Public Health Nurse

Tohono O•Sells, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Health Nurse (PHN) serves as a community health advisor and provides comprehensive nursing services to schools, individuals, and families on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The position is located within Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care facilities, including Sells Hospital, San Xavier Health Center, Santa Rosa Health Center, and San Simon Health Center. Temporary relocation to other TONHC facilities may be required. The PHN works under the supervision of the Director of Public Health Nursing, who establishes overall program objectives and operations in accordance with Public Health Nursing program standards. Following priority policies for home visits, the PHN independently plans and schedules services for an assigned geographic area and determines appropriate assessments, counseling, teaching, and treatment. The role provides population-based and individual nursing care, including maternal and child health services, immunization coordination, screening clinics, communicable disease surveillance and investigation, and emergency response. The PHN collaborates with patients, families, communities, tribal and state health departments, schools, other agencies, and health care providers. Duties may vary by assignment, and other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency when the program was completed.
Two years of clinical nursing experience.
Active, current, and unrestricted Registered Nurse licensure in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
Knowledge of Tohono O'odham traditions, language, history, geography, and culture, and awareness of Native American tribal customs and cultural differences affecting health care delivery.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
Knowledge of health-related issues, medical terminology, and health and child care education.
Knowledge of comprehensive health programs and professional public health nursing principles, practices, and procedures for providing services in clinics, homes, schools, and community settings.
Knowledge of research methods, including statistical compilation and interpretation, for epidemiological surveys, field investigations, and community health program research and evaluation.
Ability to apply adult education methods to encourage behavioral changes related to health practices.
Ability to assess individuals, families, and communities physically and psychologically and recognize normal and abnormal patient conditions.
Knowledge of disease processes, illness, complications, and therapeutic interventions; knowledge of pharmaceuticals, drugs, and biologicals, including intended effects and side effects.
Ability to advise and counsel individuals on preventive care, nutrition, common illnesses, child growth and development, mental health, immunizations, and maternal and child health.
Knowledge of primary care and referral resources, performance improvement, evaluation processes, health records, and accurate clinical documentation.
Ability to independently organize services for a patient caseload in an assigned geographic area and work cooperatively as part of a PHN team.
Ability to communicate and interact effectively with tribal staff, health care professionals, community members, and people with varying knowledge and care needs.
Computer skills and knowledge of RPMS and other case management systems.
Ability to instruct and provide work experience to trainees assigned to the PHN and other training programs.
Ability to drive government vehicles; a valid driver's license may be required, with no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years. If required to operate program vehicles, must meet the Nation's insurance requirements for a driver's permit.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, maintain confidential information, work independently, meet strict timelines, and work extended hours and varied schedules.
Upon recommendation for hire, must complete a criminal background check and National FBI fingerprint check, including a 39-month driving record.
Depending on department needs, may be required to demonstrate fluency in both Tohono O'odham and English as a condition of employment.
Physical ability to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach, and talk or hear regularly; occasionally sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste, or smell; and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to drive extensively between communities, including isolated areas and unimproved roads, and move and place equipment for specialty clinics and health fairs and set up audio-visual equipment for presentations.
Ability to work with possible exposure to infectious and communicable diseases and to persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Nice To Haves

Public Health or Community Health Nursing experience or qualification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate, promote, and maintain the health of at-risk individuals, families, and the community through disease-prevention teaching, counseling, advocacy, referral, care coordination, assessments, and interventions.
Assist with coordination of the immunization program, including tracking and follow-up.
Manage and participate in public health screening clinics by interviewing and counseling clients, performing clinical tasks, administering prescribed treatment, documenting care, and making referrals.
Participate in emergency and bioterrorism preparedness and planning, and respond to emergencies such as flooding, fires, and microbursts.
Apply the public health nursing process to assess patient conditions and needs, set outcomes, implement appropriate nursing actions, and evaluate progress.
Refer patients to appropriate resources and organize the patient caseload for the assigned geographic area.
Apply care, treatment, and interventions according to population-based health care principles and standing public health orders.
Identify and report child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and domestic violence incidents.
Provide maternal and child health services and make home visits as necessary.
Monitor prenatal patients, provide prenatal education, and participate in sonogram clinics.
Coordinate and exchange information with health care entities and other agencies to support effective patient care.
Use RPMS systems as required and enter information into RPMS patient care packages as necessary.
Coordinate responses to reportable and infectious disease outbreaks on the Tohono O'odham Nation; work with state and tribal health departments on testing and contact investigations; and use MEDSIS for communicable disease investigation and surveillance.
Respond to communities to provide direct care and education, assist physicians with communicable disease control and treatment, and consult with agencies on communicable disease issues.
Coordinate sexually transmitted disease care, case and contact investigations, education efforts, and liaison activities with state and federal entities.
Coordinate treatment plans for active tuberculosis cases and preventive therapy for infected individuals; conduct TB testing and surveillance; and plan and coordinate community investigations.
Provide public health emergency response as required.
Promote, teach, and demonstrate nursing care to patients, families, and community groups; provide information on diseases, health conditions, and health maintenance.
Provide public health consultation and health education to tribal programs, Head Start, schools, community settings, TONHC employees, and outside agencies.
Participate with local community groups in developing and planning health services and serve on relevant community task forces.
Help orient new employees and mentor nurses in public health nursing; assist with planning and conducting continuing education; and maintain required training compliance.
Lead and guide non-professional staff, including Health Technicians and Disease Investigators.
Participate in performance improvement teams and committees, monitor work processes for quality and quantity, and recommend corrective actions.
Maintain professional nursing and public health nursing knowledge and proficiency through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops, and nursing committees.
Perform other duties as assigned.