Senior Public Health Nurse

The Position

The current vacancy is in Ukiah and provides oversight to the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) unit. The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions throughout the County, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium. Under general supervision, coordinates the activities of a specialized program of care, including developing program protocols, quality assurance and evaluating provision of client services. Provides comprehensive public health nursing services in the prevention, detection, and control of diseases and the promotion of health in a variety of settings throughout the county. Performs case management, determines medical eligibility for programs and services per specific guidelines. Positions may be office, field, or clinic-based, depending on the program. Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide comprehensive health services across the continuum of care, including medically fragile populations throughout the life span under the direction of the health officer, professional nurse or health care provider. Services may include assessment of psychosocial, physical, developmental, spiritual, and emotional needs.
• Carry out lead worker responsibilities including: training in job skills, assigning and directing work, making recommendations in performance appraisal, and reporting problems to the supervisor.
• Provide case management for clients., confers with health care providers concerning the condition and treatment of clients, coordinate services with other social and/or health agencies, and make referrals when appropriate/necessary; determine eligibility for ongoing medical services; participate in medical case conferences to coordinate medical service needs and program benefits; participate in client medical appointments or clinic visits for coordination of care and to act as client advocate; conduct monthly face-to-face contacts and collaborate with schools, social services, law enforcement, and community health agencies.
• Participate in the operation of health clinics (i.e., interviewing and counseling clients, performing diagnostic tests, giving prescribed treatment, maintaining the office, recording data and making necessary referrals).
• Educates and counsels individuals and families regarding specific diseases or health conditions as well as health maintenance; promote rehabilitation.
• Provide guidance and leadership in the solution of problem cases encountered by nursing staff, paraprofessional health workers, and auxiliary staff.
• Plan, develop, and evaluate countywide program implementation including developing and revising program policies and implementing state standards.
• Conduct provider orientation programs, provides technical assistance and/or teaching presentations for physicians, public health nurses, school nurses, hospital staff, and other community agencies.
• Assist in preparing project and grant proposals, budgets, scopes-of-work, implementation plans, evaluations, reports, records and correspondence; assist in the development and implementation of program by developing budgets, writing grant proposals, compiling statistics and consulting with funding agencies on program planning.
• Provide guidance/leadership along with expertise in epidemiologic investigations in home, school or community.
• Document all contact with clients; complete required assessment reports electronic reports, time studies and billing sheets associated with client activities and visit billing; may provide expert witness testimony in court when required or by subpoena.
• Participate in interagency meetings to identify service needs and community risks to collaborate on and identify resources or training that will improve program delivery.
• Attend and lead staff meetings for program update, planning and case conferencing.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge of public health concerns through attendance at workshops, meetings, specialty clinics, protocols, journals and classes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited four-year college or university; and one (1) year experience equivalent to that of a Public Health Nurse with Mendocino County; or three (3) years of professional level nursing experience with at least one (1) year in a public agency; or, when possessing required license and certification, a combination of related education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Licenses and Certifications: Valid Driver's License Valid California Registered Nurse Valid California Public Health Nurse Current Basic Life Support Course Completion Card issued by the American Heart Association, or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations.
• Principles of public health and human services.
• Human development across the life span.
• Nursing process including assessment, nursing diagnosis, identification of client needs, planning and development of individual service plans, implementation and evaluation.
• Perinatal, infant, child, adolescent and adult growth and development, nutritional needs, immunization, communicable diseases, education, social services and other support services. Adult/Child abuse and neglect.
• Causes, control, and care of chronic and communicable diseases and illnesses, handicapping conditions, behavioral health illness and other disabling conditions.
• Environmental, sociological, and psychological problems encountered when working with families where a member has a chronic and/or communicable disease.
• Evaluative and screening tests for development, growth and function of clients.
• Child growth and development and procedures involved in promoting maternal and child health, breast feeding and nutrition.
• Principles of behavioral health (i.e., normal and abnormal behavior patterns).
• Administration of immunizations and their possible side effects and complications.
• Principles of teaching and learning.
• Nursing theory, principles, and practices.
• Basic public health nursing and health maintenance education.
• Community resources related to the core functions of public health nursing.
• The core functions of Public Health and the ten essential services.
• Standards of the Privacy Act of 1974, (U.S.C. §552A) as amended; maintains and enforces all aspects of confidentiality of client information.
• Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in health and health care.

Skill in:

• Developing and revising program policies and implementing state standards.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and follow up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Writing clear and concise narrative reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Training staff in area of assignment.
• Providing counseling and risk assessment.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Managing difficult clients and dangerous situations.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Utilizing computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Recognize and appropriately act in response to normal and abnormal behavior patterns.
• Recognize and act appropriately in response to indications of abuse and neglect across the lifespan, domestic violence, substance use and abuse.
• Communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with others, observing proper safety precautions and procedures.
• Read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to regularly speak and listen.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to discriminate between colors, and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent may infrequently be required to push, pull, more or lift below the neck, objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Selection Procedure & Other Important Information