Public Health Nurse II

County of Santa Clara • San Jose, CA

4d

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Public Health Nurse II applies systems-level thinking and knowledge of nursing, social, and public health sciences to provide professional public health nursing services in diverse settings, including homes, clinics, hospitals, schools, and community settings, as required by the assigned program area. The role provides direct nursing care, education, counseling, referrals, and care coordination for individuals and families, while also addressing community health needs and supporting program planning. Employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level; individual employees do not necessarily perform every listed duty.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Nursing.
• One year of full-time experience as a Public Health Nurse, school nurse, home health nurse, community health nurse, or other relevant nursing experience equivalent to a Public Health Nurse with the County of Santa Clara.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Registered Nurse license for the duration of employment.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Public Health Nurse certificate for the duration of employment.
• Possess a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate.
• Ability to travel to alternate work locations.
• If driving, possess a valid California driver's license before appointment and qualify for and maintain County driver authorization.
• Complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and, in an emergency, return to work as ordered.
• Knowledge of public health nursing principles, practices, and methods; nursing process stages; trauma-informed care; communicable disease causes, transmission, prevention, control, and care; case finding and case management; client-centered care for diverse populations and ages; community resources and health agencies; medication use and effects; English usage and writing conventions; interviewing, counseling, and teaching techniques; common computer technology, system applications, and electronic medical record systems.
• Ability to plan, organize, and carry out public health nursing services; work effectively with clients and families; develop and maintain public relations with community organizations; accurately assess and analyze situations and take appropriate action; apply cultural competency principles; collect specimens and administer injections and medications; provide treatment recommendations based on current clinical guidelines and best practices; prepare accurate reports and documentation; provide direction to and train others; establish effective working relationships; and communicate orally and in writing with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate appropriate nursing care for individuals.
• Assist individuals and families in following medical provider recommendations and orders.
• Interview and counsel clients in clinics, homes, or community settings.
• Recognize attitudes and cultural patterns detrimental to health and guide families toward desirable changes using a trauma-informed approach.
• Teach and counsel individuals, families, and groups about diseases, health conditions, and health maintenance.
• Help individuals and families identify needs and goals, and refer them to appropriate community agencies and clinics for specialized services.
• Coordinate client care with other public and private agencies.
• Use health literacy concepts to improve public understanding of health conditions, treatments, and self-care practices.
• Perform defined technical and skilled nursing tasks.
• Facilitate informed decision-making and encourage families to identify needs for appropriate medical, psychiatric, hospital, and other care.
• Collect client specimens, perform medical tests and report results, and administer injections and oral medications.
• Determine caseload priorities and conduct ongoing and follow-up evaluations of nursing care plans.
• Consult and coordinate with interdisciplinary healthcare team members, community organizations, health agencies, and concerned individuals to identify community needs.
• Recommend long-term program planning for complex health problems.
• Recognize the current Essential Public Health Services.
• Maintain documentation and prepare necessary reports.
• May provide guidance and direction to community partners, health professionals, other Public Health nurses, and support staff.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in educational training sessions.
• May pursue appropriate job-related educational courses.
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker and perform other related work as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level