Public Health Nurse I/II

County of Shasta•Redding, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Health Nurse I/II position is located within the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health and Social Services Branch, specifically in the Child Welfare Services (Foster Care Nursing Unit). This role involves providing comprehensive health services and support to children in foster care, including conducting medical health history interviews, offering health information, collecting and reviewing medical data, entering medical records, and participating in health care planning. The nurse will occasionally conduct home visits to assess youth's health needs and development and will collaborate with a team, including child welfare social workers, to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of youth experiencing abuse and/or neglect. The Public Health Nurse I works under close supervision and is considered an entry-level position for newly certificated Public Health Nurses or those returning to practice. The Public Health Nurse II classification works under general supervision and represents a journey-level, fully qualified professional who can independently assess health needs and plan public health nursing activities.

Requirements

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
Possession of a valid California State Public Health Nursing (PHN) Certificate
Possession of an appropriate California driver license
A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university nursing program (for Public Health Nurse I)
Twelve (12) months of experience comparable to a Public Health Nurse I with Shasta County (for Public Health Nurse II)
Skilled nursing as applied to public health practices
Promoting health and the prevention of disease and disability
General nursing skills in the areas of maternal, child, and adult health
Child growth and development
Nutritional needs of all ages
Normal and abnormal health conditions and health behavior
Teaching, counseling, interviewing, and history taking
Case management
Epidemiology and methods for the control of communicable diseases
Community resources and how to utilize them
Environmental, sociological, cultural, policy, and psychological issues influencing health
Current developments in public health nursing
Ordinances, rules and regulations governing public health services and nursing practices
Basic economics for delivery of health care
Workload management and management of personal stress
The work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health nursing
Exercise independent judgment to plan, organize, and problem solve
Manage time effectively
Adapt to various cultural, physical and behavioral conditions of patients and environment
Teach individuals and groups
Seek and use appropriate resource materials
Work effectively with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and coalitions to assist in the satisfactory solution of health problems
Recognize and respect the impact of cultural differences on health behavior and practices
Perform assessments, interviews, and gather needed information to reach appropriate nursing diagnosis
Make appropriate referrals to community resources
Provide adequate follow up to help maximize use of resources
Perform clinical tasks such as venipuncture, injections, and dispensing medications
Keep accurate, concise and legally appropriate records and reports
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with health and other professionals, paraprofessionals, agencies, community groups, and the general public
Communicate effectively orally and in writing
Actively promote the Department’s mission and its population-based health outcomes orientation
Control and prevention of communicable and chronic disease
Prevention of abuse, neglect, and violence throughout the age continuum
Prevention of injuries
Learning, teaching, interviewing, counseling, and problem solving
Normal growth and development including the aging process
Impact of nutrition at all age levels
Community resources and methods to mobilize and access them
Work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health practice
Literature and trends in public health nursing and the general field of public health as a whole
Environmental, sociological, cultural, psychological, political and policy issues influencing health
Funding sources and cost of health care
Assess comprehensive health needs of children and adults
Problem solve and case manage individuals or families with complex problems and health issues
Identify and respect cultural patterns influencing health practices
Facilitate access to resources
Identify populations with specific health needs
Monitor the accessibility and quality of community and personal health services in the community
Advocate for needs of culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged persons
Apply principles of epidemiology to a wide range of social and health issues
Apply principles of primary prevention to the prioritization, design, implementation and evaluation of community-based health programs
Maintain confidentiality
Mentor other nursing personnel and train and direct the work of staff, interns, or volunteers
Respond effectively to critical situations and emergencies

Nice To Haves

Have applied for your Public Health Nurse Certification and be willing to apply for certification upon a contingent job offer if not already obtained.

Responsibilities

Provides all services and support required by the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC).
Conducts medical health history interviews.
Provides health information to clients.
Collection and review of medical health information.
Entry of medical records.
Health care planning.
Attends home visits to assist in assessing youth’s health needs and development.
Works collaboratively with a team, including child welfare social workers, to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of youth experiencing abuse and/or neglect.
Plans, organizes, and provides public health nursing services, including assessment, intervention, referral, and follow up of persons who have a communicable disease.
Assesses persons who have been exposed to a communicable disease to assure early detection and referral of health conditions deviating from normal.
Provides tailor-made personal, preventive, and community health services to targeted populations in need.
Teaches individuals and groups about disease and disability prevention, and health promotion.
Participates in epidemiological investigations for control of communicable and chronic diseases.
Interacts with all aspects of the community--individual, family, agency, business, and professional.
Develops and implements community projects as an outgrowth of issues identified during public health nursing practice.
Mobilizes the community to develop partnerships and alliances to address identified high-priority community health needs.
Evaluates health of special population groups, such as the elderly, the culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged, or those with alternate life styles.
Identifies cultural patterns influencing community health practices, increases access of hard-to-reach populations to public health and other services, and increases the cultural competency of staff and the Health and Human Services Agency as an organization.
Keeps accurate, concise, and legally-appropriate records and reports.
Effectively uses records, reports, and statistical information for appraisal and planning.
Attends required meetings and trainings.
With certified sexually transmitted disease (STD) training and supervision, may be assigned to perform STD exams, including moderate complexity laboratory tests.
Prioritizes multiple tasks, exercises effective time management, and manages workload and personal stress well.
May assume delegated responsibility for the work of the Program Supervisor or the Program Manager in the absence of either.
May supervise a small number of other Department staff, interns, or volunteers.