Public Health Nurse

Yakima Health District

Full time

Regular

Exempt Status: Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Salary: $48.08 - $62.73 per hour (10 Salary Step)

Hiring Range: Steps 1-4

The Yakima Heath District offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and life insurance (Public Employee Benefits Board); participation in Washington State retirement system (DRS); and generous annual, holiday, and sick leave. This position is a member of the PROTEC17 Union.

Purpose of the Position:

This is a regular permanent full-time position that works Monday-Friday and an occasional evening or weekend. This nurse is assigned to the Disease Control Division of the Yakima Health District and serves in a key role managing and containing communicable diseases and public health concerns throughout Yakima County.


Essential Job Functions:

• Provide nursing assessment and intervention related to health issues and communicable diseases for individuals, families and high-risk populations using professional nursing principles and practices. Provide education, referral and linkage to health care and community resources.
  
• Respond to calls during work hours and provide follow-up information to medical providers, various community organizations, and the general public.
  
  
• Conduct communicable disease investigations including interviewing clients, speaking with medical providers, gathering medical information, collecting lab specimens, entering case notes data into records, provide education to clients and providers for all Notifiable ConditionsWork duties may include investigation, data gathering, and assessment of sources in an outbreak situation and working with clients/medical providers on site.
  
• Provide consultation to patients, medical providers, and the general public about communicable disease testing, treatment, and prevention of the spread of the disease. Provide education and information about diseases and resources within the community.
  
  
• Oversee the administration of medications to patients including injections as ordered by the Public Health Officer.
  
• Conduct epidemiological investigations to include determination of case findings regarding communicable diseases including tuberculosis as assigned by the Division Director.
  
  
• Work collaboratively with co-workers, professional colleagues, and community agencies/providers, in gathering and analyzing information and data regarding public health concerns.
  
• Conduct clinical nursing assessments including patient screening, immunizations, specimen collection and provide chemotherapy/prophylaxis during public health outbreaks as assigned by the Division Director.
  
• Maintain professional client records, documentation, data entry, and patient notes in accordance with WA Department of Health and Yakima Health District requirements and procedures.
  
• Provide staff coverage for all forms of communicable diseases including TB, HIV and STIs,
  
  
• Counsel and provide medical expertise to other District staff specific to nursing principles and practices, communicable disease management and containment, and other public health related risk.
  
• Provide information to the general public about community resources that may help with public health concerns.
  
• Occasionally conduct educational and informational seminars, workshops, and lectures regarding communicable diseases and other public health concerns.
  
• Attend a wide range of meetings, training, including continuing education, and professional training opportunities as directed by the Division Director.
  
  
• Work collaboratively with a wide range of public health and medical professionals committed to ensuring the well-being of the community.
  
• Performs other job duties as required by management team.
  

The itemized list of job tasks and essential functions as identified above may not be all inclusive. Job duties may change during peak work periods such as major outbreaks of diseases, major illness, or staff shortages.


Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Application of the principles, practices, and techniques of professional nursing in a public health environment
  
• Public health nursing specific to the diagnoses, treatment, management, and prevention of communicable diseases
  
• How trending social, economic, and political conditions may impact local public health issues
  
• How a client's home environment may impact the health of those that have contact with the space.
  
• Child growth and development
  
• How to collaborate with team members in a stressful environment, respond to and manage complex issues that are at times very sensitive, work in a patient centric environment, and maintain a professional relationship with a wide range of community partners, colleagues, and health care providers
  
• How to respond to and manage very complex, confidential, difficult, and at times emotional patient and professional partners
  
• HIPAA regulations and the best practices of maintaining confidentiality of patient information
  

Ability to:

• Understand and interpret public health programs, laws, and regulations
  
• Utilize listening and interactive communication skills to build consensus and establish goals that will have the greatest impact on the health of individuals and the community
  
• Prepare and produce clear and concise reports, records, and investigative case notes: maintain all records and file in accordance with medical and public records
  
• Travel to various locations within the county and state - must provide own transportation (i.e., own vehicle or similar arrangement)
  
• Establish and maintain effective, courteous and respectful interpersonal relationships with internal and external colleagues, partners, clients, and the general public
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited school
  
• A Washington State professional nursing license (must possess or receive within 60 days of hire)
  
• One year of previous clinical nursing experience preferred.
  
• One year of public health nursing highly desired.
  
• Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English
  
• Performance of job duties requires some driving usually within Yakima County or neighboring regions, either a valid Washington State driver's license or reliable form of alternative transportation is required
  
• Ability to speak, read, and write Spanish is HIGHLY DESIRED
  

Other Working Conditions:

• Must obtain a valid Washington State driver's license within 30 days of employment, or provide evidence of ability to travel often and as required throughout the county and on occasion the state
  
• Must possess strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills,
  
• Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing effectively in a clear and concise manner with a wide range of individuals, present information in community meetings and before other nursing professionals
  
• While conducting onsite visits with patients, this nurse may encounter unsanitary conditions, animals (pets), be exposed to secondhand smoke, or be exposed to highly emotional family circumstances.
  
• Must prove or obtain immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella diseases within ninety (90) days of employment
  
• Must be current with pertussis immunization within ninety (90) days of employment
  
• Must prove or obtain immunity to Hepatitis B disease within the first nine (9) months of employment
  
• Must be able to legally work in the United States as a citizen or possess appropriate immigration paperwork
  
  
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive pre-employment investigation that includes a criminal history check
  
• Must provide documentation of the results of a tuberculosis test (i.e. tuberculin skin test or interferon gamma release assay) administered within the previous (90) ninety days or be tested prior to employment
  

Working Conditions/Physical Conditions:

• The time spent in the field and in the office varies based on the medical needs of clients and other public health related concerns
  
• Travel requires the employee use his/her own vehicle and occasionally drive during adverse weather conditions (must own vehicle or similar arrangements)
  
• Must communicate frequently verbally and in writing; sit, walk, climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles
  
• Must be confident in using applicable computer software, fax and copy machines, and phones and be able to use hands and wrist repetitively
  
• Must be able to lift 10-20 pounds
  
• The successful candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without an accommodation.
  

"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima Health District ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima Health District is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yak ima Health District will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima Health District is an E-Verify Employer.