PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

This job was posted by : For more information, please see: Under general supervision, performs public health nursing work in a specific population-focused geographical area. The focus of this classification is the practice of promoting and protecting the health of client populations using knowledge from nursing, social and public health disciplines. This classification is distinguished from other patient care services and nursing classifications by its primary focus on the prevention of illness, injury and disability, and the promotion and maintenance of health of client populations, rather than direct patient care. Essential Functions: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledges and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by employees in this classification. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: - Applies principles of epidemiology in disease investigations, community assessments and determining service needs of individuals, families or communities. - Maintains appropriate confidentiality of all information encountered in performance of duties. - Visits homes to determine client/patient and family needs, develops plan to meet these needs, and provides or coordinates provision of services needed. - Instructs individuals, families and community groups in health education and disease prevention. - Administers medications, including immunizations, following physician's instructions. - Instructs families in care of patient/client, and instructs community groups in maintenance of health and prevention of disease for family members, self and community. - Participates in community education and individual patient/client education in specialized programs, e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis (TB), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), family planning, adolescent health and related programs. - Provides information through assessments to public health management and community members for planning needed health and related services. - Teaches health promotion, wellness activities, health protection behaviors, maternal and child care, and other subjects related to individual and community health status. - Refers patients/clients with social and emotional problems to other community agencies for assistance. - Prepares educational materials and assists in planning and developing health and educational programs. - Participates in programs to safeguard children's health, such as outreach programs, child health conferences, school health programs, group instructions for parents/guardians, immunization programs, etc. - Assists in preparation of special public health studies and participates in research programs. - Participates in the provision of public health and related medical services at neighborhood, mobile and outreach clinics. - Plans for and participates in field research related to public health nursing. - Researches, prepares and submits routine, recurring and special program reports to management. - Assists community members and public health management in assessing, planning for and providing needed health and related services. - May supervise other nursing and community/public health professional, parapr fessional and clerical staff.