Public Health Nurse

This is advanced and specialized professional-level nursing work in providing primary, preventive, and rehabilitative care to individuals, families, and communities in Public Health programs.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

In this dynamic role, the nurse will provide direct and indirect patient services including physical exams, immunizations, contraceptive care, preventive counseling for individuals and families, perform lab tests, manage clinic supplies, and support outreach efforts in the Health Department clinic. Programs include Adult Health, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, Family Planning/Reproductive Health, Child Health, Communicable Diseases, Immunizations, Primary Care, Maternal Health, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Tuberculosis, and Women, Infants, and Children services.

• Deliver comprehensive nursing assessments, interventions, and follow-up care in line with program policies and standing orders.
• Use independent clinical judgment to conduct screenings, build care plans, and make informed nursing decisions.
• Educate, counsel, and empower patients to make informed health choices.
• Obtain informed consent and ensure patients understand their treatment plans.
• Order labs understand orders and provider directives to support accurate diagnosis and care.
• Provide follow-up, counseling, and referrals for abnormal clinical findings.
• Administer or dispense medications, including STD treatments and all FDA-approved birth control methods, in compliance with provider orders and NC Board of Pharmacy rules.
• Deliver immunizations in accordance with North Carolina state laws.
• Evaluate patient progress, monitor outcomes, and adjust care as needed.
• Ensure high-quality, accurate documentation in the electronic health record and required state systems (such as NCIR and NC EDSS).
• Provide follow-up for missed appointments and complete required reports.
• Conduct home visits when needed to ensure continuity of care.
• Assist patients in navigating appointments and services.
• Collaborate seamlessly with providers, internal teams, and community partners.
• Participate in ongoing training, department meetings, and professional development.
• Support community outreach efforts, including health fairs, communicable disease response, mass vaccination clinics, testing events, and emergency shelter staffing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of and skill in the application of nursing theory, practice, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs;

• For employees in expanded role positions, considerable knowledge of, and skill in obtaining a health history and performing physical examinations sufficient to determine if there is any deviation from normal;
• Considerable knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to coordinate these as needed;
• General knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health, including health disparities;
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of others; ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions;
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions;
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health;
• Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information.

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing with at least one year of professional nursing experience.

Additional Training/Experience

Required to complete the “North Carolina Credentialed Public Health Nurse” course within one year of employment as a condition of continued employment in accordance with Health Services Commission Rule.

Complete program-specific trainings

License or Certification

• A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the NC Board of Nursing.
• A valid North Carolina Driver’s license.
• CPR certification.
• Intermediate to expert skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Preferred experience with EPIC electronic health record.

Incomplete applications may be rejected. Although accompanying cover letters/resumes are welcome, these attachments do not replace the need to complete a full application.