Public Health Nurse - Family Health

Otter Tail County•500 Fir Avenue West Fergus Falls, MN

About The Position

Otter Tail County is hiring a full-time Public Health Nurse in its Family Health unit. Public Health Nursing services are offered throughout Otter Tail County, with department offices in Fergus Falls and New York Mills. This position primarily serves clients on the east side of the county and provides population-based nursing services to promote, protect, and improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. The role assesses community health needs, emphasizes prevention and social determinants of health, collaborates with community partners, and supports public health initiatives, advocacy, policy development, and health planning in alignment with public health standards and community priorities. In Family Health, the nurse guides and supports families prenatally and as they care for infants and young children, including providing information about anticipated growth and developmental milestones. The nurse connects families with programs and agencies in accordance with their values, strengths, goals, and needs, and promotes resiliency by helping families build protective factors. The position may also conduct screening, referral, enrollment, and direct services in one of two home visiting models: MECSH or Evidence-Informed family home visiting. The position is regularly scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 2026 starting salary is $34.93 per hour, depending on qualifications, with career-level advancement to $55.41 per hour. The hiring process includes an online application and supplemental questionnaire, interviews for semi-finalists, and a background investigation for finalists. A standard 12-month probationary period applies. The role is safety-sensitive and subject to pre-employment and applicable random, reasonable-suspicion/cause, return-to-duty, follow-up, and post-accident drug and alcohol testing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Registered Nurse license; an Associate’s degree in Nursing with a Registered Nurse license may be considered.
Ability to obtain Public Health Nurse Certification.
Ability to obtain CPR Certification.
Valid Minnesota driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Collect, analyze, and interpret health data to describe and monitor health events affecting individuals, families, communities, and systems.
Investigate disease and other health events.
Conduct community outreach and one-on-one case finding for individuals and families most at risk.
Perform targeted, mass, or periodic screenings using appropriate tools and training.
Refer and follow up with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Provide case management for individuals and families.
Perform delegated functions under the direction of health care practitioners as permitted by law.
Promote health and prevent illness through health teaching.
Build supportive relationships through counseling with individuals, families, communities, or systems.
Consult with individuals, families, groups, and community groups; collaborate with people and organizations; and build coalitions between community agencies.
Facilitate community organizing and advocate for clients.
Design social marketing programs to influence and improve community health behaviors.
Develop and enforce policies addressing health issues, including tobacco compliance checks, animal control, and public health nuisances.
Respond to disasters and support community recovery by recognizing potential emergencies, communicating through the chain of command, fulfilling assigned emergency operations roles, and participating in drills and exercises.
Apply professional skills in emergency response, including analyzing surveillance data; implementing isolation, quarantine, mass dispensing, or alternate triage sites; selecting and using appropriate personal protective equipment; coordinating with partner agencies; and maintaining relevant emergency-response knowledge.
Maintain licensure and meet continuing education requirements to keep professional knowledge current and relevant to changing health practices.
Follow personnel, work, safety, dress-code, and other general employment rules.
Assist with duties under the County Emergency Operations Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan, as needed.
Work with programs involving cross-jurisdictional sharing through the Prairie Lakes Community Health Board, as needed.
Provide prenatal and early-childhood guidance to families, including information about growth and developmental milestones.
Refer families to suitable programs and agencies and support family resiliency by helping build protective factors.
May conduct screening, referral, enrollment, and direct services through MECSH or Evidence-Informed family home visiting.
Perform other duties as assigned.