Job Description

Howard County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer
POSITION: Public Health Nurse STATUS: Part Time
DEPARTMENT: Health FSLA STATUS: Exempt
WORK SCHEDULE: M–F, 8AM-4PM, evening and weekend as needed

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Under general supervision of the Director of Public Health Nursing and Administrator, all reporting to the Health Officer, the Public Health Nurse (PHN) conducts and delivers the daily programs, services, and activities of the Public Health Nursing Division. The Public Health Nurse uses independent judgment while making decisions that influence the aforementioned operations. Acting within the framework of established National, State and local Laws, codes, rules, and guidelines; including Health Department policies, protocols, and objectives; the Public Health Nurse is the agent of the Howard County Health Officer.

Public Health Nursing is a specialty practice within nursing and public health. It focuses on improving population health by emphasizing prevention and the social determinants of health. It includes advocacy, policy development, and health planning, and addresses issues of social justice and health equity. (American Public Health Association, 2013)
DUTIES :

• Public Health Nursing Program Activities: Performs professional public health nursing services focusing on prevention including, but not limited to: family planning, child health, adult health, sexually transmitted disease, preparedness, communicable disease, breast and cervical cancer control program, refugee health, tuberculosis, immunizations, lead screening and case management. May provide emergency preparedness services, assistance with school liaison activities, infectious disease control and other services.

o Infectious Disease Example: Provides tuberculosis control, other communicable disease investigation, vaccination clinics, deals with emerging public health issues. Conduct risk assessment, perform screening tests, administer treatment per protocol.

o Maternal/Child/Newborn Health Example: Provides health education or home visits. Assesses reproductive goals, performs screening tests, administers contraception per protocol.

o School Nursing: Coordinates with School Health Liaison to assist with clinical activities provided in schools; handles communicable disease control in the school; and assists in the development of policy recommendations regarding school health issues.

• Health Assessments/Investigation/Data Collection/Home Visits: o Infectious Disease Example: Investigates communicable diseases in diverse settings and makes recommendations for control. Interviews clients to obtain health histories and problems, obtains laboratory samples, assists in client testing, assesses clients for appropriate vaccinations, administers injections

o MCH/Chronic Disease Example: May conduct home visits. Will provide community health education. Will travel to clients’ homes, various community sites, and satellite clinic locations as needed to deliver services. Coordinates care and collaborates with community partners to ensure optimal health. Performs health, development, and nutrition assessments as needed. Assesses clients’ needs based on gathering of information, histories, and screening tools.

• Health Education and Referrals: Provides education, information, support, and guidance to client/family/community, and makes appropriate referrals based on findings. Uses data on community health needs to provide health education, promote optimal health, and prevent disease. Presents health education programs in schools and/or community organizations as needed. Instructs in prevention and care of a wide variety of health problems.

o Infectious Disease/Immunizations Example: The PHN develops and engages in educational and outreach activities and programs to promote increased immunization coverage, awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases, chronic and communicable disease prevention, and community public health.
o MCH Example: Will focus intervention on positive prenatal and child health outcomes, positive parenting, and attaining the life skills necessary to promote family self-sufficiency.

• Documentation and Reporting: Maintains timely, complete, and accurate documentation in the appropriate health record, which reflects nursing observations, assessments, and interventions, and also meets the requirements of funding partners. Data will be documented and submitted for required reports. Uses reporting/information systems as indicated (RedCAP, INEDSS, LIMSNET, CHIRP, SharePoint, etc.). Reports activities to the Health Department and, when required, state and federal government agencies.

• Quality Assurance/Training: Participates in all necessary training to ensure understanding of and adherence to model elements. Participates in quality assurance programs for continuity and improvement of client services. Seeks out and attends training sessions and/or continuing education classes as needed.

• Internal and External Collaboration: Participates in team meetings, as well as various inter-Department and intra-Department teams, to ensure continuity and consistency in service delivery as defined by protocols, procedures, grants, and program standards. Collaborates with other public health professionals in the development of population-based community assessments, public health messaging, community engagement, strategic planning, and policy development.

• Compliance: Adheres to nursing standards of practice and follows Department procedures and protocols as well as local, State, and Federal regulations. Follows and adheres to all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) guidelines for protected health information (PHI).

• Emergency Response: Assumes leadership roles and duties for public health emergency response. Is assigned National Incident Management System (NIMS) roles and duties. Administers vaccines and medications for emergency plans as needed.

JOB REQUIREMENTS :

• Minimum Educational Qualifications: License to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Indiana. Holds one of the following o a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) with training in community and population health; or

o Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) with minimum 5 years’ experience in a related area (e.g., a labor and delivery nurse applying for a role in a Maternal/Infant health programs).

• Knowledge: Public health theory and practices. Nursing process. Nursing assessment skills. Basic human physical, nutritional and psychosocial needs. Federal, State, and County laws and regulations which impact the department. Working knowledge of electronic medical record documentation standards. Basic knowledge of statistics/data, community based participatory research.

• Skills: Proven proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required. Additional health informatics/data systems including Athena. Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and public relations skills. Assessment skills and experience making independent judgements is critical to success. Skills and ability to administer injections.

• Abilities: Work independently in challenging situations. Prepare and maintain records, charts, and reports. Follow detailed written and verbal directions. Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Self-motivated to plan, organize, and complete work accurately with little direction. Exceptional attention to detail. Communicate effectively to individuals and groups, both verbally and in writing, using the English language. Exercise independent judgment and critical thinking, and seek solutions to problems which arise on a regular basis. Prepare concise and accurate reports. Present effective facts and make recommendations both verbally and in writing. Passion for community health, health equity, addressing health disparities and social determinants of health, disease prevention, and health promotion. Manage grant activities in a fiscally responsible manner. Willing to learn about health issues across the lifespan. Work with a diverse team in a multi-disciplinary setting. Establish effective working relationships with persons of varied backgrounds both lay and professional. Maintains confidentiality. Conducts self with honesty and integrity; follows ethical principles of public health practice and follows the rules and laws applicable to public health nursing.

• Licensing/Certification: License to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Indiana. Required to pass a pre-employment drug screen. Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Certification required. Required to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) 700 and 800 and Incident Command System (ICS) 100 and 200 within twelve (12) months of employment.

To apply for this position, please complete a Howard County Employment application located online at and send resume to:

Howard County Human Resources
Attn: Kari Rennaker
220 N. Main St., Rm. 220
Kokomo, In 46901
Or Email to:
kari.rennaker@howardcountyin.gov

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: Up to $32.45 per hour

Medical Specialty:

• Public Health

Schedule:

• Evenings as needed
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

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