Supervising Public Health Nurse - Open Until Filled

Public Health Nursing Services

Under general direction, plans, schedules, assigns, supervises, and participates in the work of staff responsible for delivering assigned public health nursing services in support of an assigned public health nursing program within the County's Department of Public Health; ensures provider and patient follow up services are maintained; represents assigned program to other agencies and the local community; oversees and provides nursing, educational, and health counseling services; provides complex staff assistance to management staff in areas of expertise; and performs related duties as assigned. Supervision Received and Exercised Receives general direction from assigned management personnel. Exercises supervision over professional, technical, and administrative staff.

Examples of Duties

The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed in various divisions/departments. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and performs the work of assigned staff providing support to Public Health medical, clinical, and nursing services; trains staff in work procedures; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action; assists in selection and promotion.
• Participates in the development of goals, objectives, plans, policies, and procedures for assigned services and programs; recommends and implements policies and procedures including standard operating procedures for assigned operations; assists in the development of protocols and provides staff training and updates to procedure and protocol manuals.
• Monitors activities of the work unit; identifies opportunities for improving service delivery and procedures; provides recommendations concerning process changes; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
• Participates in annual budget preparation; identifies resource needs; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications; monitors expenditures.
• Provides staff assistance to management; prepares and presents staff reports and other written materials; supervises the establishment and maintenance of reports, records, databases, and files; ensures the proper documentation of operations and activities.
• Gathers and develops related program information; prepares proposals and information for securing grant funds and justifying expenditures.
• Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from citizens, other departments, and agencies; recommends corrective actions to resolve issues.
• Oversees the coordination and planning of a variety of public health clinics; supervises, plans, and conducts special program clinics; conducts orientation sessions and in-service training for new program providers.
• Oversees and coordinates assigned programs, services, and operations with those of other divisions, local providers, and other outside agencies.
• Interviews and takes case histories of patients; provides consultation and medical case management to individuals involved in programs; acts as a liaison between the Department of Public Health and individuals and organizations involved in programs; may record data and make necessary referrals; supervises and provides patient follow-up services and counseling for clients referred for further diagnosis and treatment.
• Works with assigned and other applicable staff in planning and coordinating health service programs; works with community organizations and groups in the development of health services and educational programs.
• Confers with and provides professional assistance to County departments on public health nursing and related matters.
• Conducts or directs the conduct of analytical studies; plans, develops, implements, and evaluates a variety of public health nursing programs.
• Maintains established standards of public health nursing and ensures services are rendered in conformance with policy and procedural guidelines.
• Represents the County in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public; attends meetings, conferences, and training to maintain current information on public health problems, issues, trends, and innovations.
• Ensures staff observe and comply with all County and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Basic principles and practices of budget administration and monitoring.
• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of public health nursing, education, and teaching.
• Causes, treatment, prevention, and early detection of communicable diseases, chronic diseases, and conditions.
• Current trends and practices in professional nursing.
• Child growth and development and practices involved in promoting maternal and child health.
• Social determinants of health.
• Impacts of socioeconomic and cultural differences in public health.
• Principles of health equity as it applies to public health policy, planning, and practice.
• Community aspects of nursing programs, including community resources and teaching of preventive medicine techniques.
• Available community organizations and resources.
• Methods and procedures for developing and evaluating program quality control, quality assurance and effectiveness.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Perform the most complex work of staff responsible for providing professional public health nursing services.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and initiate improvements.
• Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
• Serve as a resource for nursing problems and issues.
• Provide instruction in disease prevention and promote proper nursing care services.
• Gather and analyze data and prepare a variety of reports.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Candidates must meet the education and licensure requirements established by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible public health nursing experience including at least one (1) year of experience in a supervisory or lead role as a public health nurse.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession and maintenance of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid California State Public Health Nursing Certificate.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid CPR certificate.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain by the time of appointment, an appropriate California driver's license.

Physical Demands Must possess mobility to work in office, clinic, and community settings, treat patients, and use varied tools and equipment, including a computer and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various County sites; vision to evaluate patients and read printed materials and computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel,