Nurse

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

69d • Onsite

About The Position

Performs complex nursing and consultative work for the Newborn Screening (NBS) Program, under the supervision of the NBS Group Manager. Responsibilities include follow-up (clinical care coordination) of infants and children with one or more of the disorders identified by the Newborn Screening Program. Work involves consulting with staff, families, physicians, hospital staff, nurses, social workers, consumers, and local and regional health agencies to coordinate re-testing and needed evaluation, and treatment; assisting with policy, procedure, and protocol development and modification; participating in creating and delivering written and verbal program communications and educational materials; assisting in the development of program enhancements designed to improve efficiency and evaluation of services; attending consultant and clinical care coordination meetings, educational workshops, and symposiums; providing backup to ancillary staff of Nurses and Public Health and Prevention Specialists when required; and performing "On Call" work during holidays and weekends on a rotating basis. This position works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. All applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Requirements

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Texas or in a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Medical knowledge of disorders screened by the Newborn Screening Program.
• Medical knowledge of recommended treatment screened by disorders.
• Knowledge of statistical data collection methods.
• Knowledge of medical care resources in Texas.
• Knowledge of lab issues; interpreting lab results.
• Knowledge of training processes.
• Skill in use of electronic medical record system, Internet, and Microsoft Office software (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in problem solving.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work productively with people from varying socio-economic groups and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to establish goals, objectives, to organize workloads, and set priorities to meet deadlines.
• Ability to develop educational materials and programs.
• Ability to compile and analyze data for statistical reports.
• Ability to communicate and deal tactfully with the public.
• Ability to execute protocols, procedures, and correspondence for program operation.
• Ability to handle confidential issues and material.
• Ability to manage multiple and diverse tasks/projects.
• Ability to communicate with others to provide, exchange, or verify information, answer inquiries, address issues, or resolve problems or complaints.
• At least one (1) years of experience in an area related to nursing or public health nursing in perinatal, maternal, and/or maternal-infant health preferred

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional follow-up of infants and children with clinically significant disorders identified through the Newborn Screening Program processes.
• Monitors, modifies, executes, and ensures currency of protocols for use by nursing and administrative staff.
• Uses appropriate and available tracking procedures to locate infants in need of treatment and/or retesting.
• Coordinates between central office, regional case management staff, hospitals, physicians, public health professionals, and consultants as well as agencies of other states to track and assist in ensuring infants are afforded appropriate medical treatment.
• Provides quality assurance activities for Public Health and Prevention Specialists.
• Provides professional follow-up of infants with any of the disorders identified by the Newborn Screening Program as required by the Newborn Screening Medical Director.
• Enters clinical care coordination notes into the laboratory information management system following polices and procedures.
• Provides technical guidance to Public Health and Prevention Specialist staff assigned lo various teams in the Newborn Screening Program.
• Answers telephone inquiries about the Newborn Screening Program.
• Distributes educational material and literature to professional and laypersons.
• Participates in planning, developing, and executing workshops for professionals.
• Develops posters for presentations.
• Makes formal and informal presentations using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Collects, tabulates, evaluates, and analyzes program statistical data for effectiveness.
• Maintains statistics to respond to information requests and to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Maintains close liaison with other state programs (Laboratory, Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program, etc.) to ensure coordination.
• Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees