Public Health Nurse

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

1d•$65,304 - $78,894•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Health Nurse delivers community health initiatives, health education, care coordination, and disease-prevention programs to reduce barriers to care, improve health literacy, and address health disparities in assigned neighborhoods. Clinical responsibilities include administering immunizations, conducting routine biometric screenings, and providing minor acute care such as wound care and first aid; the position does not diagnose conditions. The nurse serves as a central point of contact for community members, coordinates outreach events, designs educational materials, collects health data, and measures health outcomes. The position performs nursing assessments and patient triage, coordinates clinical activities and patient access with physicians and other providers, and supports patients with referrals, follow-up, and treatment-plan compliance. It also provides education to patients, families, and the public; develops culturally competent educational materials and community health curricula; supports health-related events; and collaborates with providers, staff, and management on education and care coordination. The role is based at 6098 Debra Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, though hours may vary with assignments or projects, and non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required according to operational needs. This is an exempt position.

Requirements

Associate degree in Nursing and five years of directly related experience, or a bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience covering the specified duties and responsibilities.
Completed degrees above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.
Valid driver's license.
Active Registered Nurse licensure for Tennessee or a multistate license.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Submit immunization records for review for required vaccines and TB testing.
Pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
Provide proof of varicella immunity or obtain varicella vaccination within 90 days of employment.
Complete fingerprinting and obtain subsequent clearance.
Comply with the facility or organization's influenza and COVID-19 vaccination requirement when providing services or working in patient-care or clinical areas.
Knowledge of supportive-care principles and techniques, accreditation and certification requirements, ethical principles, and federal and state regulations governing human subjects in biomedical research.
Knowledge of clinical research principles and procedures and basic managed care.
Ability to perform nursing assessments and patient triage; educate patients and families about disease and appropriate care and treatment; and plan, implement, and evaluate individual patient-care programs.
Ability to maintain quality, safety, and infection-control standards; gather data, compile information, and prepare reports; and read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures.
Ability to work autonomously and maintain emotional stability when coping with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors.
Strong organizational, coordination, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to prioritize and reprioritize quickly.
Ability to recruit, evaluate, and instruct clinical research subjects and volunteers, and to work effectively at all levels in a collaborative, customer-service-oriented team environment.

Nice To Haves

May be required to complete department-specific professional development activities.

Responsibilities

Perform nursing assessments and triage patient care needs for new and ongoing patients.
Oversee planning, scheduling, and implementation of day-to-day clinical activities and procedures for navigated patients.
Work with physicians and other primary care providers to facilitate, coordinate, and ensure patient access.
Serve as the central point of contact for navigated patients and coordinate interactions with medical, nursing, and ancillary services.
Educate patients, families, and the public about health, disease prevention, and related health factors, and provide information to community members, healthcare professionals, and students.
Collect and report patient data on barriers, health care, medications, and prior treatments; track order completion and follow-up.
Monitor patient compliance with treatment plans.
Assist patients with referrals to outside resources and care coordination as needed.
Follow established policies, procedures, objectives, quality-improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and infection-control standards.
Collaborate with medical providers, patient-care staff, and clinic or facility management to plan and implement patient and staff education.
Design, develop, and implement culturally competent health education materials for children and adults, considering developmental level and literacy needs.
Address chronic disease prevalence, improve health literacy, and reduce inequalities among populations in assigned neighborhoods.
Support health-related events hosted by other departments, centers, and nonprofit organizations.
Develop health curricula for community courses with attention to cultural competence and health literacy.
Meet regular attendance requirements and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with staff, coworkers, managers, and citizens.
Perform essential job functions in a timely manner, with or without reasonable accommodations, and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Generous paid time off.
Flexible scheduling where possible.
Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs for employees and their families.
Access to a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for City employees.
Professional development and opportunities for upward mobility.

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