PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE III

Job Specifications

COUNT OF SANTA CRUZ

DEFINITION

Under direction, to serve as a lead and assist a Public Health Program Manager or to direct, evaluate and supervise agency-wide specialized programs; to provide a wide variety of complex nursing services in homes, clinics and other community sites; to coordinate general medical clinic activities; and to do other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Positions in this class serve as a lead to assist a Public Health Program Manager supervise, train and evaluate subordinate staff. Additionally, duties include scheduling and reviewing work of subordinate staff, or planning, directing and evaluating specialized public health programs with subordinate staffs such as communicable disease.

This class is distinguished from the class of Public Health Program Manager in that the latter class is responsible for planning, organizing and directing a major division of Public Health Nursing services. This class is distinguished from the next lower class of Public Health Nurse II in that the latter class performs a variety of nursing services in homes, clinics and community settings.

TYPICAL TASKS

Plans, assigns, schedules, the day-to-day activities in a division of public health nursing; provides on-the-job training, information and instruction to subordinates; reviews and evaluates work completed by subordinate staff; coordinates activities with other services, outside agencies and the community; provides consultation for difficult and complex cases; evaluates and disciplines staff; keeps the program manager informed of difficult or unusual problems; may prepare and monitor grant funded or contract programs and services; assists in developing, coordinating and delivering in-service training programs; serves as an internal consultant or resource person; represents the agency at inter-disciplinary and inter-agency meetings; may assume responsibility for division operations in the absence of the Public Health Program Manager; reviews charts to assure completeness, assess need for referral and education and for quality control; provides a wide variety of public health nursing services in homes, clinics and other community sites; serves as a case manager for medically high risk clients; coordinates specialized clinic activities; provides preventative nursing services; may plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate programs for special populations; in the general medical clinic, prioritizes and manages cases, makes complex referrals, provides health education and counseling for difficult and complex cases, and administers medications and treatments; in the Communicable Diseases Program, manages the day-to-day activities of the program, advises patients, parents, day care providers, schools and others on communicable diseases, and determines the requirement for further public health action, develops policies and procedures for communicable disease investigation and follow-up; assists in grant or demonstration project preparation, implementation and evaluation; assists in the preparation and/or prepares procedure manuals, forms, instructional materials, surveys and questionnaires; attends meetings, in-service training, and conferences; assists in developing and maintaining automated and manual record keeping systems; may testify in court and serve as an expert witness; inputs, accesses and analyzes data using a computer; prepares statistical and other reports, charts, records and other required documentation.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of the principles of public health nursing and public health practices;
• Working knowledge of the community aspects of public health nursing;
• Working knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations governing public health programs;
• Working knowledge of epidemiologic investigation, control and care of chronic and communicable diseases and illnesses, handicapping conditions, and mental illness;
• Working knowledge of cultural, environmental, sociological and psychological differences and problems encountered in public health nursing;
• Working knowledge of technical nursing procedures, and medical terminology;
• Working knowledge of interviewing, counseling and teaching techniques;
• Working knowledge of normal and abnormal physiological development and behavior;
• Working knowledge of prevention, detection, reporting and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
• Working knowledge of the literature and trends in public health;
• Working knowledge of the forensic examination and legal requirements of sexual assault cases may be required for certain positions;
• Some knowledge of the principles and practices supervision and training.

Ability to:

• Plan, assign and schedule day-to-day work in a division of public health nursing;
• Teach and supervise other health care professionals and volunteers;
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply laws, regulations, policies and written and oral direction;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Assume a leadership role in community health programs;
• Speak effectively before groups;
• Assess health care, physical and psycho-social needs and develop and implement care plans;
• Provide public health nursing services and case management to high risk groups or special populations;
• Coach, counsel, teach and inform clients, and the general public on health care issues;
• Assess community health needs;
• Administer treatments and medicines;
• Deal with sensitivity to the needs of people with different cultural, environmental and social backgrounds;
• Analyze data, problem solve and make logical decisions;
• Write and prepare a variety of statistical and other reports, records, and charts;
• Learn to testify in court and serve as an expert witness;
• Conduct sexual assault examinations which meet State protocols may be required for certain positions;
• Input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.

Training and Experience: Any combination of training or experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities is:

• One year of experience performing duties equivalent to a Public Health Nurse II in Santa Cruz County.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's license.
• Possession of a valid California Registered Nurse license and a Public Health Nurse certificate issued by the State of California.