Liaison to Federally Qualified Health Center (Public Health Nurse III)

Fairfax County•Fairfax (Hh12), VA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Fairfax County Health Department is seeking a Public Health Nurse III to serve as a liaison to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). This role involves participating in the Health Integration Team (HIT), which includes Social Services Specialists (SSSs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs), to deliver the Chronic Disease Care Coordination program for FQHC clients. The team operates within the framework of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) to support clients with chronic diseases in a trauma-informed manner. The position focuses on outreach, case finding, health promotion, education, care coordination, and disease prevention in FQHC and community settings to enhance health outcomes. The Public Health Nurse will directly supervise assigned CHWs and apply professional knowledge to solve complex problems within established policies. This role acts as a liaison between the clinic and various health department services, including environmental health, tuberculosis, and maternity services. The nurse will implement public health nursing activities in primary care and home settings to support FQHC provider care plans, evaluate high-risk clients and diverse populations, and facilitate follow-up and referrals. Additionally, the position involves educating clients and staff on communicable diseases, health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management. The role also supports the Care Connect program and the Maternal and Child Health-Health Integration program, connecting clients to essential services. This position is designated as emergency/essential services personnel and may be deployed for emergency response needs. A $10,000 sign-on bonus is offered for fully qualified new full-time county employees.

Requirements

Graduation from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education with a bachelor's degree in Nursing.
Three years of post-licensure experience as a nurse in an equivalent health care setting whose focus was primarily prevention services and community education.
Two years in a public health/community health setting.
At least one year experience in a public health/community health specialty area or supervisory responsibilities.
Possession of a current license or a multistate licensure privilege to practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Valid driver's license.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (Required within 60 days of hire).
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification (Required within 60 days of hire).
Completion of a criminal background check, Child Protective Services Registry check, driving record check, tuberculosis (TB) test, and sanction screenings.
Ability to perform technical and advanced nursing procedures (e.g., injections, venipuncture, blood pressure screening, STD check, tube feeding, nebulizations), and using medical equipment in delivering specialized services to the clients as appropriate within assigned area or specialty program.
Extensive knowledge of available community resources for referral and follow-up.
Ability to manage human and/or facility emergencies and perform emergency treatments related to life-threatening conditions.
Ability to interpret and apply the professional standards of nursing practice, County health department policies and procedures and applicable federal, state, and County laws and regulations.
Ability to build, maintain, and promote effective partnerships (e.g., health care providers) that support planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of health care services.
Ability to relate well to clients from varied backgrounds and different situations.
Ability to manage or diffuse situations involving clients or county staff that may appear difficult, hostile, or distressed.
Ability to identify problems and make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions or judgments relating to client health care.
Ability to assess the quality, appropriateness, implications, and impact of decisions or judgments made by others and identify courses of corrective action, where appropriate.
Ability to provide health training to clients and families with complex, multiple health needs, using knowledge of adult learning concepts.
Ability to use technology to retrieve and analyze data, and communicate or share public health information in the appropriate format with stakeholders, other relevant parties, and the community.
Ability to implement public health nursing programs.
Ability to identify and advocate the need for changes in the County's public health care delivery system.
Ability to assign and supervise the work of professionals, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and/or students.
Ability to develop, plan, and coordinate services with other disciplines and health care providers.
Ability to develop budget for the specialty program (e.g., TB).

Nice To Haves

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work well with multi-disciplinary team members and community partners.
Knowledge and experience with chronic disease care-coordination, case management and/or health coaching.
Ability to reach out and maintain positive community relationships.
Experience with home visiting and cultural competence.
Use of Motivational Interviewing techniques in previous work.
Bilingual in English and another language.

Responsibilities

Participate in the Health Integration Team (HIT), providing a resource to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), local health departments, non-profit and private health care organizations.
Deliver outreach, case finding, health promotion, education, care coordination, and disease prevention in the FQHC and community setting.
Directly supervise assigned CHWs.
Serve as the liaison between the clinic and all health department services, including environmental health issues, tuberculosis and maternity services.
Implement public health nursing activities within the primary care and home setting to support the plan of care from the FQHC provider.
Evaluate high risk clients, diverse populations, and assist with follow-up and referrals as needed.
Inform, educate, and empower clients and primary care center staff on topics related to communicable disease, health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management.
Support the Care Connect program and the Maternal and Child Health-Health Integration program, connecting clients to prenatal care, primary care, and SDoH resources.
Report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies as emergency/essential services personnel.
May occasionally start as early as 7:00 AM or work as late as 9:30 PM based on service demands.
May be assigned to work at various sites and report as a public health responder.