Public Health Nurse

Purpose of Position
The Primary Public Health Nurse is a registered professional nurse who organizes clinical aspects of town and corporate contracts. The Public Health Nurse along with the Public Health Manager promotes prevention services for persons of all ages throughout our service area, including communicable disease, emergency preparedness for a pandemic occurrence, immunization clinics, community health clinics and health education and screening programs.

Description
1. Assures compliance with Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Practice in the State of Massachusetts.
2. Functions within the parameters of knowledge and experience, practicing safely and competently.
3. Participate in emergency preparedness teams on the local and state level as assigned.
4. Liaison with the health agents in the town to coordinate communicable disease surveillance and initiate immunization plans, providing and/or coordinating emergency call coverage as indicated.
5. Provide resource and education to towns and agency in infectious disease and emergency preparedness planning.
6. Performs clinical functions and manages supplies for contracted health programs including clinics.
7. Promotes immunization and wellness programs through community outreach activities.
8. Provide health education lectures to community based organizations with in the VNA service/contract area.
9. Provide primary nursing as the Public Health nurse to contracted Public Health departments. -Complete safety assessments on at risk individuals and well-being checks. -Medications management and referral to appropriate sources for further assessment/assistance.
10. Communicate with physicians and counsel patient and family members as appropriate in relationship to communicable disease, infection control, wellness education and prevention guidelines.
11. With the Public Health Manager order all equipment/supplies appropriate and necessary for clinics.
12. Participates on agency Infection Control Committee as directed by the Public Health Wellness Manager.
13. Utilize results of monitoring and evaluation activities to identify education needs, improved patient care practices, and community outreach. Make training recommendations to HR Education Manager.
14. Provide on call availability in response to agency and community need.
15. Perform communicable disease responsibilities in compliance with MDPH requirements including reporting, surveillance and case management per town contracts.
16. All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Successful passage of VNA pre-hire medication test
• Registered Nurse currently licensed in the State of Massachusetts.
• BSN or equivalent preferred. CPR required.
• Minimum of three (3) years clinical experience.