Public Health Nurse

Public Health NurseCounty of Santa Barbara Health department is seeking a Public Health Nurse with a passion for promoting community health and wellness to fill a vacancy on our County Health team in the Public Health Services division.We are currently accepting applications to fill one (1) Full-Time Public Health Nurse vacancy in the Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program in Santa Barbara.We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list that will be used to fill current and future Full-Time, Part-Time, Extra Help and 1414* vacancies in multiple locations including Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. This job classification is also utilized by the Department of Social Services within the County. Please select ALL departments and locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies.CSR 1414 (Leave of Absence): This recruitment is to fill a Regular position, but the eligible list may be used to fill future positions vacated as a result of a leave of absence (CSR 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under CSR 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.Visa Sponsorship: Please note this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or CLICK HERE to view more information.In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:Retirement reciprocityTime and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rateUnder general direction, the Public Health Nurse (PHN) promotes community health through detection, prevention, and control of disease; provides assessment, education, and counseling in the care and prevention of illness and injury and in wellness promotion; performs related duties as required.This class is characterized by the responsibility to work with individuals and/or families in an assigned geographic area within the County, categorical program, or clinic operated by the Health Care Services Department. Duties involve the full scope of public health nursing activities. Clients often have limited knowledge of health principles, nutrition, disease process, appropriate care, or available resources. Incumbents work in the community making home visits, performing field outreach, as well as conducting specialty clinics and health education activities. This class is distinguished from the higher level of Public Health Nurse, Supervising, in that the latter is responsible for supervising the public health nursing services of an assigned program or clinic.Ideal candidate:Community or Public Health experienceCase Management experienceKnowledge of community resourcesStrong planning & organizational skillsBilingual (Spanish) preferred, but not required.The Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program works to improve the health and well-being of women, infants, children and adolescents. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) provide in-home assessment, education, linkage/referral, and comprehensive case management for pregnant or postpartum individuals, infants, children, and adolescents at high risk for adverse prenatal outcomes, maltreatment of children, substance abuse, postpartum depression, medical fragility, and childhood obesity.The Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) ensures that children and youth in foster care receive coordinated, comprehensive health services. As a public health nursing program, HCPCFC partners with child welfare and probation teams to address medical, dental, mental, and developmental needs. Our team promotes access to health care, supports timely exams and referrals, and helps maintain each child's Health and Education Passport. By working closely with caregivers, social workers, and health providers, HCPCFC improves health outcomes and continuity of care for one of our community's most vulnerable populations.The California Children's Services (CCS) program determines medical eligibility, provides authorizations for medical care, medical case management, financial assistance, and medically necessary physical and occupational therapy services to children who meet the CCS eligibility criteria. The program is managed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and is administered by the local county health care departments.The Disease Control and Prevention (DCP) program works to prevent and control communicable disease outbreaks, promote health, and monitor the health status of our communities. Preventing epidemics and controlling communicable disease is one of the core functions of public health. Disease Control staff respond to single cases, clusters and outbreaks of reportable communicable diseases in order to prevent spread within the community. PHNs work with an interdisciplinary team to identify social determinants of health impacting health equity and strategize on ways to decrease barriers among vulnerable populations.Examples of duties:Educates and counsels clients and their families in health maintenance and promotion and disease prevention in order to enhance the individual's ability to recognize the need for and to seek treatment to meet health care and general social needs; and demonstrates basic nursing techniques for the ill or injured in the field.Assesses the physical, psycho-social and health care status and needs of families and/or individual clients; interviews client and/or family, collecting a health history and data regarding current health status and life situations; observes client and client-family interaction in the home; develops plan of care; detects cases of physical and/or emotional illness; and participates in epidemiological studies and communicable disease control by conducting community investigations.Coordinates client care with other health professionals to improve client's health; refers clients and/or families to appropriate community or public agencies to obtain services or assistance to improve or maintain social functioning and health; and refers clients to physicians when medical intervention is indicated.Manages a caseload of clients requiring prioritization of patient care; records patient data; completes state forms and nursing daily reports; develops care plans; documents client and family-based assessments, interventions; plans and evaluations; provides written referrals to other agencies; plans and organizes caseload to ensure that service is delivered according to program and professional guidelines; ensures caseload is covered during short periods of absence; and acts as client advocate with health care providers.Coordinates and participates in public health clinics or outreach programs targeting specific populations or in response to epidemic outbreaks and disaster operations; interviews and counsels patients; conducts health screenings and assessments; directs the daily work activities of support staff and volunteers; aware of and utilizes community resources and efforts that effect the population serviced; provides health education presentations to schools and other community groups.Coordinates health and related services in categorical programs; determines eligibility according to program guidelines; manages an assigned caseload, including needs assessment, care coordination, and service authorization; interprets and explains program guidelines to beneficiaries, service providers, and community agencies; refers beneficiaries to other appropriate community services; and maintains case records according to program requirements.Assists in program planning and policy development. Participates in quality assurance activities for services provided and monitors performance measures. Identifies gaps in services and assists in developing local strategies for improving access. Collaborates with community groups to provide technical consultation, preventive health information. Serves as a liaison to provider groups and managed care plans and educates the provider community about the population needs. Provides outreach activities in a variety of settings such as health fairs and other outreach sites.Employment standards:Possession of a valid Registered Nurse license issued by the California State Board of Registered Nursing AND certification in Public Health Nursing. Additional qualifications:Independent travel is required. Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.Positions allocated to this class may require specialization in target populations, programs, and/or bilingual skills.Incumbents must be able to work in an environment which may include exposure to communicable diseases and a variety of field conditions.Selectees for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code (relating to child abuse and elder/dependent adult abuse reporting) and Sections 11160 - 11163 (relating to domestic violence reporting).Knowledge of:the principles and practices of general clinical and public health nursing, including community nursing programs; case management and provisions for continuity in patient care; health promotion techniques; laws and regulations governing public health nursing; causes and means of transmission and methods of control for communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases; maternal and child health; child abuse and neglect detection practices; gerontology and the sociological aspects of aging; environmental, sociological and psychological problems encountered in disease processes; contemporary health management principles; current trends in public health nursing; work of other social and