Public Health Nurse - I

Introduction

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to work, play and learn!


For more information about Placer County, please visit

POSITION INFORMATION

The Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division is currently recruiting for the positions of Public Health Nurse I and Public Health Nurse II in support of the Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health program (MCAH). These positions require travelling to client residences and completing field visits in the community. This critical program supports the health of California's women of reproductive age, infants, children, adolescents, and their families including providing pregnant women with enhanced services in the area of nutrition, psychosocial and health educational services with their prenatal care, resulting in decreased low birthweight rates and healthcare costs.

The Department of Health and Human Services - Children's System of Care Division is currently seeking applications for Public Health Nurse I and Public Health Nurse II to support the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC). This is a federally funded Public Health Nursing Program located in the County Child Welfare Agencies and Juvenile Probation Departments to provide public health nursing expertise in meeting the medical, dental, mental, and developmental needs of children in foster care. They collaborate and consult to promote access to comprehensive preventative health and specialty services. Foster Care Public Health Nurses:

• Attend detention hearings and interview biological parents for medical, educational, and developmental information.
• Help caregivers obtain timely comprehensive health assessments.
• Create and continuously update the Health and Education Passport for as long as a child is in foster care, from the time of initial detention, until the child is either returned to a parent, adopted, or ages out of foster care at 18.
• Collaborate with social workers, foster parents, and schools on case plan and medical case manage complex cases.
• Oversee and case manage foster children on psychotropic medications.
• Screen for developmental concerns and facilitate referrals as needed.
• Expedite referrals for health care services.
• Assist with child welfare investigations when there are medical concerns.
• Collaborate and work with many community organizations.
• Coordinate health services for foster children out of county and out of state.
• Review and summarize medical records.

Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. To be eligible for more than one level in the series, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment:


Public Health Nurse I: 2026-14302-01


Public Health Nurse II: 2026-14303-01


This recruitment will be open until filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future permanent and/or extra help/temporary vacancies in various assignment areas within Public Health.

Extra-help assignments are not eligible for benefits and are limited to working 28 hours per week with a fiscal year cap of 999 hours or 960 for CalPERS retired annuitants. Extra Help/Temporary appointments made from this eligible list may be eligible for transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

Upon successful completion of a foreign language proficiency exam, an additional 5% bilingual pay will be paid to employees who use a second language on a regular basis in the normal course of business.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.


Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.


For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To perform public health nursing duties in an assigned program, project, or district; to perform field and clinic nursing services; and to instruct adults and children in accepted health practices, including prevention and control of disease.


DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the entry level class in the Public Health Nurse series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgement on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives immediate supervision from supervisory/management staff and may receive technical and functional supervision from other professional or medical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Make home or other field site visits as assigned to provide families and/or individuals with health supervision and guidance; identify and assess health needs and provide advice, counsel, and instruction related to health maintenance and promotion, preventive practices, treatment, and rehabilitation for at-risk, ill, or injured individuals; provide nursing care and demonstrate nursing techniques as needed.
• Provide case management through observation, history taking, physical examination, analysis, documentation of findings, and development of nursing plan; make referrals and conduct follow-up as necessary.
• Aid in prevention and control of communicable and chronic diseases through epidemiological investigation, instruction in preventive measures, immunization programs, and case follow-up.
• Oversee and participate in various clinics, including referring and advising for further medical care under established policies and protocols.
• Identify and evaluate health needs of individuals and special population groups, such as the elderly, culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged and those with varying life styles.
• Represent the Health and Human Services Department to various community groups and provide information regarding Department programs, services, and policies, as well as instructional information about disease prevention, health promotion, treatment maintenance, and rehabilitation.
• Coordinate with other divisions and sections within the Health and Human Services Department, as well as with private, public, and voluntary health and social service agencies/providers in the community; participate in interagency conferences as needed.
• Provide or oversee training for new staff, nursing students, and volunteers.
• Initiate, implement, and evaluate projects or programs; prepare and maintain patient charts and other records and prepare reports.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities as requested.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training


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


Experience: No experience is required.


Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in nursing.

Note: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Health Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public health nursing.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, patient charts, reports, and perform special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; and observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk for long periods of time while reviewing patient charts and histories and preparing patient charts and reports; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb, and reach while making field visits, conducting clinics or making educational presentations or demonstrations; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk or treatment areas; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see and hear with sufficient acuity to examine and assess patient condition; and lift moderate weight.
• Interpret and explain pertinent Public Health policies and procedures.
• Provide professional nursing care; administer and handle biologicals; and take and properly handle specimens.
• Provide instruction in the prevention of disease and promotion of health and nursing care of ill or injured individuals.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and efficient manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; handle multiple case assignments; and work effectively with interruptions.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, and photocopy machine.
• Use clinical and instructional supplies and equipment, including blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, audiometer, syringes, needles, and audio-visual equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)


Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant's education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation

• This position shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit

• Professional

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person's use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Janine Martindale, Administrative Technician, at View email address on click.appcast.io or by phone at View phone number on click.appcast.io.