Outdoor Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

To provide comprehensive health care to students enrolled at assigned Outdoor School sites, observing regulations of nursing practice, and compliance with policies established by the Outdoor School and School Health Services programs.

Ideal candidates for this position love working outside and love working with kids! Recent graduates are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity to work with Multnomah County students in an unparalleled outdoor classroom.

Students in Outdoor School receive an exciting environmental education and are able to explore their surroundings (mountains, forests, streams, and fields) 24 hours a day; be part of this experience with your nursing knowledge and help us give these students the best experience possible!

Essential Job Functions:

1. Assess individual health needs and provide appropriate interventions for students and staff at the Outdoor School site. This may require hiking or walking moderate distances from the main camp area or climbing ladders to access students in bunk beds.
2. Conduct a health assessment of all students and Student Counselors for communicable diseases.
3. Establish procedures to secure, monitor, and administer all medication brought to Outdoor School by students and Student Counselors per administrative rules and policies.
4. Remain on-site and on-call for 24-hour coverage to provide nursing, consultation, and/or intervention to ill or injured students and staff.
5. Request equipment from MESD and maintain an adequately equipped dispensary.
6. Adhere to MESD "Guidelines For Outdoor School Nurses."
7. Maintain records and reports as required.
8. Make recommendations to the Site Supervisor when a student or staff member should be removed from the site due to a suspected communicable disease.
9. Communicate with others utilizing appropriate verbal and non-verbal interactions.
10. Delegate, train, and supervise appropriate site staff in selected nursing tasks as appropriate for the individual health needs of students or staff as assigned by the ODS Special Needs Nurse.

Essential Qualities:

• Equity: Lead and support regional equity initiatives
• Vision: Lead with vision, follow-through, and student focus.
• Trust: Develop trust among coworkers and students through honesty and fairness.
• Communication: Communicate in an inclusive, effective, and collaborative manner.
• Personal Qualities: Be respectful, excel in customer service, caring, humble, and courageous.
• Agency-wide perspective: Be involved in and supportive of continuous overall improvement of MESD programs and services.
• Attendance: Daily and consistent attendance and punctuality are paramount as this provides consistency and alignment with students, peers, and programming outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications, Skills, Abilities:

• Daily and consistent attendance and punctuality
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to walk/hike moderate distances and climb ladders to access bunk beds.
• Current CPR/First Aid card.

Desired Qualifications, Skills, Abilities:

• Works well with teams with diverse perspectives, values, and identities
• Values diversity, equity, and inclusion and shares core values of the program–Equity, Inclusion, Authentic Outdoor experiences for youth, caregiving, education, and teaching, and work towards active and constructive change
• Is creative, dedicated, and responsible
• Is dedicated to keeping kids healthy and safe in a unique educational environment
• Works to understand the myriad of relationships youth may have with the outdoors and outdoor programs based on class, race, and gender
• Takes initiative to ask for help, get tasks done, and support students and the program
• Understand the value of feedback and possess the ability to accept feedback and integrate it
• Is dedicated to communicating inclusively and collaboratively.
• Can work independently with minimal supervision in a dynamic outdoor environment
• Has experience working with children, high school students, and/or adolescents
• Is flexible and solution-oriented
• Can prioritize tasks with competing timelines.

Education & Experience:

• Valid Oregon license to practice as a Registered Nurse.

Working Conditions:

At Outdoor School we believe that every individual is equal, valuable, and welcome. We work to acknowledge and celebrate our differences, whatever they may be. Inclusion means everyone and together we will strengthen our skills to work and live with others that are alike and different from ourselves. At Outdoor School we are building a community where everyone is honored for exactly who they are.

We work to uphold these values by:

• Prioritizing racial equity in all aspects of the program
• Support of our LGTQIA2s+ community though normalizing the use and sharing of pronouns, providing an all gender cabin option and affirming of gender identity
• Providing relevant and consistent equity training
• Commitment to a growth mindset, open to feedback, reflection, and active engagement
• Using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies

Benefits:

• Overnight Stipend
• Sick Pay
• Employee Assistance Program -free mental health counseling and supports
• Professional development training, professional coaching, and mentoring
• Access to EDI and environmental education library
• Regular social gatherings

Physical Demands:

Employment is temporary and subject to a school participation schedule. This position works in an overnight, Outdoor School setting. This position includes being available 24 hours to the attendees and staff members. Employees will work a six-day week and are typically on duty from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The environment is rustic with potentially uneven hilly terrain, wooded trails, variable ambient light, and weather conditions. The employee must carry out duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include heat, rain, snow, cold, and windy conditions.

Employees must be able to respond quickly to emergency events at any place in the Outdoor School setting and be able to maneuver outdoors, common areas, rustic buildings, and sites.

This position is a first responder in a medical emergency. The employee must be able to administer 1st Aid/CPR, requiring the ability to get to ground level or in awkward positions to administer assistance. Outdoor School sites may have crowded walkways or common spaces. Stairs and walkways are exposed to weather and may be slippery.

Housing and meals are provided Sunday through Friday. Housing may be shared with other employees in assigned rustic cabins or bunk rooms, all sites include showers, electricity, running water, and heat. Meals include a vegetarian option that may include eggs and/or dairy.

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Mobility: Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move around for extended periods of time.
• Lifting: Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Vision: Visual acuity to read and interpret written and electronic information.
• Dexterity: Ability to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate objects, tools, or controls.
• Hearing/speaking: Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information so others will understand.
• Emotional/Psychological: Ability to maintain composure and professionalism in challenging situations, remain empathetic and understanding towards individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs, handle stress and pressure effectively, and adapt to change in the workplace.

This position is subject to board policies, administrative rules and procedures, department regulations, and applicable state and federal statutes. This position does not carry administrative authority. All commitments outside of authorized programs and services are subject to prior approval by the supervisor of this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MESD recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of MESD that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity