Placer County

To perform public health nursing duties in an assigned program, project, or district and/or conduct a specialized public health program or training; to instruct adults and children in accepted health practices, including prevention and control of disease; and to exercise technical and functional supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Public Health Nurse series.  Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing the duties, and by the nature of the public contact made.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, including conducting specialized programs, managing cases of a difficult and complex nature, and exercising technical and functional supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Receives general direction from supervisory/management staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Train and lead subordinate staff in public health nursing activities, including specific program assignments.
• Plan, organize and provide health services, including: epidemiologic investigation; control of communicable and chronic diseases; case finding; education; referral; and follow-up of persons at high risk of complication through pregnancy, child rearing, infancy, childhood, and other high risk conditions.
• Supervise and participate in various clinics by referring and advising for further medical care under established policies and protocols.
• Identify and evaluate health needs of individuals and special population groups, such as the elderly, culturally, economically or geographically disadvantaged and those with varying life styles.
• Represent the Health and Human Services Department to various community groups and provide information regarding Division Programs, services, and policies, as well as instructional information about disease prevention, health promotion, treatment maintenance, and rehabilitation.
• Initiate, implement, and evaluate projects or programs; manage contracts with various service providers and agencies.
• Assist in preparation of grant proposals.
• Prepare and maintain patient charts and other records and prepare reports.
• May be in charge of a branch office or clinic.
• Coordinate with other divisions and sections within the Health and Health Services Department, as well as with private, public, and voluntary health and social service agencies/providers in the community; participate in interagency conferences as needed.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities as requested.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions.  Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

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

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible public health nursing experience performing duties similar to a Public Health Nurse - II with Placer County.

Training: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in nursing. Incumbents in this classification who are assigned to a position allocated as bilingual, requiring the use of a second language, will be required to be proficient in the verbal, written and interpretive skills of the specified language.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Health Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public health nursing, including preventive medicine, epidemiology, public health education, gerontology, and sociological problems involved in public health nursing.
• Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations governing public health and nursing practices.
• Operation, policies, and procedures of a large public health agency, especially as related to public health nursing.
• Procedures and practices used to promote maternal and child  health and to assess infant, child, adolescent development, and other special programs.
• Principles and practices of public health program planning, including environmental, social, physical, and psychological issues.
• Services and functions of other social and health agencies/providers relative to public health nursing.
• Principles and practices of work safety, especially as related to communicable diseases.
• Differing cultural, religious, economic, and social groups and their relationships to the delivery and acceptance of health care services.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, patient charts reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; and observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk for long periods of time while reviewing patient charts and histories and preparing patient charts and reports; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb, and reach while making field visits, conducting clinics, or making educational presentations or demonstrations; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk or treatment areas; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see and hear with sufficient acuity to examine and assess patient conditions; and lift moderate weight.
• Interpret and explain pertinent Public Health policies and procedures.
• Train, assign, review, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Plan and direct a specialized public health nursing program.
• Manage complex cases requiring advanced public health nursing skills and knowledge.
• Identify and assess client settings for contributing conditions and/or causes of health or socially-related problems.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; handle multiple case assignments; and work effectively with interruptions.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, and photocopy machine.
• Use clinical and instructional supplies and equipment, including blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, audiometer, syringes, needles, and audio-visual equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.