox include triaging new admissions, a nursing assessment which is a series of forms to complete with the customer, administration of the COWS/CIWA to assess withdrawal, initiation of the medication protocols, and some medical exams (blood pressure, health history and medications…) You will be partnered with an LPN on each shift to assist with the other admission processes and you have a PA available onsite or on-call depending on the time of day to run any medical concerns you may have by them. Admissions take about 2 hours including paperwork. We will be setting up training times to review the processes and paperwork and the first one will be June 4th with subsequent ones to follow.
If this opportunity interests you, please email Jody Hammock and cc Tara Curry the shifts you can cover. They will confirm shifts with you individually as well as the training date on the paperwork and process. If you have additional questions, please let us know.
Thank you in advance for the service to your community and to this very at risk population.
Respectfully,
Brenda Cook, RN, MSN
CAPT, USPHS
Nurse Director
Southcentral Foundation
(907)729-3303