NURSE I

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE I

General Summary

Under the supervision of the Public Health Nurse Administrator, Health Officer or Senior Programs Director, provides comprehensive nursing services in preventive health and clinic programs including assessment, teaching, counseling, and prevention services to individuals, families, and groups to promote health and wellness to clients in the county. Maintains patient records and program activity records and prepares required reports.

Essential Functions

• Conducts health assessments in clinics, including conducting physical assessments, obtaining blood pressure, temperature, measurements, and other data and developing information on health history, diet history, and family health status. Administers immunizations, medications, educates clients on potential side effects, and monitors for adverse reaction. Reads and interprets lab reports. May administer tests, such TB tests and urine pregnancy tests, and performs a variety of related procedures in clinics.
• Assesses various tests and screening results and correlates them with health history and physical assessment. Determines absence or presence of abnormalities in the health history and/or physical examination. Plans and provides appropriate intervention and referral based on findings.
• Interprets health screening findings to the family and makes appropriate referrals, utilizing an up-to-date list of resources in the county. Contacts local health providers and community agencies to make referrals.
• Provides comprehensive case management and coordinates services provided through a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating extensively with multiple community agencies.
• Investigates and monitors reports of communicable diseases such as measles, hepatitis, sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis, and potential rabies exposure. Coordinates efforts with state epidemiologists, physicians, school personnel, and others regarding spread and treatment of the disease. Provides health care services, instruction, and information to clients in compliance with related public health laws.
• Provides HIV testing and counseling services. Provides notification and referral services for HIV positive clients and their partners which may require phone calls, home visits, or extensive searching to locate individuals. Conducts court ordered HIV testing and partner notification.
• Provides education to clients and families relative to parenting, nutrition, health care, prenatal care, breast feeding, safety, substance abuse, communicable diseases or other subjects as needed by client.
• Provides home visits and health assessments for newborn infants, pregnant women and other clients.
• Completes comprehensive assessments for families with special health care needs, including annual review of medical documentation and financial qualification. Develops an annual plan of care. Assists families with coordination of care and makes referrals to other health care professionals as appropriate. Continues to assist with care coordination throughout the year as needed.
• May direct the jail health program, providing health care and health education on subjects including disease prevention, hygiene, and life issues to prisoners in the county jail. Oversees day to day activities including medical care, records maintenance, and scheduling.
• Reviews documentation in charts on periodic basis to ensure compliance with federal and state rules and regulations for the specific program area.
• Participates on committees within the agency and in the community as assigned.
• Represents the agency by making presentations to explain agency programs, policies and procedures to the community.
• May serve as the nurse on call by seeing walk-in clients needing public health services such as immunizations, blood pressure checks, screenings, treatment for nuisance diseases, and referrals to other health care providers.
• Ensures that clinical documentation regarding clients is kept secure and confidential and maintained consistent with Health Department policies and procedures.
• Complete all charting and documentation in time for monthly reporting.
• Determines appropriate services to meet the needs of each client, develops plan of care, and implements services as determined and agreed upon.
• Instructs nurse aides in plan of care/services for individual senior clients. Observes care provided by nurse aides to senior clients at least annually and reports any issues to the Senior Program Director.
• Conducts vaccine screening interview questions and discusses concerns, precautions or contraindications of recommended vaccinations according to the client's health information with client. Determines vaccines needed, ensures proper dosage and viability of chosen vaccines, and ensures they are properly administered according to current guidelines. Provides education to client regarding vaccines received. Ensures proper documentation of administered vaccines.

Other Functions

None listed.

This may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Employment Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing. Completion of continuing education units required for RN license renewal.

Experience: Two years of nursing experience is preferred.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of general office procedures and protocols.

Knowledge of financial rules, regulations, laws and procedures.

Skill in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Knowledge of community resources helpful but not required.

Ability to think critically and to make changes as needed.

Ability to reprioritize work on short notice as needed. Good organizational skills.

Ability to analyze lab data.

Knowledge of nursing skills.

Ability to work in the field as needed.

Ability to work as a team with co-workers.

Other Requirements: Possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Michigan. Possession of a valid Michigan drivers license.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in the job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Workers Compensation Code: 8835/38832

Occupational Employment Statistical Code: 32502

Physical Requirements {This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements and working conditions. Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements}.

Lifting babies and small children to examination tables.

Lifting and transporting supplies to various clinic locations.

Stooping and bending to examine children.

Restraining children while administering injections.

Ability to travel throughout the county to various clinic locations.

Ability to access clients in their homes.

Ability to access office files.

Ability to enter and access information using a computer

Working Conditions:

Works in office conditions.

May travel throughout the county to provide services.

May work in clients homes.

Exposure to communicable diseases, blood, and other bodily fluids.