Senior Public Health Nurse

County of Mendocino•Ukiah, CA

About The Position

The Senior Public Health Nurse coordinates a specialized program of care, including developing program protocols, conducting quality assurance, and evaluating the provision of client services. Under general supervision, the position provides comprehensive public health nursing services to prevent, detect, and control disease and promote health in settings throughout Mendocino County. Duties include case management and determining eligibility for medical programs and services under applicable guidelines. The current vacancy is in Ukiah and oversees the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) unit. Positions may be office-, field-, or clinic-based depending on the program. The recruitment list may be used for a limited period to fill regular full-time and part-time open or promotional positions throughout the County. Employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or Covelo may be eligible for a 5% assignment premium under current bargaining unit agreements. Bilingual English/Spanish applicants are encouraged to apply. The role includes lead-worker responsibilities and coordination with clients, health care providers, public agencies, schools, law enforcement, and community organizations. The nurse may participate in clinic operations, program planning and evaluation, epidemiologic investigations, interagency meetings, staff meetings, and client medical appointments. The position also prepares or contributes to program documentation, budgets, grant proposals, reports, and other records. Other related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited four-year college or university, and one year of experience equivalent to a Mendocino County Public Health Nurse; or three years of professional-level nursing experience, including at least one year in a public agency; or an applicable combination of related education, training, and experience with the required license and certification.
Valid driver’s license.
Valid California Registered Nurse license.
Valid California Public Health Nurse certification.
Current Basic Life Support Course Completion Card issued by the American Heart Association or equivalent.
Maintain all required licenses, certifications, registrations, and other qualifications within specified timeframes as a condition of continued employment.
Knowledge of applicable state, federal, and local laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations; public health and human services; human development; nursing processes; growth, development, nutrition, immunization, communicable diseases, abuse and neglect, chronic illness, behavioral health, screening and evaluation tests, teaching and learning, public health nursing, community resources, confidentiality, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Skill in developing and revising program policies, organizing work and meeting deadlines, writing reports and correspondence, training staff, counseling and risk assessment, using judgment and discretion, managing difficult clients and dangerous situations, communicating effectively, and using relevant computer applications and hardware.
Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to normal and abnormal behavior, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and substance use and abuse; communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds; work safely and cooperatively; interpret professional and technical materials and regulations; establish effective working relationships; and solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Regularly speak and listen; required vision abilities include close vision, color discrimination, and adjusting focus.
Regularly walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach, speak, hear, and push, pull, move, or lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds above and below the neck; may infrequently push, pull, move, or lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds below the neck.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish ability is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive health services across the continuum of care, including to medically fragile people throughout the life span, under the direction of the health officer, professional nurse, or health care provider.
Assess clients’ psychosocial, physical, developmental, spiritual, and emotional needs.
Carry out lead-worker duties, including training staff, assigning and directing work, making performance appraisal recommendations, and reporting problems to a supervisor.
Provide client case management; consult with health care providers; coordinate services with health and social service agencies; make referrals; and determine eligibility for ongoing medical services.
Participate in medical case conferences and client appointments or clinic visits to coordinate care and advocate for clients.
Conduct monthly face-to-face client contacts and collaborate with schools, social services, law enforcement, and community health agencies.
Participate in health clinic operations, including interviewing and counseling clients, performing diagnostic tests, administering prescribed treatment, maintaining the office, recording data, and making referrals.
Educate and counsel individuals and families about diseases, health conditions, health maintenance, and rehabilitation.
Guide nursing, paraprofessional health, and auxiliary staff in resolving difficult cases.
Plan, develop, and evaluate countywide program implementation; develop and revise program policies and implement state standards.
Conduct provider orientation programs and provide technical assistance or teaching presentations to health professionals and community agencies.
Assist with project and grant proposals, budgets, scopes of work, implementation plans, evaluations, reports, records, correspondence, and program planning.
Provide leadership and expertise in epidemiologic investigations in homes, schools, or the community.
Document client contacts and complete required assessments, electronic reports, time studies, and billing sheets; provide expert witness testimony in court when required or subpoenaed.
Participate in interagency meetings to identify service needs and community risks, coordinate resources, and identify training to improve program delivery.
Attend and lead staff meetings for program updates, planning, and case conferencing.
Maintain and enhance public health knowledge through workshops, meetings, specialty clinics, protocols, journals, and classes.
Perform other related duties as assigned.