Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Nursing Education Consultant

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Maine CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) as a Nursing Education Consultant to serve as a key player in our multidisciplinary team’s efforts to control and prevent childhood lead poisoning. In this role, you will make a difference for the hundreds of Maine children who are harmed by lead each year by ensuring they receive services and support to remove sources of lead exposure from their environment. Your role provides critical educational services, with an emphasis on working with families to help them understand the health implications of their child’s lead exposure, as well as potential sources of that exposure; training and collaborating with partners, including public health nurses, around case management services; and training and supporting healthcare providers to establish point-of-care blood lead testing within their offices. Please note, this is an office-based position with no field work and no home visits. You will also serve as the initial point of contact for provider offices and families when a child with elevated levels of lead in blood is identified through routine testing, including completing an intake questionnaire to guide in the investigation of possible sources of lead in the child’s environment. Educate families about sources of lead and ways to prevent lead exposure. Collaborate with CLPPP’s environmental specialists to identify potential sources of lead exposure in a child’s home, utilizing a coordinated case management approach, including determination of how to address new, persistent, or increasing blood lead levels. Communicate to healthcare providers about results of environmental lead investigations and recommendations for housing-related interventions for lead-exposed children. Collaborate with CLPPP’s social workers, other co-workers, and staff at other programs and agencies to make and track referrals to appropriate resources and other health and social services for lead-exposed children. Become an expert on in-office blood lead testing and coordinate the application process and follow-up trainings for healthcare practices that would like to offer in-office blood lead testing. Expedite care coordination and communication with internal program staff, laboratories, families, providers, and partner agencies for children with very high lead levels. Provide trainings as needed for internal and external partner organizations and other agencies that serve young children.

Requirements

Licensed Registered Professional Nurse
Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas: nursing education, staff development, in-service education, patient education, or consultation services.
Possession of a certificate of Registered Professional Nurse as issued by the State Board of Nursing.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of blood lead testing methods, as well as childhood lead poisoning risks and exposure pathways
Knowledge of nursing case management best practices and protocols
Ability to clearly document and communicate status of case management activities to internal and external parties
Knowledge of and experience with using ImmPact, Maine’s immunization information system
Ability to effectively train and assist healthcare providers on using information systems

Responsibilities

Serve as the initial point of contact for provider offices and families when a child with elevated levels of lead in blood is identified through routine testing, including completing an intake questionnaire to guide in the investigation of possible sources of lead in the child’s environment.
Educate families about sources of lead and ways to prevent lead exposure.
Collaborate with CLPPP’s environmental specialists to identify potential sources of lead exposure in a child’s home, utilizing a coordinated case management approach, including determination of how to address new, persistent, or increasing blood lead levels.
Communicate to healthcare providers about results of environmental lead investigations and recommendations for housing-related interventions for lead-exposed children.
Collaborate with CLPPP’s social workers, other co-workers, and staff at at other programs and agencies to make and track referrals to appropriate resources and other health and social services for lead-exposed children.
Become an expert on in-office blood lead testing and coordinate the application process and follow-up trainings for healthcare practices that would like to offer in-office blood lead testing.
Expedite care coordination and communication with internal program staff, laboratories, families, providers, and partner agencies for children with very high lead levels.
Provide trainings as needed for internal and external partner organizations and other agencies that serve young children.

Benefits

13 paid holidays
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
12 days of sick leave per year
Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums
Health Insurance Premium Credit
Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums
Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement – up to $40 per month
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Living Resources Program – employee assistance program
Six weeks of fully paid parental leave
Voluntary Deferred Compensation – MaineSaves 457(b) account