Public Health Nurse

Overview PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center. Position Summary The Public Health Nurse (PHN) serves as a community health advisor and provides comprehensive nursing services to schools, individuals, and families on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Scope of Work The Public Health Nurse position is located within the Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care facilities including Sells Hospital, San Xavier Health Center, Santa Rosa Health Center, and San Simon Health Center. The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of Public Health Nursing, who defines and establishes overall program objectives and operations according to Standards of Care for Public Health Nursing (PHN) Programs. According to PHN priority policies for home visits, each PHN independently plans and schedules comprehensive nursing services for their geographic areas and determines the nature of assessment, counseling, teaching, and treatment to be provided. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Evaluate, promote, and maintain the health of at-risk individuals, families, and the community through teaching disease prevention activities, counseling, advocacy, referral, coordination of care, and appropriate health assessments and interventions. Assist with the coordination of the immunization program, including tracking and follow-up. Manage and participate in public health screening clinics, including interviewing and counseling clients, performing clinical tasks, administering prescribed treatment, documenting care, and making necessary referrals. Participate in emergency/bioterrorism preparedness and planning activities and respond and assist during emergencies (e.g., flooding, fires, microbursts). Utilize the public health nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation when assessing patient condition and needs; set outcomes; implement appropriate nursing actions; and evaluate progress. Refer patients to appropriate resources; organize patient caseload in the assigned geographic area. Apply care, treatment, and intervention according to principles of population-based health care and standing public health orders. Identify and report child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and incidents of domestic violence. Provide maternal and child health services; make home visits as necessary. Monitor prenatal patients, provide prenatal education, and participate in sonogram clinics. Plan and exchange information with other health care entities for effective patient care; cooperate with other agencies in planning for patient care. Utilize RPMS systems as appropriate and enter information into RPMS patient care packages as necessary. Coordinate response to outbreaks of reportable/infectious disease on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Work closely with state and tribal health departments in testing and contact investigation; respond to communities for direct care and education. Utilize MEDSIS for investigation and surveillance of communicable diseases. Assist the physician in control and treatment and consult with various agencies on communicable disease issues. Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) general: coordinate care provision, case and contact investigation, organize education efforts, and liaison with state and federal entities dealing with STD issues. Tuberculosis (TB) general: coordinate and implement treatment plans for active cases and preventative therapy; conduct TB testing and surveillance; plan and coordinate community investigations. Respond to public health emergencies as required. Promote, teach, and demonstrate nursing care to patients, families, and community groups. Provide instruction and information regarding diseases or health conditions and health maintenance. Provide public health consultation services, including health education, to tribal programs, Head Start, schools, other settings in the community, TONHC employees, and outside agencies. Participate with local community groups in the development and planning of health services. Serve on various community task forces related to the position. Participate in orienting new employees and mentoring nurses in public health nursing. Assist in planning and conducting continuing education. Maintain compliance with mandatory training requirements. Lead and guide non-professional staff (e.g., Health Technician/Disease Investigator). Participate in performance improvement teams and other committees as assigned. Continually monitor work processes for quality and quantity; make recommendations for corrective action. Maintain professional knowledge and proficiency in nursing and public health nursing through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops, and serving on nursing committees. Perform other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham traditions, language, history, geography, and culture. Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations, and requirements. Knowledge of health-related issues, medical terminology, and health and child care education. Knowledge of comprehensive health programs and the full range of professional public health nursing principles, practices, and procedures to formulate plans and provide services in clinics, homes, schools, and community environments. Knowledge of current research methods including statistical compilation and interpretation to participate in epidemiological surveys, field investigations and research studies related to planning, assessing and evaluating community health programs. Knowledge and ability to apply methods and techniques of adult education to stimulate behavioral changes related to good health practices. Awareness of the customs of Native American tribes within the area and ability to appreciate cultural differences and their effect on health care delivery. Ability to make physical and psychological assessments of individuals, families and communities and recognize a range of patient conditions from normal to abnormal. Knowledge of the biological aspects of disease processes and illness to recognize complications and therapeutic interventions required. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to recognize desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use. Knowledge and ability to advise and counsel healthy individuals in preventative care and to provide guidance in nutrition, common illnesses, child growth and development patterns, mental health, immunizations, and all aspects of maternal child health. Knowledge of available resources for primary care and referral services. Awareness of performance improvement and the evaluation process to improve patient care and facilitate monitoring and program planning. Knowledge of health records and ability to accurately complete and document clinical-related data. Ability to work independently to organize services to patient caseload in assigned geographic areas and function cooperatively as a PHN team member to achieve department objectives. Ability to communicate and interact with various personnel of varying functions and knowledge levels to provide optimal care for the patient population. Knowledge and skill in computer usage and case management programs on RPMS and other systems. Knowledge of drugs and biologicals and the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use. Knowledge of health records aspects of patient care and ability to accurately document clinical data. Ability to provide instruction and job experience for trainees assigned to the PHN and other training programs. Ability to drive government vehicles. Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with other employees and the general public. Ability to maintain privileged, confidential information. Ability to work extended hours and various work schedules. Ability to work independently and meet strict timelines. Minimum Qualifications Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program, approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency when the program was completed by the applicant, and Two years of clinical nursing experience. Registration: Applicants must have active, current and unrestricted license as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements Must have active, current, and unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse. Public Health or Community Health Nursing, preferred. Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record. May require possessing and maintaining a valid driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years). If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles. Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment. Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The work requires extensive driving between communities and moving and placing equipment in specialty clinics and health fairs, as well as setting up audio-visual equipment for group presentations in communities and schools. Vehicle operation may involve isolated areas or unimproved roads. Occupational exposures to infectious and communicable diseases are possible, as is exposure to persons under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive. #J-18808-Ljbffr Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care