PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE II

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Health Department’s Public Health Bureau is seeking to fill vacant Public Health Nurse II positions in the Children’s Medical Services, Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, and Community Based Nursing divisions.

The Public Health Nurse II (PHN) will perform the full scope of Public Health Nursing duties by initiating and carrying out special programs under limited supervision. The PHN will be part of a team of professional, para-professional and support staff that collaborate to ensure comprehensive health services are provided throughout Monterey County. These programs include:

California Children’s Services (CCS) determines medical eligibility of children under age 21 for CCS-eligible diagnostic and treatment services. The PHN provides case management services to children in collaboration with the CCS case worker and the local Medi‑Cal managed care health plan.

Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) investigates reports of children with elevated blood lead levels. The PHN provides case management services to children and youth under age 21 with lead poisoning to reduce social and dietary exposure to lead. CLPPP also collaborates with environmental health specialists to identify and eliminate environmental sources of lead.

Communicable Disease Unit (CDU) provides communicable disease prevention and control services for all Monterey County residents. Program activities include conducting detailed interviews, collecting biological specimens, delivering health education, linking clients to treatment and/or preventative services, and providing guidance to medical providers, schools and congregate living facilities on screening, treatment, and infection control practices.

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program provides comprehensive case management services to individuals who may be experiencing homelessness, and/or frequently use the hospital emergency and inpatient services, and/or behavioral health diagnosis, and/or are pregnant or postpartum with multiple social determents of health.

Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) consults and collaborates with County of Monterey Social Services Department and Probation Department foster care teams. The PHN provides expertise in meeting the medical, dental, mental and developmental needs of children and youth in out of home placement.

Maternal Child Adolescent Health (MCAH) program supports the health and well‑being of women, infants, children and teens in the community. We provide nurse case management and help connect families to essential health care and community services. Our work includes public health home visiting services, coordinating care and education during the perinatal and postpartum period, linking children and teens to care, as well as raising awareness and offering support around Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the community.

Nurse‑Family Partnership (NFP) provides specially trained nurses to partner with low‑income first‑time mothers, beginning at approximately the 28th week of pregnancy, to promote and teach positive health and development behaviors and improve economic self‑sufficiency. The program continues to work with the mother and child until the child’s second birthday.

Tuberculosis Control Unit (TBU) has the primary responsibility to provide early identification of Tuberculosis patients to prevent TB transmission and spread in the county. The PHN II provides Case Management services to a select number of community members with active TB. TB case management includes monitoring treatment and medication compliance, specimen collection and ensures urgent medical and psychosocial needs are met. The TB program administers the Directly Observed Therapy program in Monterey County.

As of 08/14/2023, the Health Department offers up to a $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular full‑time positions for this classification from this recruitment.

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.

• Plans, organizes and provides nursing services within an assigned specialty, clinic or geographical area.
• Provides case finding, health counseling and instruction and epidemiological investigation in connection with the prevention and control of disease and the promotion of health.
• Applies the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation.
• Evaluates individual and family situations for problems detrimental to good health; conducts health appraisals and screening.
• Refers clients to appropriate resources, agencies and clinics for further evaluation and treatment.
• Coordinates care of individuals and families with public and private agencies; confers with physicians, nursing staff, other agencies and community members.
• Determines special needs of an assigned area; recommends and implements projects to address those needs; participates with community groups in identifying and developing needed public health services.
• Provides care and treatment for health problems; carries out physicians orders; administers injections and oral medications applied in the home, clinic or group situation.
• Keeps records, prepares reports, compiles statistical information.

Public Health Nurse II

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods and practices of public health nursing.
• Community aspects of nursing programs including provisions for continuity of patient care, nursing services in health programs and nursing care in the home.

Working Knowledge of:

• The use of community resources for assistance in public health programs.
• Federal, state and local laws and regulations governing public health.
• Epidemiologic investigation, 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.
• Prevention, detection, reporting and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
• Principles and procedures involved with family planning, venereal disease control, maternal and child health and communicable diseases.

Skill and Ability to:

• Analyze information and draw logical conclusions.
• Speak effectively to address groups and individuals.
• Write to prepare reports and records.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Use common medical instructions.
• Manage an assigned caseload.

Desirable Qualifications:

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

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:

• One year of responsible professional experience in public health nursing.

• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience to satisfactorily perform these duties.

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.

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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Monterey County is a drug‑free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Analyst I, at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.