Public Health Nurse I

Compensation Range

$72,862.40 - $92,310.40

Job Description Summary

The anticipated starting salary for this position is $72,862.40.

This position will be providing education and awareness, testing, and treatment for STIs out in the community.

The ideal candidate will have public health experience working in an STI clinic or correctional facility and have a desire to work in different environments. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be bilingual in Spanish and able to work independently.

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Job Description

Nursing Assessment

• 30%

• Establish and maintain therapeutic client relationships with a nonjudgmental attitude while delivering individualized client services, either in the home or in clinic. Interview clients, gather a complete health history and develop plan of care based on client needs.

• Conduct home visits to determine client and family needs. Assess the physical, emotional, social, and environmental needs of clients and their families as they relate to health and life-course development and develop plans to meet these needs according to program guidelines. Evaluate progress of family members toward targeted goals and revise plan of care, as appropriate.

• Determine when laboratory specimens should be collected, collect specimens and prepare specimens for laboratory transport. Interpret lab results and establish plan of care based on results, provider recommendations or standing orders.

Therapeutic Relationships

• 20%

• Develop an effective working relationship with clients and their families to enhance problem-solving competence. Use logic and reasoning skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each family and guide them to consider alternative solutions or approaches to problems when appropriate. Consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to help the client/family choose the most appropriate solution for themselves.

• Work independently while maintaining strong professional boundaries.

Care Coordination and Education

• 35%

• Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate client care plans; modify client treatment plans as indicated by clients' responses and conditions; administer medications and/or vaccines according to protocol to clients and monitor clients for reactions and/or side effects.

• Maintain familiarity with immunization schedules, family planning birth control methods, tuberculosis treatment and communicable diseases. Understand VFC requirements and guidelines, as well as vaccine management plans, and respond to urgent situations regarding vaccine storage and handling as assigned.

• Teach clients about healthy behaviors, provide technical expertise to clients regarding best practices for appropriate provision of care for their child's and family's health and well-being. Assist clients and their families in establishing realistic goals and measurable outcomes for promoting their health and life-course development.

• Provide education, resources, and referrals as appropriate. Identify gaps and barriers in community systems for clients and families. Consult, coordinate and collaborate closely with community resources to link families with appropriate services.

Professional Conduct

• 10%

• Maintain professional conduct and adhere to the Public Health Code of Ethics. Use exceptional customer service skills to respond to community needs, enhance public relations, coordinate activities, and represent the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment in order to promote and maintain a positive public health image and foster pride and professionalism in the workplace and community.

• Maintain current licenses and certifications. Update program information and protocol by attending continuing education courses related to program responsibilities. Keep up-to-date technically and apply new knowledge to the job. Complete position-specific training for public health emergency response activities. Acquire and retain knowledge of policies, procedures, and various local, state and federal regulations related to Health Department programs.

• Maintain sensitive and confidential records information. Follow the Weld County Code of Conduct and adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines, including HIPAA, program-specific guidelines and the appropriate non-disclosure and/or release of information. Record proper documentation of client care, condition, progress, and problems; involve supervisor when appropriate.

• Comply with Federal, State, and local regulations and employer policies and procedures.

• Prepare rooms, equipment, supplies and prepare instruments for sterilization. Ensure that appropriate stock of supplies is maintained. Provide treatments to clients following physician's instructions and assist with expanded procedures.

• Work the scheduled hours each day/week established for this position and be available as-needed outside of regularly scheduled work hours or Health Department operating hours to attend and assist with night meetings, communication events, community outreach events and assist with response to public health emergencies.

• Commute and work from all Health Department locations including the Greeley and Southwest Weld offices and/or other office/clinic locations as needed.

Finance and Operations

• 5%

• Conduct activities within the financial and operational plan of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.

• Enter data into several different computer programs; learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis; have a strong working knowledge of computer programs used on a daily basis such as electronic health records, program specific software applications, Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive, database user interface and query software (client databases), and web browser software.

Required for All Jobs

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all policies and standards

Required Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing is required.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Two years of professional work experience with maternal and public health, family planning, child health, pediatrics, case management, or closely related field in a public health setting is preferred.

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary skills will be considered.

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Certificates and Licenses

• Current Colorado nursing license in good standing is required.

Other Requirements

• Must have the ability to be reached (such as on a cell phone) and work outside of normal business hours as necessary, especially during emergencies and as needed by the Health Department Executive Director or Division Director.

• Have and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license and use of personal, insured vehicle is required to perform job duties. Dependable transportation and auto insurance, maintained at all times are required by State law, is required.

• Candidate must pass a criminal background check.

This position is non-exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

As an applicant for this position, you should be aware of Senate Bill 19-085, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The act requires employers to announce the pay range for job openings. This range encompasses the nine pay steps available should you receive the position and demonstrate satisfactory performance over time.

Weld County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.