Communicable Disease/TB Nurse

Warren County•Warren County, NC

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

This is intermediate level professional nursing work in providing primary, preventive, and rehabilitative care to individuals and families in Public Health programs. Employees independently demonstrate and implement techniques of nursing care and counsel for promotion of health and prevention of disease through outreach in homes and schools, serving as team leader for a sub-group within a larger project and/or serving as charge nurses in clinics. Employees will be expected to assist in data collection and review in any project that they are associated with. Employees at this level will spend a minimum of 25% of their time in one or more of the following roles: 1. Serve as charge nurses in one or more clinic settings. Responsibilities include directing the work done during the clinic, assigning tasks to lower-level staff appropriately, managing clinic flow, and advising other clinic staff about management of unfamiliar patient situations. Employees may independently manage nurse-screening clinics held outside of the health department, requiring strong patient assessment skills. 2. Provide community outreach services by making home visits for the purpose of case management or any other nursing activity that involves functioning independently outside of the agency. Employees in these roles carry a caseload of patients and/or families and work in partnership with them to identify strengths and needs and develop a plan for health maintenance or improvement. Employees provide a combination of case management and nursing assessment to help patients and families manage health care needs. They make referrals to medical facilities, social service agencies, etc. when needed and agreed on by the patient or family. Employees take a lead role in coordinating all plans and resources for these clients. 3. Provide School Health or Child Care Health Consultation services. Employees functioning in these roles are expected to work with the administration of the school or child care facility to develop goals, do assessments of children when requested, assure that care plans are in place for children with potentially serious chronic or recurrent health problems, teach school staff to perform skilled procedures, and assure that policies are in place for safe medication administration. They also interpret and explain health information to parents, students, and staff. 4. Work with considerable independence in a community-based health promotion project that involves developing programs or support groups, promoting community advocacy, and developing strong partnerships with residents. Serve as team leaders by coordinating the work assignments and quality of services delivered by a small team of lower-level nurses and subprofessionals that are part of a subgroup of a full project. Employees have limited administrative and personnel responsibilities; unusual situations and problems are discussed with and/or referred to a higher level supervisor. Other responsibilities include managing a program-level support activity, such as In-Service or Quality Assurance; participating in program or agency-wide planning and quality assurance activities (in this capacity, they will contribute observations or data related to patient or community trends or practices, ideas for improved program performance, and will participate in record audits and other program reviews); participating in Public Health Preparedness activities as directed by agency management.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing.
One year of professional nursing experience.
A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the N. C. Board of Nursing.
Considerable knowledge of, and skill in, the application of nursing theory, practice, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs.
Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health.
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.
Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information.

Nice To Haves

Individuals employed in a local Health Department without a B.S. Degree which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation or a Master’s in Public Health, will be required to complete the “Introduction to Principles and Practices of Public Health Nursing” course within one year of employment as a condition of continued employment in accordance with Health Services Commission Rule.

Responsibilities

Serve as charge nurses in one or more clinic settings, directing work, assigning tasks, managing clinic flow, and advising staff.
Independently manage nurse-screening clinics outside the health department.
Provide community outreach services through home visits for case management or other nursing activities.
Carry a caseload of patients and/or families, partnering with them to identify strengths and needs and develop health plans.
Provide case management and nursing assessment to help patients and families manage health care needs.
Make referrals to medical facilities, social service agencies, etc.
Coordinate plans and resources for clients.
Provide School Health or Child Care Health Consultation services.
Work with school or child care administration to develop goals.
Perform assessments of children when requested.
Ensure care plans are in place for children with serious chronic or recurrent health problems.
Teach school staff to perform skilled procedures.
Ensure policies are in place for safe medication administration.
Interpret and explain health information to parents, students, and staff.
Work with considerable independence in community-based health promotion projects.
Develop programs or support groups.
Promote community advocacy.
Develop strong partnerships with residents.
Serve as team leaders by coordinating work assignments and quality of services delivered by a small team.
Manage a program-level support activity, such as In-Service or Quality Assurance.
Participate in program or agency-wide planning and quality assurance activities.
Contribute observations or data related to patient or community trends or practices.
Participate in record audits and other program reviews.
Participate in Public Health Preparedness activities as directed by agency management.