Public Health Nurse I

Job Description

Job Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

This position will provide professional public health nursing care for the Bridgeport Health Department Communicable Disease Division. The role will entail various duties including interviewing patients in the STD/TB clinics for the prevention of communicable diseases; following up on reportable diseases; administering college vaccines; performing blood draws; conducting foodborne investigations for epidemiological follow-up and other clinic duties as required, including but not limited to; maintaining records of public health nursing services rendered; and other tasks assigned.

TYPICAL TASKS OR ASSIGNMENTS:

• Conducts home visits in connection with the care and prevention of communicable diseases.
• Applies principles of epidemiology in disease investigations, community assessments, and determining service needs of individuals, families, or communities.
• Ensure patient compliance with medically ordered therapies, attendance to scheduled medical appointments, and follow-up care in the community.
• Administers medications, including immunizations, following physician's instructions.
• Instructs families in the care of patient/client filing or searching of files; directs callers.
• Participates in community education and individual patient/client education in specialized programs, e.g., HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), family planning, adolescent health, and related programs.
• Participates in the provision of public health and related medical services at neighborhood, mobile, and outreach clinics.
• Complete documentation and verbal reports as required by the Communicable Disease Division, and state-mandated surveillance reports, and obtain needed information for reporting when necessary.
• Work with local pharmacies to ensure the availability of medically ordered therapies to patients to maintain adherence to treatment.
• Identify opportunities for preventative treatment among case contacts, family members, and household members of patients receiving services through the Communicable Disease Division and Connecticut DPH TB Control program to link these individuals to care.
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• As to education, training, and experience:
• Nursing degree from a nationally accredited college or university.
• Completion of a one-year course of study in public health nursing at an accredited school.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience. As to special knowledge, ability, and skill:
• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of general professional nursing care.
• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of public health.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with patients, other health workers, and the public.
• Ability to utilize computers, including a variety of software and statistics programs per Connecticut State Department of Health program protocols.
• Ability to provide direction and guidance to others independently and in collaboration with clinicians and coworkers.
• Ability to maintain clear documentation and reports, with the understanding these may be audited by the nursing supervisor, treating physicians, the Bridgeport Health Department Medical Director, and State of Connecticut DPH program officials.
• Working knowledge of safety and infection control principles, practices, and methods.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Connecticut Driver's License — This job requires daily driving.
• Possession of Connecticut certification as a registered nurse.
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations which do not cause undue hardship may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift weights up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.