Public Health Nurse

Tohono O'odham Nation Healthcare•San Simon, AZ

6d•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, and may require temporary relocation among these facilities. 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 priorities and standards of care, the PHN independently plans and schedules services for an assigned geographic area and determines appropriate assessments, counseling, teaching, and treatment. Services include preventive and maternal-child health care, communicable disease response, screening clinics, home visits, community education, referrals, and coordination with health care and community partners. The role may also involve emergency response, mentoring and guiding staff, and participation in quality improvement and continuing education activities.

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.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
Knowledge of health issues, medical terminology, health education, 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 current research methods, including statistical compilation and interpretation, for epidemiological surveys, field investigations, and research studies related to community health programs.
Ability to apply adult education methods and techniques to encourage health-related behavioral change.
Awareness of Native American tribal customs in the area and ability to appreciate cultural differences and their effects on health care delivery.
Ability to conduct physical and psychological assessments of individuals, families, and communities and recognize normal and abnormal patient conditions.
Knowledge of disease biology and illness sufficient to recognize complications and needed therapeutic interventions.
Knowledge of pharmaceuticals, drugs, and biologicals, including desired effects, side effects, complications, and undesired 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 available primary care and referral resources.
Awareness of performance improvement and evaluation processes used to improve patient care, monitoring, and program planning.
Knowledge of health records and ability to accurately and completely document clinical data.
Ability to organize services independently 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 others with varying roles, knowledge, and care requirements.
Computer skills and knowledge of RPMS and other case management systems.
Ability to provide instruction and job experience for trainees assigned to the PHN and other training programs.
Ability to drive government vehicles.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with employees and the public.
Ability to maintain privileged and confidential information.
Ability to work extended hours and varied schedules, work independently, and meet strict timelines.
May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license, with no DUIs or major traffic citations within the past three years.
If required to operate program vehicles, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements for a driver's permit.
May be required, based on department needs, to demonstrate fluency in both Tohono O'odham and English.
Upon recommendation for hire, must complete a criminal background check and National FBI fingerprint check, including a 39-month driving record.
Physical demands include regularly standing, walking, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, reaching, and talking or hearing; occasionally sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and tasting or smelling; and occasionally lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.
Must be able to drive extensively between communities, move and place equipment in specialty clinics and health fairs, and set up audio-visual equipment for community and school presentations; driving may involve isolated areas and unimproved roads.
The work may involve exposure to infectious and communicable diseases and to people 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 education, counseling, advocacy, referrals, care coordination, assessments, and interventions.
Assist with coordinating 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.
Use the public health nursing process to assess patient needs, establish outcomes, plan and implement nursing actions, evaluate progress, refer patients to appropriate resources, and organize the patient caseload in the assigned geographic area.
Provide 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 needed.
Monitor prenatal patients, provide prenatal education, and participate in sonogram clinics.
Coordinate and exchange information with health care entities and 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; provide direct care and education in communities; and use MEDSIS for communicable disease investigation and surveillance.
Assist physicians with communicable disease control and treatment and consult with agencies such as health departments.
Coordinate sexually transmitted disease care, case and contact investigations, education, and liaison activities with state and federal entities.
Coordinate and implement treatment plans for active tuberculosis cases and preventive therapy for infected individuals; conduct TB testing and surveillance and coordinate community investigations.
Respond to public health emergencies as required.
Promote, teach, and demonstrate nursing care to patients, families, and community groups, including instruction about diseases, health conditions, and health maintenance.
Provide public health consultation and health education to tribal programs, Head Start, schools, other community settings, TONHC employees, and outside agencies; participate in community planning of health services.
Serve on community task forces related to the position.
Participate in orienting new employees and mentoring nurses in public health nursing.
Assist with planning and conducting continuing education and maintain compliance with mandatory training requirements.
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 knowledge and proficiency through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops, and nursing committees.
Perform other duties as assigned.