School/Childcare Nurse Liaison (Temp)

The Adams County Health Department Nursing Division is comprised of Nurse Family Partnership, Nurse Support Program, Harm Reduction, Sexual Health, Immunizations, Child Maltreatment and Fatality Prevention, and Care Coordinator for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. The Nursing Division is made up of clinical support staff, medical assistants, harm reduction specialists, operations support, nurses, advanced practice nurses, and midwives.

As a public health professional at ACHD, your work extends beyond clinical care-it's a calling to help prevent illness, promote well-being, and safeguard the health of communities. Every interaction, every program, and every initiative you undertake is fueled by a commitment to create healthier, more resilient communities where every individual can thrive. ACHD Nursing Division staff work diligently to be proactive, responsive, and adaptable in a landscape of ongoing and emerging challenges. Nursing care occurs anywhere the community lives, focusing on accessibility, community engagement, and building trust.

In this dynamic and ever-evolving field of public health, you are dedicated to lifelong learning, staying abreast of the latest research, trends, and best practices to deliver evidence-based care and drive positive change. You are not just a healthcare provider; you are an educator, advocate, and ally, committed to fostering a culture of health, resilience, and well-being.

Join us in our mission to build a healthier, more equitable future where every individual can live their healthiest life possible.Plans, develops, manages, and implements public health nursing programs for communities, families, and individuals; and performs related work as required.

Clinical Skills and Knowledge:

• Solid Nursing Foundation: A strong foundation in nursing principles and practices is essential. This includes patient assessment, treatment skills, and knowledge of various health conditions.

Public Health Expertise:

• Understanding of Population Health: Public health nurses think beyond individual patients and consider the health of entire communities. They understand how social determinants of health, like poverty and access to education, influence health outcomes.

• Epidemiology and Data Analysis: These nurses are familiar with how diseases spread in populations and can analyze data to identify health trends and areas of concern.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• Patient Education: They excel at explaining complex medical information in a clear and understandable way to people from diverse backgrounds.

• Active Listening and Cultural Sensitivity: Building trust and rapport with community members is key. Public health nurses actively listen to concerns, demonstrate cultural sensitivity, and avoid using medical jargon.

• Collaboration: They work effectively with a wide range of people, including community leaders, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.

Other Key Qualities:

• Problem-Solving and Resourcefulness: Public health nurses often work in environments with limited resources. They need to be resourceful and find creative solutions to address community health needs.

• Advocacy and Leadership: They are passionate about public health issues and can advocate for policies that promote health equity and access to healthcare.

• Adaptability and Resilience: The public health field can be fast-paced and unpredictable. Public health nurses need to be adaptable and able to respond to changing situations.

• Compassion and Commitment to Community Health: A genuine desire to improve the health and well-being of the community is a driving force for public health.

Primary Responsibilities for Success:

The School/Childcare Public Health Nurse provides nursing services and health related training to Head Start families and their children, Head Start health specialist staff, and educators as it relates to immunizations, infection control, health care plans, medication administration, and any other duties as related to preventive and public health needs in a school setting.

• Provide approved medication administration skills training/annual delegation prior to the first day of school to all designated staff members, and throughout the year as new staff is hired.

• Provide medication administration training to designated center staff on any specific medication administration according to specific health care plan requirement(s) not covered in the approved general medication administration training/delegation provided prior to child beginning school.

• Maintain case notes/record of health interventions provided to specific student(s)/family in the Head Start Child Outcomes Planning & Assessment (COPA) software system using DAPS case noting (data, assessment, plan, and strength)

• Participate in the Head Start mandated Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC)/health collaborative meetings as requested throughout the school year.

• Annually review and provide consultation as required on health-related policies and procedures to improve health services and ensure compliance with Colorado state regulations applicable to the provision of health services in a pre-school setting.

• Review and approve student's medically prescribed health care plans (HCP) within 48 hours from receipt and collaborate with prescribing professional at student's medical clinic, as warranted, to ensure accuracy in HCP prior to student's first day of school.

• Provide monthly consultation visits to all Head Start centers and provide documentation of visit within two business days to the family and health services manager. Monthly consultation visits should include, though not limited to the following:

• Staff/parent training/consultation as warranted.

• Monthly auditing of compliance in medication administration training, health care plans, medication logs, expiration dates of medications, etc.

• Consultation with health specialists surrounding topics on infection control, communicable diseases, immunizations, and any other health care interventions and care as needed in a school/public health setting.

• Meet with family and health services manager quarterly to discuss department quality assurance needs, provide advisement on any regulations/requirements, health and safety needs, communicable disease, infection control, and identification of any staff training needs observed during monthly consultation visits.

Supervision Received:

General direction is provided by the Parent and Child Services Nurse Manager, and the Public Health Nursing Division Director.

Supervision Exercised:

Provides direct supervision and support to professional nursing staff and paraprofessional employees who provide public health nursing services.

Commitment to Equity:

• Integrates Health Equity into all areas of work.

• Creates and maintains partnerships and processes that support and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of Adams County Health Department work.

• Prioritizes transparency and supports a no wrong door culture.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Duties

Completes training identified as appropriate for this level employee. Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents, and events. Employee participates in all exercises and drills. This may require evening, weekend, and occasional on-call duties including but not limited to work outside of your normal duties.

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) Statement

Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy confidentiality requirements.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Based upon work environment spending time sitting, standing, and/or walking.

• Utilize appropriate ergonomics.

• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls, or pushes up to 20 lbs.

• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.

• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.

• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.

• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.

• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Equipment Used

• Must demonstrate proficiency in using personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Computer use includes internet, email, Microsoft Office Suite.

• Audio-visual and other teaching equipment.

• Healthcare equipment.

• Must be able to learn and become proficient with equipment and software programs as required to perform assigned duties effectively and efficiently.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current or within three weeks of hire, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association.

• Licensed to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in the State of Colorado or a Compact State.

• Requires a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a school accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

• Three years of nursing practice at the RN level or above.

• This position requires a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Essential Requirements:

• Complete the Head Start attestation form stating RN is current in all immunizations, TB test, as well as pass all background checks as required by the Office of Head Start (Head Start will incur any cost associated with the background check process):

• ACCURATE online state criminal background check, national sex offender background registry check

• CDHS BIU Checklist 5-Year State-Based Residence background check and applicable documents

• CBI/FBI fingerprint checks

• CDHS TRAILS (State Childcare Licensing) child abuse and neglect background check

• Receive Certification in Childcare Health Consultation prior to starting position.

• Receive prior to starting position and annual certification, thereafter, through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) (Colorado Shines/PDIS) in the following areas:

• Childcare and Preschool Immunizations

• Recognition & reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

Other Qualifications:

• Flexibility in work hours may be required to accommodate community events, meetings, and outreach activities.

• Travel within the community and participation in evening, weekend and on-call duties may be required.