Public Health Nurse - Maternal & Child Health

This position is located in Gallatin City-County Health Department and performs duties that support the vision, mission and goals of the Department. This position is responsible for providing home visiting and other nursing services within the City-County Health Department to promote and maintain individual, group, and community health. This position's duties will include a heavy emphasis on home visits for high-risk families to: assess health issues; monitor growth and development of infants and children; provide education for healthy pregnancies; provide lactation and postnatal education; monitor clients and develop plans of care; and complete required documentation. Coordinates participation in community health activities and provides presentations on health topics. Work requires home visits to high-risk families, and may involve contentious situations. Other duties may include work in a variety of disease prevention and health promotion programs, school nursing services for rural schools, as well as outreach to the public and contributing to departmental response to public health emergencies. Contacts with the public in health care situations involves exposure to illness and disease. This position reports to the Maternal Child Health Services Group Manager, and the Maternal Child Health Nurse Supervisor and does not supervise other County personnel.

Each duty checked below makes up at least 20% of the job, and all other functions are included in Other Duties as Assigned. All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated.

HOME VISITS

• Conducts home visits for high-risk families to assess individual and family health issues and provides education as appropriate.

• Monitors and evaluates clients, identifies patient needs, develops patient plan of care, and provides educational information on appropriate topics or makes referrals to community resources and services.

• Provides services to clients referred to the home visiting programs of the Health Department to ensure needs are met.

• Assesses family needs based on historical and current information. Develops treatment plans and establishes a plan with goals, objectives and activities that can be accomplished with support.

• Makes referrals to other community resource agencies and specialists as appropriate.

• Ensures all paperwork is completed, documentation is submitted and all necessary family information is gathered.

• Establishes partnerships with families as a service provider and advocate. Builds trust in the relationship between family members and the incumbent.

• Follows up with clients to ensure appropriate services have been obtained, to determine progress in following treatment plans, and to provide additional education and support.

• Serves as a liaison between the Health Department and other community service programs and providers.

• Reviews caseloads, files, statistics and summaries associated with the program to identify success, trends, issues of concern and opportunities to provide improved and/or more comprehensive services to high-risk families.

• Reviews and revises care plans and determines if changes are appropriate and necessary. Implements changes as needed.

• Responds to crises on an as-needed basis by assisting family members in resolving problems and de-escalating critical situations and events.

• Completes required documentation in an accurate and timely manner for the purpose of keeping current and progressive data related to needs, efforts, progress, outcome, and communication with family. Maintains current records for multiple programs.

• Provides intensive home visitation for the Health Department Programs in collaboration with the Social Workers and Father Engagement Specialist.

IMMUNIZATIONS

• Administers immunizations to clients of varying ages, from newborn to the elderly.

• Determines vaccines required and establishes appropriate schedule.  Assesses contraindications, precautions and risks.

• Provides individualized instruction to patient or parent.

• Keeps accurate records of immunizations.

• Promotes immunizations through public education and social media when needed.

• Assists the Immunization & Communicable Disease Program in daycare inspections and review of immunization records.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROGRAM

• Participates in all aspects of program service delivery including surveillance, follow- up of reportable communicable diseases (individual cases and outbreaks), public education, record keeping and data collection, training, and ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM

• Provides nursing consultation to school personnel regarding issues related to student health, safety, nutrition, immunizations, communicable diseases and readiness for learning.

• Conducts educational health classes for a variety of different student populations on topics appropriate for age group including maturation and human sexuality.

• Educates medication administration to non-licensed school personnel and ensures compliance with safe practices and procedures.

• Serves as liaison between schools, parents and health care providers to facilitate individualized health care plans for students with chronic diseases or other special health care needs.

• Consults with and assesses individual students in relation to health concerns or injuries and determines appropriate courses of action.

• Conducts school screening programs including vision and pre-kindergarten.

• Works with Immunization program to organize and conduct school-based immunization clinics. Administers age-appropriate vaccines with parental consent.

COMMUNITY HEALTH

• Enhances community health through participation in a wide variety of local and countywide activities that promote partnerships, collaboration and education associated with effective public health resources and services.

• Teaches classes and makes public presentations on topics such as prenatal care, breastfeeding, parenting, and blood borne pathogens.

• Collaborates with other organizations and agencies to provide comprehensive health services to individual clients, as well as develop population-based services.

• Participates on community boards and committees as a health care professional.

FETAL, INFANT, CHILD & MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW PROGRAM (FICMMR)

• Manages and coordinates the activities of the FICMMR team, according to guidelines established by DPHHS.

• Recruits and maintains multi-disciplinary team membership.

• Receives reports of fetal, infant or child deaths, and seeks reports from appropriate team members.

• Facilitates the reviews to gain a complete and accurate understanding of the circumstances leading to the death.  Identify any modifiable risk factors, gaps or barriers the team can address focusing on prevention.

• Engage and utilize your team (or health department staff) to help select, plan, deliver and evaluate best practice, injury prevention activities or strategies to address preventable deaths.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

• Perform a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor. This includes coordinating special projects and events, system and grant research and analysis, representing the profession and the County at meetings, conferences, and special events, attending continuing education and training as required and accounting of time electronically at the end of the workweek.

• If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatened disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, flood, etc., County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

This work requires knowledge of the principles and practices of public health nursing including: home visiting; family and community assessments; human growth and development; educational methods for individuals; groups and the public in general; public health laws and rules; community resources; vaccine preventable diseases and related vaccinations; and record keeping and basic computer skills. Also required is the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; and use of a variety of medical equipment and tools.   The incumbent must have knowledge of all of the Department's programs in order to provide assistance as needed.

This position must have a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Nursing from a National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited school of nursing, be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Montana, and one year of work experience as a registered nurse preferably in public health.

