PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE III

Public Health Nurse III

The County of Monterey Health Department's Public Health Bureau is seeking to fill one vacant Public Health Nurse III position in the Immunization (IZ) and Communicable Disease (CD) Unit. The IZ/CD Unit is responsible for the prevention, investigation, and control of vaccine-preventable and other reportable communicable diseases in Monterey County. The unit conducts disease surveillance, case and contact investigations, provider outreach and community education, and implements state and federal program requirements, including immunization grant deliverables and communicable disease reporting mandates.

The Public Health Nurse III (PHN III) will serve as the County's Immunization Coordinator and play a key leadership role within the Communicable Disease Unit. In this role, the PHN III is responsible for coordinating immunization program activities, including oversight of Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements, vaccine management, and ensuring compliance with state and federal immunization guidelines. The PHN III also serves as the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Coordinator, providing case management and provider education to prevent perinatal transmission.

The PHN III supports overall CD Unit operations by maintaining a communicable disease caseload; conducting timely case and contact investigations; coordinating care; and providing education to patients, providers, and the public. The position may include assigning and reviewing work of nursing staff, mentoring staff on disease control activities, and supporting outbreak investigations in collaboration with internal and external partners. Additionally, the PHN III is responsible for implementing and monitoring program protocols and procedures; ensuring completion of grant scope of work deliverables; preparing reports; and conducting quality improvement activities. The PHN III provides training and technical consultation on immunization practices, communicable disease control, and reporting requirements, and participates in community collaborations and public health emergency response activities.

As of 10/11/2023, the Health Department offers up to a $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular positions for this classification from this recruitment.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority in accordance with the Flexible Staffing Program and Guidelines.

Examples of Duties

• Plans, develops, reviews, monitors, evaluates, and directly participates in providing services in a major nursing or health services program for the Health Department.
• Trains, assigns, and reviews the work of Public Health Nurses and other staff. Provides consultation and assistance and makes decisions on program or administrative problems.
• Provides supervisor with updated information on program or personnel issues.
• Participates on various committees and as liaison provides information to other County departments and other agencies and organizations.
• Determines needs in an assigned and recommends and implements projects designed to address those needs; participates with community groups in identifying and developing needed public health services.
• Applies the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation when evaluating individuals and family situations for problems detrimental to good health.
• Coordinates care, confers with physicians, nursing staff, other agencies, and community members, and refers clients to appropriate public and private resources, agencies and clinics for further evaluation and treatment.
• Provides case finding, health counseling and instruction, and epidemiological investigation in the prevention and control of disease and the promotion of health; provides care and treatment for health problems; carries out physicians orders; administers injections and oral medications.
• Formulates written program goals and objectives; recommends program policies and, develops and updates program protocols and procedures as appropriate.
• Keeps records, prepares reports, compiles statistical information.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• The principles, methods, and procedures of public health nursing.

Working Knowledge of:

• Community aspects of nursing programs including provisions for continuity of patient care, nursing services in health programs and nursing care in the home.
• Epidemiologic investigations; causes, control, and care of chronic and communicable diseases and illness, handicapping conditions, mental illness, and other disabling conditions.
• Environmental, sociological, and psychological problems associated with public health nursing clients and families.
• Normal and abnormal human physiological development and behavior patterns.
• Principles and procedures involved with family planning, sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health, child growth and development, and communicable diseases.
• Prevention, detection, reporting and treatment to specific public health programs.
• The laws, codes, and standards applicable to specific public health programs.
• The use of community resources for assistance in public health programs.

Some Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices used in public health program coordination and implementation.
• Principles and practices of staff supervision and development.
• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing public health.
• Principles of mental health.
• Basic statistical concepts.

Skill and Ability to:

• Use common medical instruments.
• Analyze, evaluate, and draw logical conclusions from data; evaluate problems, policies, procedures and formulate an effective course of action.
• Think creatively; develop new methods, procedures or approaches to achieve program goals; exercise initiative, ingenuity, and sound judgment in identifying and solving administrative and technical problems.
• Independently work with little or no direct supervision.
• Plan, prioritize, direct, and review the work of others.
• Effectively communicate in writing to prepare a variety of reports and records.
• Work effectively with the public and others contacted during the course of work.
• Understand, interpret, and apply rules, laws, policies, and regulations relative to specific public health programs.
• Read, understand, and apply oral and written policies and procedures.
• Independently manage an assigned caseload.
• Communicate verbally to address groups and individuals.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training:

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience:

• Two years of extensive public health nursing experience.

Conditions of Employment:

• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver's license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
• Pursuant to Title 17 of the California Administrative Code, possession of a license in active status, to practice as a registered nurse in California and possession of a Public Health Nursing Certificate issued by the State of California.

Benefits:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit S Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

Notes:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Application & Selection Procedures:

Apply on-line at by the priority screening date