RN Office Nurse at North Country Hospital – Newport, Vermont

Who we Are:

Nestled in the most northern part of Vermont, North Country Hospital is a community-focused 25 bed critical access hospital, where we prioritize the well-being of our neighbors. North Country Hospital is more than just a healthcare provider; we are a vital part of the community, working together to build a healthier future. Our patient’s health is our priority, and we go above and beyond to care in every way possible.
Sleep Department:

Our sleep department is a multi-site team dedicated to providing high-quality sleep care across the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. With only a handful of sleep specialists in the state, we take seriously our responsibility to deliver specialized, patient-centered care with both excellence and efficiency. This requires creativity, initiative, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. We regularly refine our processes to better serve our patients and community, and are looking for someone who is excited to actively contribute to this culture.

We maintain high standards for quality, reliability, and follow-through, and are seeking someone who takes ownership of their work and consistently delivers care with attention to detail and accountability.

The RN will join a strong, collaborative team of MA/LNAs, schedulers, sleep technologists, and providers. Our care model is team-based, with MA/LNAs and schedulers providing first-line support and the RN contributing additional clinical capabilities, including direct-to-study triage, clinical assessment, and coordination for patients requiring nursing-level review.

Position Statement:

We are seeking an experienced Registered Nurse who is a strong patient advocate, self-driven, and motivated to make a meaningful impact on patient care.

This role is designed to complement and support existing team workflows, with a focus on clinical assessment and higher-complexity patient needs. This role supports the full spectrum of sleep disorders across all age groups, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. While sleep-specific experience is not required, curiosity, motivation to learn, and a commitment to ongoing self-education are essential.

This is not a procedure-heavy role. Aside from CPAP support, the focus is on patient education, care coordination, clinical assessment, and proactive management of patient needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Sleep Study Pathway & Clinical Triage

In collaboration with MA/LNAs, schedulers, sleep technologists, and the broader care team, the RN supports the sleep study pathway with a focus on clinical assessment and more complex patient needs, including:

• Triage sleep referrals, review relevant clinical information, and identify patients appropriate for direct-to-study pathways using established protocols
• Support patient education and preparation for sleep studies to ensure successful and efficient testing
• Identify clinical or behavioral factors that may impact study success and proactively address them
• Communicate sleep study results based on physician interpretation, reinforce care plans, and address follow-up questions

Clinical Care Coordination & Follow-Up

The RN collaborates with MA/LNAs, schedulers, sleep technologists, and the broader care team within a tiered care model to support clinical triage, care coordination, and patient follow-up, including:

• Provide clinical review and escalation for more complex, unclear, or high-risk patient concerns
• Triage escalated patient calls and messages, synthesize key clinical information, and present prioritized issues to MD/APP for efficient review and decision-making
• Manage medication refill requests under established protocols, including clinical screening and escalation as needed
• Coordinate care across providers, DME, and other services for complex patients
• Conduct structured follow-up assessments (e.g., CPAP therapy, stable medication check) under protocol

Quality, Safety & High-Risk Patient Management

In collaboration with MA/LNAs, schedulers, sleep technologists, and the broader care team, the RN supports patient safety and continuity of care, with a focus on higher-risk and more complex patients, including:

• Identify and follow patients at high risk for poor outcomes, safety concerns, or gaps in care, ensuring proactive follow-through, coordination, and appropriate escalation
• Perform routine monitoring and tracking of patients on higher-risk therapies or medications, including ongoing safety screening, data review, and follow-up, with escalation to MD/APP as needed. This may include patients on advanced PAP therapies, higher-risk medications, or with comorbidities requiring closer monitoring

Program Development & Process Improvement

• Provide and reinforce education across the full spectrum of sleep disorders and therapies for patients of all ages, including developing and maintaining patient education materials
• Identify gaps in care delivery and participate in workflow optimization and continuous improvement initiatives (may include remote patient monitoring programs, group education visits)
• Track and support quality improvement initiatives related to AASM Sleep Lab Accreditation
  

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be included in this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Valid RN License, at least 1-2 years clinical experience in an office setting preferred.
• Documentation in patients’ chart is done through the EMR, requires an understanding of the EMR or the ability to learn and comprehend.
• An ability to greet and interact with the public in a tactful, compassionate manner.
• Essential is the ability to maintain a positive attitude while integrating and closing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, and prioritizing as circumstances indicate or as requested by the Practice Manager. Individual must be ethical, honest, and responsible.
• Strives to be a productive member of the department and the organization and always puts time to good use; seeks out work to be done and is always willing to help co-workers.
• Ability to follow NCH’s standards of behavior.