Public Health Licensed Vocational Nurse

County of Monterey • Salinas, CA

4d

About The Position

The County of Monterey Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau has openings for multiple full-time Public Health Licensed Vocational Nurses supporting patients in multidisciplinary treatment teams in the Adult or Children and Youth System of Care. The role works under the supervision of the Behavioral Health medical director and clinical operations supervisor, alongside psychiatrists, medical assistants, clinicians, social workers, behavioral health aides, and peer support staff. The programs provide mental health services to people of all ages with serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance and co-occurring conditions, using a recovery model focused on independence and community integration.

Primary duties include administering medications according to physicians’ orders, providing medication education and reconciliation, connecting patients with health resources, supporting chronic illness education, and providing health care case management. The nurse may also perform venipuncture, collect specimens, provide immunizations or medication under appropriate orders, facilitate health education, and provide directed para-professional counseling. The role monitors clients’ medical and psychological status, maintains records and statistical data, and enters service information into an electronic health record.

The position requires a valid California vocational or registered nursing license and qualifying related experience. Successful candidates must complete a background check, maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or provide suitable approved transportation, and be available for a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies. The role may involve exposure to infectious respiratory secretions and bodily fluids. A signing bonus of up to $10,000 is offered to candidates hired into regular full-time positions from this recruitment.

Requirements

• Possess a valid California license as a Vocational Nurse or Registered Nurse.
• Have one year of experience as a community worker or in a related position that included outreach education within a public health or voluntary nonprofit health-related agency; experience with at-risk populations is preferred.
• Be licensed to perform venipuncture in California without a licensed physician in attendance and to perform immunizations and/or medical tests under client-specific orders from a physician or practitioner.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of clinical vocational nursing principles, methods, and techniques; medical terminology; and basic computer usage.
• Have some knowledge of public health education, counseling for lifestyle or nutritional adjustments, sources of and methods for obtaining public health, counseling, or medical treatment services, and applicable medical specialty treatment principles.
• Be able to collect, tabulate, and analyze data and draw logical conclusions.
• Be able to keep accurate written records in English.
• Communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, including when obtaining confidential histories and providing health education or counseling.
• Be able to perform venipuncture and other vocational nursing skills.
• Develop and maintain effective work relationships and work under limited daily supervision as part of a team.
• Deal tactfully and professionally with clients who have or may carry a variety of diseases, including HIV.
• Be able to speak before groups and operate standard office equipment, computers, case-management software, and an electronic health record.
• Successfully complete a background check, including fingerprinting.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or provide suitable transportation approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during disasters or emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish.
• Experience with at-risk populations.

Responsibilities

• Administer medications according to physicians’ orders and provide medication education and reconciliation.
• Connect patients to health resources and provide educational support for managing chronic illness.
• Provide health care case management.
• Perform venipuncture to draw blood samples and collect and transport specimens for laboratory testing.
• Give immunizations or administer medication under physician or mid-level practitioner orders, as authorized.
• Perform nursing duties that support counseling and education activities.
• Provide or facilitate individual and group health education.
• Provide directed one-to-one para-professional counseling to clients requiring lifestyle or nutrition modifications.
• Assess and evaluate client medical histories, risk behaviors, and test results to identify education and counseling needs.
• Monitor clients’ medical and psychological status and behavior, and keep case managers informed.
• Maintain accurate records and statistical data and enter information about services into the electronic health record.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support client management.

Benefits

• The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package.
• Up to a $10,000 signing bonus for candidates hired into regular full-time positions in this classification through this recruitment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed