Nurse II (Registered Nurse)
About The Position
The Nurse II performs complex nursing and consultative work for the Newborn Screening (NBS) Program under the supervision of the NBS Group Manager. The role provides clinical care coordination and follow-up for infants and children with disorders identified through newborn screening, coordinating retesting, evaluation, and treatment with families, physicians, hospitals, nurses, social workers, consultants, public health agencies, and other partners. The position works under general supervision, with moderate latitude to exercise initiative and independent judgment. The Nurse II maintains and updates protocols, supports policy and procedure development, provides quality assurance and technical guidance to program staff, and contributes to educational and program communications. The role also supports program evaluation through statistical data collection and analysis, responds to inquiries, participates in workshops and presentations, and provides backup to nursing and public health staff as needed. The position is based in Austin, Texas, is not eligible for telework, involves up to 10% travel, and includes rotating on-call work during holidays and weekends. Extra hours may be required to meet deadlines and mission-critical reporting needs. Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check.
Requirements
- Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Texas or in a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- Graduate of a college with a degree in Nursing.
- Medical knowledge of disorders screened by the Newborn Screening Program and recommended treatments.
- Knowledge of statistical data collection methods, medical care resources in Texas, laboratory issues and interpretation of laboratory results, and training processes.
- Skill using electronic medical record systems, the Internet, and Microsoft Office software, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Strong oral and written communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and productively with people from varying socioeconomic groups and cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to establish goals and objectives, organize workloads, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to develop educational materials and programs and compile and analyze data for statistical reports.
- Ability to communicate tactfully with the public and to provide, exchange, or verify information, answer inquiries, address issues, and resolve problems or complaints.
- Ability to execute protocols, procedures, and correspondence for program operations; handle confidential issues and material; and manage multiple and diverse tasks or projects.
- Must pass a fingerprint criminal background check.
- May be required to work extra hours to meet deadlines and support mission-critical reporting requirements.
- Must perform rotating on-call work during holidays and weekends.
Responsibilities
- Provide professional follow-up and clinical care coordination for infants and children with disorders identified by the Newborn Screening Program, including coordination of retesting, evaluation, and treatment.
- Monitor, modify, execute, and maintain current protocols for nursing and administrative staff.
- Use tracking procedures to locate infants who need treatment or retesting.
- Coordinate with central office, regional case management staff, hospitals, physicians, public health professionals, consultants, and agencies in other states to help ensure infants receive appropriate medical treatment.
- Perform quality assurance activities for Public Health and Prevention Specialists.
- Enter clinical care coordination notes into the laboratory information management system in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Provide technical guidance to Public Health and Prevention Specialist staff assigned to Newborn Screening Program teams.
- Answer telephone inquiries about the Newborn Screening Program.
- Distribute educational materials and literature to professional and lay audiences.
- Participate in planning, developing, and conducting workshops for professionals; develop presentation posters and deliver formal and informal presentations using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
- Collect, tabulate, evaluate, and analyze program statistical data; maintain statistics for information requests, reports, and correspondence.
- Maintain liaison with other state programs, including the Laboratory and Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program, to ensure coordination.
- Provide backup to nursing and public health staff when required and participate in rotating holiday and weekend on-call work.
- Participate in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activities as assigned, potentially at an alternate shift or location.
- Attend work on a regular and predictable schedule and perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).
- Early-career pathway opportunities are referenced on the DSHS Careers Page.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
