Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurse

The Public Health Nurse focuses on prevention of illness, injury or disability, the promotion of health, and maintenance of health of populations in accordance with standards, codes and regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The Public Health Nurse works to improves health by consistent utilization of the nursing process, application of critical thinking skills, and decision-making informed by science and evidence. Public Health Nurses, under the direction of the local board of health and the local health officer, shall conduct a generalized public health nursing program in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Reference: 250.06(01)

Essential Duties

Assessment:

• Plans and provide health assessment, programs, projects, interventions, and/or strategies at the individual, family and community level (e.g.., care management, education, referral, and policy, systems, and environment change) that is culturally appropriate to achieve relevant objectives and goals.
• Assists in conducting community population assessments through the collection of monitoring and analyzing of health data to help determine needs of the population and with governmental and community partners to help fill gaps and improve policy, systems or the environment to improve health.
• Provides communicable disease prevention and control including epidemiological investigations, education, surveillance, and food/waterborne disease outbreak investigations and implements control measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Policy Development:

• Builds and maintain relationships with community agencies and members who are committed to improving the health of the community, serves as a member and possible facilitator of local collaborative groups; participates as a member of local and state public health committees.
• Participates in planning for development and operation of the agency, including, but not limited to, assistance in coordination of agency services with other community services, orientation of new staff to the service, quality improvement, quality assurance, performance management, and supervision of students, interns, and volunteers.

Assurance:

• Provides communicable disease services including administering, distributing and monitoring Tuberculosis related medication.
• Assures community wide systems are in place to prevent vaccine preventable diseases including education, surveillance, reporting and epidemiologic follow-up.
• Maintains knowledge and provision of immunization services including planning, organizing, educating, interpreting immunization needs, staffing immunization clinics, administering vaccines to all age groups and responding to adverse reactions as necessary.
• Adheres to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routing assignment or assignments during public health crisis or emergency.
• Coordinates, implements and documents quality improvements efforts/trainings including blood borne pathogens, respiratory fit testing and other training.
• Participates in departmental/community response trainings/drills to prepare for and respond to public health threats in accordance with county and departmental emergency response plans in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness.
• Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned in response to threats to the public health including mass/care/sheltering.

Other:

• Provides client services on an as needed basis in line with current Public Health programming, goals, and objectives
• Leads generalized public health nursing programs and initiatives with oversight by the Public Health Officer and Public Health Manager.
• Acts as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for various public health initiatives both internal and external to the Department.
• Supervises the programmatic work of the Registered Nurses to ensure alignment with Public Health Nursing program goals and objectives
• Participates when assigned as Charge Nurse serving as main point of contact for Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses for nursing specific questions and concerns
• Maintains adequate records according to statutes, codes, standards, policies and procedures.
• Maintains client confidentiality and follows HIPPA rules and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications Required

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program as indicated in Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS 139.08.
• At least one year experience in the community or public health is preferred but not required.

Licenses and Certifications: Current Wisconsin license as a Registered Nurse.

• Current CPR certification or ability to obtain once hired.
• Current WI driver's license (must have a dependable, insured vehicle for use during work).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the core functions and essential services of public health.
• Knowledge of current public health nursing principles and processes.
• Knowledge of communicable disease, epidemiology and treatment: epidemiological data analysis and surveillance methods used in the management of communicable and infectious disease.
• Knowledge of disease prevention, universal precautions and infection control, bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, health assessment, health promotion, behavioral change, group process, community/organizational development theory and techniques.
• Knowledge of human systems (wellness, illness, growth and development, basic nutrition, human behavior, psychosocial development, family and community systems).
• Knowledge of the community agencies and resources.
• Knowledge of a systematic approach to client care that includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, consultation, referral and follow up desirable.
• Knowledge of incident command structure (ICS) desirable.
• Knowledge of current recommendations of Advisory Committees and Immunizations Practices (ACIP).
• Knowledge of administration of immunizations to infants, children and adults.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to improve population outcomes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with other staff, community professionals and the public.
• Ability to speak publicly to groups.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely records.
• Ability to apply time-management skills and prioritize workload.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writings.
• Ability to communicate with persons of varying levels of education, understanding, and values and work with diverse populations in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to work independently and exercise considerable judgement and discretion in carrying out designated duties according to established policy/procedures.
• Ability to accommodate flexible scheduling to address department, program or client needs.
• Ability to use standard office equipment including telephone, computer, printer, photocopier, and scanner.

PHYSICAL Demands:

• Lifting 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/ or carrying of objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Intermittent standing, walking, sitting and occasional driving.
• Using hand(s)/feet for repetitive single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, pulling or operating controls.
• Frequent bending, twisting, squatting, climbing, reaching, occasional grappling.
• Communicating orally in a clear manner.
• Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone.
• Visual ability must be sufficient enough to read typewritten documents, computer screen, drive a car and distinguish people or objectives at varied distances under a variety of light conditions.
• Occasional need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.
• Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as ice/snow, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.

*This position description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in description. Brown County, WI