Public Health Nurse - Health

Description

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Incumbent serves as Public Health Nurse for the Health Department, responsible for providing health screening, treatment, and education.

DUTIES:

• Communicable Disease Nurse: Investigates reports of communicable diseases according to guidelines, including interviewing, educating, and testing patients and their contacts, maintaining records, communicating with/reporting to appropriate agencies, and conducting follow-up interviews. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.
• Tuberculosis Nurse: Assists in monitoring/maintaining tuberculosis prevention and treatment programs, including screening and testing adults and children, maintaining detailed records, administering medications as prescribed by physicians, conducting periodic follow-up tests, coordinating control activities in the community, and notifying medical personnel of new cases. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.
• Immunization Nurse: Implements free and public immunization programs according to Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) guidelines, including scheduling clinics, interviewing/educating patients, assessing vaccine history, determining/giving appropriate immunizations, maintaining written client records for entry on computer, and preparing/submitting monthly statistical reports to ISDH as required. Monitors/ maintains current vaccine inventory, ordering as needed. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.

Community Corrections Nurse: 

• Oversees the community corrections participant’s medical care which includes intake assessments, distribution of medications, performs blood draws, assisting the participants with medical appointments, recording on participants electronic medical record (EMR). Notifies the nurse practitioner or health officer of any issues needing immediate attention and notifies emergency personal when the need arises. Communicates collaboratively with other staff in the department regarding the care and treatment with the participants. 

All Public Health Nurses:

• Conduct various community health clinics, such as providing immunizations, and screening for blood pressure, hepatitis C HIV, TB screening (ppd test), pregnancy, lead poisoning, and lice. Promotes community education regarding various health topics by providing oral and printed information to patients and office/clinic visitors. 
• Assists Department environmental health personnel as needed in testing persons exposed to environmental hazards, such as foodborne and waterborne illnesses, animal diseases, and lead.
• Provide nursing care to local parochial schools, community corrections, and other outreach areas, including interviewing patients, making physical assessments, providing wound care, providing minor medical care, providing information, making referrals, and administering medications, injections, and treatment as ordered.
• Maintains current knowledge of medical practices, and public health issues by reading professional publications, attending meetings, and periodically attending training seminars as required. Provides training to other staff and local entities.
• Performs blood draws to determine HIV status as required by court order.
• Evaluate and Triage patients for emergency transport. 
• Are cross trained with each of the other nursing departments to cover each other for time off/out of the office or any time needed.
• Prepare and dispense medications and administer injections.
• Maintain inventory of medical supplies and forms, ordering and restocking accordingly.
• Contact patients, pharmacies, and other medical facilities as necessary, issuing codes to hospitals, obtaining approval from Medicaid, and phoning in prescription information to pharmacies. Connects individuals to medical/treatment services needed. (Primary Care, Dental, Eye, MAT) 
• Serves on 24-hour call for emergencies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Current Indiana Registered Nurse license required, and experience in public health or related area preferred.
• Certification in CPR, Mantoux, and as tuberculosis instructor. Tuberculosis certified (PPD Skin Testing), Naloxone, AED, and First AID. 
• Possession of Nurse's Liability Insurance is required.
• Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of state and local public health regulations, Department policies and procedures, and accepted principles and practices of public health nursing.
• Working knowledge of standard immunization practices, procedures, and potential complications, with the ability to effectively supervise related clinics.
• Ability to effectively examine and screen individuals, assess needs, and provide appropriate information, treatment, assistance, and appropriate referrals. Ability to properly use various medical equipment, including stethoscope, thermometer, BP cuff, scales, and syringes.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, local health care providers, school personnel, community organizations, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to properly use standard office equipment, including computer, printer, and telephone.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and work alone and with others in a team environment with minimum supervision.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, prepare detailed reports, and maintain confidentiality of Department records as required.
• Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and complete assignments effectively amidst frequent distractions and interruptions.
• Ability to serve on 24-hour call and respond swiftly, rationally, and decisively to emergency situations.
• Ability to occasionally work extended, evening and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travel out of town for meetings/training, sometimes overnight.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent's duties are broad in scope, involving many variables or considerations with interrelationships difficult to ascertain. Incumbent performs according to well-established standard practices of the profession and standard department policies and procedures, exercising independent judgement in determining appropriate treatment or referrals for individual cases. 

III. RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent ensures proper implementation of public health programs according to standardized practice of the nursing profession. Incumbent works with minimum supervision, referring to supervisor unusual and/or unprecedented situations, such as adverse reactions to immunizations. Work is periodically reviewed for attainment of objectives and effect on Department goals/ objectives.

IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, local health care providers, school personnel, community service organizations and the public for the purpose of exchanging and explaining information, coordinating health clinics, and providing health screening, treatment, and education.  

Incumbent reports directly to Nursing Supervisor or Medical Director.

V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs majority of duties in a standard office environment and at various residential sites, such as patient homes and institutions. Duties involve standing/walking for long periods, pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying supplies/equipment weighing over 25 pounds, reaching, bending at waist, crouching/kneeling, close/far vision, color and depth perception, hearing sounds/ communication, and handling/grasping/fingering objects. Incumbent is exposed to normal hazards associated with driving, such as adverse weather conditions, and normal hazards associated with public health nursing, such as communicable diseases and blood-borne pathogens, for which universal health precautions must be followed to ensure safety of self and others. Incumbent occasionally works extended and/or evening hours, and occasionally travels out of town for meetings/training, sometimes overnight.