Competencies/Knowledge-Skills-Abilities (KSA's)

Public Health Tier: 1 - Frontline employee

Organizational Competencies

• All GCCHD employees are expected to ensure that Gallatin County is protected from disease and other public health threats, and to empower others to live healthier, safer lives. In addition, all GCCHD employees are expected to meet specified competencies in the following areas including the guiding principles, mission, and vision of the most current strategic plan.

• Continuous Quality Improvement

- Actively participates, accepts, and engages in the pursuit of departmental and programmatic improvement in everyday activities as well as quality improvement projects independently and as instructed by supervisor.

• Inclusion

- Effectively interacts with all clients, customers, partners, and co-workers with conscious regard for equality, equity, cultural sensitivity, and respect.

• Team Building

• Works effectively with other employees, maintains a positive attitude and contributes to the overall success of the department.

• Communication

• Communicates openly and honestly. Is willing to share information and ideas. Helps to define goals and objectives. Is cordial in dealing with others.

• Reliability

• Is dependable and completes assignments on time and within established quality standards. Arrives at work on time and is ready to perform their duties.

• Organization

• Manages workload effectively and is able to prioritize assignments appropriately as well as to plan for future demands.

• Integrity

• Is honest and trustworthy in dealing with others and providing value as a public servant.

• Motivation

• Strives for excellence seeks growth as an employee and maintains an interest in continuous improvement.

• Productivity

• Maintains a workload that is at or above acceptable standards for his/her position and delivers work products of good quality.

• Purpose

• Works towards achieving the department's Mission and Vision through the conscious consideration and utilization of the guiding principles as detailed within the current Strategic Plan.

Job Specific Competencies

Descriptions of each competency can be found at:

http://www.phf.org/resourcestools/Pages/Competency_Assessments_For_Public_Health_Professionals.aspx

• Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

• 1.1.    Describes factors that affect the health of a community (e.g., income, education, laws, environment, climate change, resilience, homelessness, food security, access to healthcare, racial equity, distribution of resources and power, social and community       engagement, changing demographics)

• 1.6.    Uses quantitative and qualitative data.

• 1.8.    Assesses community health status.

• Policy Development and Program Planning Skills

• 2.2 Implements policies, programs, and services (e.g., within the organization, external to the organization, in collaboration with others)

• 2.4.    Improves policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.

• 2.6.    Engages in organizational strategic planning.

• Communication Skills

• 3.2.    Communicates with internal and external audiences (e.g., staff, elected officials, students, volunteers, community-based organizations, healthcare professionals, the public)

• 3.4.    Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations.

• Health Equity Skills

• 4.2.    Engages in continuous self-reflection about one's biases (e.g., perceptions, assumptions, stereotypes)

• 4.3.    Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations.

• Community Partnership Skills

• 5.1.    Describes conditions, systems, and policies affecting community health and resilience (e.g., social and institutional inequities, determinants of health, structural racism, historical trauma, gender discrimination, power dynamics, natural disasters, poverty, housing, trust, local politics, competition, redlining)

• 5.4.    Collaborates with community members and organizations.

• Public Health Sciences Skills

• 6.3.    Uses evidence in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.

• Management and Finance Skills

• 7.4.    Engages in professional development (e.g., training, mentoring, peer advising, coaching, drills, exercises)

• 7.10.    Applies critical thinking in decision making.

• 7.11.    Engages individuals and teams to achieve program and organizational goals.

• 7.13.    Engages in performance management.

• Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

• 8.2.    Implements a vision for a healthy community.

ACCOUNTABILITY

This position is accountable for provision of direct services and carrying out standardized practices and procedures to a wide variety of problems or situations. Work may often require the incumbent to interpret and apply rules, regulations and policies to situations that may be without specific protocols and require individual professional judgment to determine the appropriate health services required. The incumbent must accurately document patient encounters. This position is a mandatory reporter for child abuse and neglect and frequently serves as a member of a Department of Child and Family Services intervention team who are working with families that have or are at risk of abusing their children. Confidentiality is maintained in all written and oral communications, in accordance with the Uniform Health Information Act or the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, whichever is more stringent.

INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION

The incumbent in this position and the supervisor jointly determines and develop work objectives. The nature of the assignments gives significant responsibility to the incumbent for planning and organizing the work, resolving conflicts and determining methods and approaches most suited for achieving the objectives. Considerable judgment is required to apply very broad stated guidelines and policies. Work is not typically reviewed and is usually accepted without change.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Communication occurs both within and outside the work unit and includes contacts with school staff, community members and leaders, state, federal and local government agencies, and the general public. The contacts are typically to provide direct services of the Department, to exchange information, and to provide training and instruction to others.

ADDITIONAL COMPENSABLE FACTORS

Supervision Exercised

This position has no regular supervisory responsibility over other employees. The position may provide guidance and training to employees with less experience, occasionally fill in for supervisor, or coordinate special projects.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Work is performed in a wide variety of settings with clients and patients. Conducting home visits requires travel in inclement weather. Contact with the public in health care situations requires the incumbent to exercise universal precautions to prevent or minimize exposure to illness and disease. This position requires the incumbent to make home visits, often to individuals and families who are under stress, mentally ill, or would be considered high-risk for other psychosocial reasons. At times the incumbent would be required to handle contentious situations or angry public in a professional manner. The work requires moderate physical effort or exertion when carrying equipment or educational materials.

Licenses and Certifications:  Applicants for this position must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable under the County's liability policies.

As a condition of hire, the final candidate will be required to successfully pass a criminal history check and background investigation.

For application consideration please be prepared to attach the following required documents:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

Schedule and employment type are flexible and are to be discussed during the interview. This could be a full-time or a part-time position. Basic Spanish language preferred, but not required.

Gallatin County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability.