What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Health Nurse position at Ramsey County, MN?
Basic Function
To provide a full range of public health nursing, health case management and community health services to individuals, families and the community; and to perform related duties as assigned.
Current vacancies are in the Public Health department. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department or county.
Positions in Family Home Visiting include evidenced based home visiting model-MECSH, evidence informed and in community engagement and outreach.
Duties in Family Health involve primarily working with pregnant and parenting families who may be experiencing significant life stressors to provide support and education to improve birth outcomes, assess child growth and development, develop positive parenting skills, and assist with making linkages to community resources. Public Health Nurses make home visits and/or provide community outreach and engagement to provide a full range of public health nursing services, referral, case management and community health services to individuals, families and the community. Experience working within diverse communities, speaking second language and with interpreters is desired. Job responsibility includes maintaining timely and accurate health/visit records using an electronic health record for documentation. Public Health Nurses are asked to assist in other areas of the Public Health Department, including responding to Public Health Emergencies that arise, one of the most recent examples of this work done by Public Health Nurses in the COVID-19 response. During employee orientation time, new employees to the programs may need to travel out of town for up to one week's time in order to obtain proper training.
The Community Engagement Team and duties may also include: Family Home visiting; public health promotion through group facilitated education and co-facilitation of monthly community stakeholder groups aimed at addressing Equity in Birth Outcomes within the African American and American Indian communities; coordinating respite child activities during community groups & coalition meetings; student/workforce development activities; population based assessment and community engaged action planning alongside other Ramsey county providers. The community outreach nurse capitalizes on community strengths while recognizing and addressing social determinants of racial and health equity. Work Hours: Reg. 8-4:30P *with some evening hrs.
Clinic 555 consists of an on-site clinic, a mobile clinic, outreach work and a syringe services program. Multiple positions are open in the Sexual Health Program.
Possible work involves:
- Working with the outreach team to provide family planning sexual reproductive health care and harm reduction services in community.
- Working with Clinic 555 providers in clinic providing family planning sexual health care
- Coordinate and case manage clients on our PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) program
- Coordinate our mobile medical clinic
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Work in the Syringe Services Program (SSP)
- SSP distributes naloxone and harm reduction supplies, perform infectious disease testing and case management, and nursing services including wound care and immunizations.
Community outreach and engagement is focused to reach underserved priority populations to ensure access to services including people of color, people who use drugs, justice-involved populations and people experiencing homelessness. Outreach spaces may include correctional facilities, encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, treatment facilities, and community events among others.
Nursing experience in public health, mental health, infectious disease and/or sexual health preferred.Flexible Workplace
This position is identified under the designation of "Mobile worker", meaning an employee who works primarily in a community-based environment and whose duties, which are primarily resident-facing, may be performed at multiple locations in a given week based on job function. Regardless of selection, the position carries expectations regarding on-site responsibilities and will require schedule flexibility beyond the minimum expectations set forth in the county’s flexible workplace policy. To view Ramsey County’s Flexible Workplace policy, go to: Flexible Workplace policy.
If an internal candidate is selected, salary will be set in accordance with the personnel rules (i.e., promotion, transfer, or voluntary reduction).
Examples of Work Performed
- Perform independent health assessments of individuals, families and communities by evaluating their physical, mental, social and environmental health status; and provide nursing and community health intervention based on assessment of need and current community resources.
- Make skilled nursing observations of client health status by assessing, monitoring and documenting such things as pregnancy, postpartum and infant/toddler status; developmental screening; depression screening; and evaluating the safety of home environments.
- Share with clients, families, and communities methods of preventative positive health practices, such as health pregnancy; home and family safety; child growth and development; child spacing; and healthy parenting.
- Provide case management for clients by developing care plans, consulting with other health care providers such as physicians and social workers, refer clients to other health care resources.
- Provide orientation and training to Public Health Nurses, Health Educators, Dieticians, Home Health Aides, Health Education Program Assistants; and Public Health Licensed Practical Nurses by providing leadership in the area of case management, current medical and nursing technologies, current public health trends, and community resources.
- Intervene in emergency situations by notifying proper authorities such as police, physicians, child protection agencies and personnel in medical facilities/emergency rooms, provide information to court officials in cases of child and adult protection.
- Develop and provide health education and consultation services to community members, clients and family members, other professionals and Ramsey County employees on a one-to-one and group basis through home visits, clinics, health promotion and community outreach activities, respond to requests for information by phone or in person, coordinate and conduct health fairs, develop written and oral educational materials and curricula, and teach classes on topics related to public health issues, disease prevention and recognition, and safety and injury prevention, facilitate youth at-risk support groups on public health issues at local schools.
- Serve on or chair internal and external work groups, task forces and advisory committees for the purpose of influencing and developing policy and procedures related to various community public health issues.
- Assure privacy of client data according to federal and state regulations.
- Maintain data related to activities and draft periodic reports to grantors as required.
- Document cases, health promotion and community activities by preparing reports and necessary paperwork, develop and maintain required records and write case histories. Comply with child protection reporting requirements and collaborate with health care providers and community resources engaged with the family and schools.
- Participate in team meetings and one-on-one meetings with supervisor.
- Maintain data in a timely manner related to all activities as required.
(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from a university or college accredited by the National League for Nursing.
Experience: None.
Substitution: None.
Certifications/Licensure: Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse, must have a Public Health Nursing Certificate, and a valid drivers' license. Must have a valid driver's license. Must be eligible for and obtain Minnesota licensure as a Registered Nurse and Minnesota Public Health Nursing certification prior to being hired.
Exam/Screening Process Information
To verify a nurse license go to MN Board of Nursing and make a screen shot, the expiration date must be included and it must be valid.
Examination/Screening Process: The examination for Public Health Nurse will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on the answers provided. A candidate must pass the training and experience rating in order to be advanced in the process.
Eligible List: The names of all applicants who pass the training and experience rating and file a properly completed application shall be placed on the eligible list for employment as a Public Health Nurse. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for three months or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list. The department may choose to interview any candidate on the eligible list.
Veterans' Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veterans' Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.
Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
In addition you will be subject to a pre-employment health screening.
E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance or national origin.
Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce. The county strives being equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.
To print a paper application for this posting, you will need to print off this posting and also answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them if you complete a paper application.
For further information regarding this posting, please contact Nirvana.wallace@co.ramsey.mn.us.
Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2025-benefits
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
- Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee legally married spouse, Employee Child(ren), Family
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
- MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
- VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered
- Pre-tax Benefit Program
- Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
- Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan
- Paid time off
- Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
- 11 scheduled holidays and two floating holidays
- Up to eight weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
- Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
- Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay
- Retirement benefits
- Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
- New employees become vested after three years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
- Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
- Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation
- Transit and parking
- Fully funded Metropass.
- Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account
- Employee well-being
- Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
- Wellness programming
- Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions
- Life Insurance and Disability leave
- County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
- Long-term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
- Short-term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period
- Career development
- Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
- Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
- County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues
For information about Ramsey County's 2025 benefits, visit: https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2025-benefits
