SENIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE

Senior Community Health Nurse

The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is seeking a Senior Community Health Nurse for the Disease Control Division - Tuberculosis Program. This position offers a competitive salary range of $66,000.00 to $72,600.00 annually and provides opportunities for professional growth and development.

The Senior Community Health Nurse (TB Nurse) is responsible for delivering comprehensive tuberculosis case management services across community, clinic, home, and hospital settings. This role ensures thorough assessment, promotes treatment adherence, conducts contact investigations, provides education, and coordinates care for individuals with TB infection or disease.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Conduct tuberculosis (TB) screening including evaluation and follow-up of contacts to active TB cases.
• Provide culturally appropriate TB education and counseling to clients, families, contacts, community partners, and healthcare providers.
• Perform home visits to assess living conditions, deliver directly observed therapy (DOT), evaluate treatment adherence, assess transmission risks, and provide patient/family education.
• Conduct hospital visits to collaborate with inpatient teams, verify isolation status, review clinical progress, assist with discharge planning, admit clients into services, and ensure continuous treatment after hospitalization.
• Actively participate in the development of individualized care plans using clinical assessments, laboratory findings, social factors, and public health guidelines.
• Perform field-based nursing assessments, collect specimens, conduct phlebotomy, monitor treatment response, and identify adverse reactions to TB medications.
• Review and interpret laboratory results, notify clients of abnormal findings, and initiate appropriate follow-up actions.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) and enter required data into the Health Management System (HMS).
• Lead or support TB contact investigations to ensure timely testing, evaluation, and follow-up of potentially exposed individuals.
• Implement and reinforce infection-control practices during clinic, home, and hospital encounters to protect patients, families, and healthcare personnel.
• Use motivational interviewing and barrier-reduction strategies to support patient engagement and promote treatment completion.
• Support public health enforcement measures, such as isolation orders, while ensuring confidentiality and adherence to ethical standards.
• Order TB medications through Central Pharmacy and provide DIS with updated medication plans and required medication supplies.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with internal teams, community partners, and healthcare agencies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of nursing practice, public health promotion, and education principles.
• Knowledge of case management standards, including assessment, care coordination, documentation, and follow-up.
• In-depth understanding of assigned communicable diseases and adherence to guidelines for treatment, prevention, and control.
• Strong understanding of HIPAA requirements and ability to safeguard all protected health information.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and comply with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and apply effective leadership techniques.
• Ability to adapt actions and communication styles to respond appropriately to others' needs and behaviors.
• Strong critical-thinking skills to analyze situations, evaluate approaches, and identify effective solutions.
• Ability to bend, kneel, lift, carry, push, or pull items over 15 pounds for community outreach or program needs.
• Proficient with clinical documentation systems, electronic health records, and Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).

Qualifications:

• Minimum: Active Florida Registered Nurse license as required in Chapter 464, Florida Statutes or a multistate license from another Compact State.
• Two years' experience as a nurse working with acute, chronic, or infectious disease clients.
• One year of case management experience.
• Valid Florida driver's license or able to get one within 30 days of hire.
• Willing to physically come in the office daily and perform field work.
• Preferred: Experience in communicable diseases. Phlebotomy Skills. Bilingual (fluent) in English and Spanish.

The Florida Department of Health is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge.

Location: 8515 N Mitchell Ave, Tampa, FL 33604