Disaster Shelter Kauai: Health Services Worker

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The purpose of this position is to provide Disaster Health Services to clients and community in support of a Shelter Operation, under current COVID-19 conditions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and collaborate with other disaster functions before, during and after a disaster by acting as a subject matter expert.
• Help clients find replacement medication, eye glasses, etc. and find resources to meet future health needs resulting from the event.
• Perform client casework, as needed

• For a PA, their license should be active and unencumbered. This group of professionals will not have full scope of practice and therefore cannot write prescriptions, similar to physicians who volunteer with the Red Cross. Under the direction and delegation of an RN, PAs can provide assessment, care and assistance to clients with unmet health needs after disaster. Expectations of the PA must clearly be managed to understand the limitations of the volunteer opportunity. They certainly can provide much to the clients and will be a great asset.

• RNs with a retired license in a state where there are no restrictions on that license can also be part of the DHS volunteer corps. The state in which they hold the retired license should grant full scope of practice to the retired nurse for volunteer activities. This is a state by state license issue and research is being done to identify which states allow for full scope of practice even if in a retired status.

• Licensed or certified LPN/LVN, MD, D. O., EMT or Paramedic

• Ability to be part of a team demonstrating traits of honesty, forward looking, competence, intelligence and compassion. The Disaster Shelter Health Services Worker understands how they fit into the larger DCS and Sheltering structure and how their actions can positively influence and support the DCS Program.