Job Description

Public Health Nurse

Under the supervision of a Program Supervisor and the Director of Nursing and within the framework of the Human Services Department and Public Health Division policies and programs, independently delivers professional nursing services to individuals, families and groups. Provides nursing services to identified at-risk populations by telephone, in clinic settings, schools and in the community. Provides countywide consultation and education on health topics. Encourages the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention of disease and disability.

Essential Duties:

• Makes home visits to individuals and families to assess health status, identify factors impeding health, and provide interventions through teaching, monitoring, providing case management, and referring clients to appropriate community resources and services.
• Investigates reported communicable disease by interviewing infected individuals to determine the likely source of illness and the potential for outbreak. Teaches measures to prevent further spread to contacts and the community. Facilitates follow-up testing where appropriate.
• Reviews tuberculosis client status; monitors and provides medication through the TB control program; staffs TB clinics.
• Assesses immunization status, determines needs and administers immunizations in accordance with human service and public health division policy.
• Performs physical examinations and screening tests to identify problems requiring medical or other specialized attention. Consults with medical professionals including pediatric nurse practitioner as indicated. Interprets, counsels, and refers to appropriate resources. Teaches clients and parents/care givers about normal growth and development, nutrition, safety, and preventative health practices.
• Meets with school personnel, students, and parents to promote health programs and services. Participates and consults in the development of health policies and issues which aid or interfere with learning. May perform classroom teaching on health topics.
• Promotes and participates in the development of school health programs. Motivates and assists school districts to achieve compliance with State requirements. May serve on school advisory committees.
• Maintains awareness of community. Uses professional skills to identify individuals and groups whose behaviors place them at risk for health problems. Advocates for individuals and populations both within the human services department and the community. As a representative of the human services department, serves on committees and community forums.
• Participates in the design, implementation, and evaluation of human services department programs to meet the needs of identified populations.
• Teaches special health topics, such as communicable disease control and AIDS, to groups and provides in-service training for staff in other agencies.
• Informs individuals in the community of current human services departments' services, concerns, and goals through group presentations, personal contacts, written materials, and through the media. Participates in the selection and development of written materials for use in client education.
• Provides health information to the public and makes referrals to appropriate agencies through group presentations, individual phone, Nurse Line, and personal contacts.
• Determines eligibility and may enroll clients in categorical state programs.
• Provides consultation and direct services to defined at-risk populations.
• Maintains up-to-date case records and reports documenting service delivery and caseload management.
• Provides consultation to undergraduate and graduate students at such places as Schools of Nursing and Public Health. Selects cases and shares in case management with assigned students.
• Participates in the orientation of new staff regarding the role, philosophy and practice of public health nursing within the human services department. Participates in continuing education and in-service programs to maintain professional competence.
• Performs other work as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Employment Qualifications:

Physical Demands:

Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and use standard office equipment including a computer, vision to read printed materials and a computer monitor and hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone. Duties also require mobility to attend community meetings. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in Nursing.

Experience:

A minimum of one (1) year of nursing experience.

License/Certification:

Possession of a valid Michigan vehicle operator's license.

This class description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.

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