Senior Public Health Nurse

The Position

Employment in some County departments or positions may require proof of Covid-19 vaccination or weekly testing per the applicable California Public Health Officer's Order .
The option for telework may be available. Eligibility for telework is based on the position, employee, and telework environment; not every position, or every employee will be compatible to telework. Please see Policy #57 Telework Policy and Program Guidelines for details.
Recruitments posted as "Continuous" are subject to close at any time (sometimes without warning) after an initial two-week posting period. Upon closing, the applications received will be screened (generally within 48 hours) and notices will be sent to the applicants regarding the status of their application. Once a continuous recruitment closes it will often be posted again immediately. You will not be notified by HR regarding the status of your application until the recruitment you applied under closes.

The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions in a variety service areas, and locations throughout the County, should they occur.

Immediate Extra-Help Openings - if you are interested in temporary, extra-help work, please check ‘Extra-Help’ as one of the options under Question #7, Agency-Wide Questions, on the application.
Under general supervision, coordinates the activities of a specialized program of care, including developing program protocols, quality assurance and evaluating provision of client services. Provides comprehensive public health nursing services in the prevention, detection, and control of diseases and the promotion of health in a variety of settings throughout the county. Performs case management, determines medical eligibility for programs and services per specific guidelines. Positions may be office, field, or clinic-based, depending on the program.

Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications

Duties may include but are not limited to the following :

• Provide comprehensive health services across the continuum of care, including medically fragile populations throughout the life span under the direction of the health officer, professional nurse or health care provider. Services may include assessment of psychosocial, physical, developmental, spiritual, and emotional needs.
• Carry out lead worker responsibilities including: training in job skills, assigning and directing work, making recommendations in performance appraisal, and reporting problems to the supervisor.
• Provide case management for clients., confers with health care providers concerning the condition and treatment of clients, coordinate services with other social and/or health agencies, and make referrals when appropriate/necessary; determine eligibility for ongoing medical services; participate in medical case conferences to coordinate medical service needs and program benefits; participate in client medical appointments or clinic visits for coordination of care and to act as client advocate; conduct monthly face-to-face contacts and collaborate with schools, social services, law enforcement, and community health agencies.
• Participate in the operation of health clinics (i.e., interviewing and counseling clients, performing diagnostic tests, giving prescribed treatment, maintaining the office, recording data and making necessary referrals).
• Educates and counsels individuals and families regarding specific diseases or health conditions as well as health maintenance; promote rehabilitation.
• Provide guidance and leadership in the solution of problem cases encountered by nursing staff, paraprofessional health workers, and auxiliary staff.
• Plan, develop, and evaluate countywide program implementation including developing and revising program policies and implementing state standards.
• Conduct provider orientation programs, provides technical assistance and/or teaching presentations for physicians, public health nurses, school nurses, hospital staff, and other community agencies.
• Assist in preparing project and grant proposals, budgets, scopes-of-work, implementation plans, evaluations, reports, records and correspondence; assist in the development and implementation of program by developing budgets, writing grant proposals, compiling statistics and consulting with funding agencies on program planning.
• Provide guidance/leadership along with expertise in epidemiologic investigations in home, school or community.
• Document all contact with clients; complete required assessment reports electronic reports, time studies and billing sheets associated with client activities and visit billing; may provide expert witness testimony in court when required or by subpoena.
• Participate in interagency meetings to identify service needs and community risks to collaborate on and identify resources or training that will improve program delivery.
• Attend and lead staff meetings for program update, planning and case conferencing.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge of public health concerns through attendance at workshops, meetings, specialty clinics, protocols, journals and classes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited four-year college or university; and one (1) year experience equivalent to that of a Public Health Nurse with Mendocino County; or three (3) years of professional level nursing experience with at least one (1) year in a public agency; or, when possessing required license and certification, a combination of related education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications:
Valid Driver's License
Valid California Registered Nurse
Valid California Public Health Nurse
Current Basic Life Support Course Completion Card issued by the American Heart Association, or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations.
• Principles of public health and human services.
• Human development across the life span.
• Nursing process including assessment, nursing diagnosis, identification of client needs, planning and development of individual service plans, implementation and evaluation.
• Perinatal, infant, child, adolescent and adult growth and development, nutritional needs, immunization, communicable diseases, education, social services and other support services. Adult/Child abuse and neglect.
• Causes, control, and care of chronic and communicable diseases and illnesses, handicapping conditions, behavioral health illness and other disabling conditions.
• Environmental, sociological, and psychological problems encountered when working with families where a member has a chronic and/or communicable disease.
• Evaluative and screening tests for development, growth and function of clients.
• Child growth and development and procedures involved in promoting maternal and child health, breast feeding and nutrition.
• Principles of behavioral health (i.e., normal and abnormal behavior patterns).
• Administration of immunizations and their possible side effects and complications.
• Principles of teaching and learning.
• Nursing theory, principles, and practices.
• Basic public health nursing and health maintenance education.
• Community resources related to the core functions of public health nursing.
• The core functions of Public Health and the ten essential services.
• Standards of the Privacy Act of 1974, (U.S.C. §552A) as amended; maintains and enforces all aspects of confidentiality of client information.
• Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in health and health care.

Skill in:

• Developing and revising program policies and implementing state standards.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and follow up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Writing clear and concise narrative reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Training staff in area of assignment.
• Providing counseling and risk assessment.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Managing difficult clients and dangerous situations.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Utilizing computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Recognize and appropriately act in response to normal and abnormal behavior patterns.
• Recognize and act appropriately in response to indications of abuse and neglect across the lifespan, domestic violence, substance use and abuse.
• Communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with others, observing proper safety precautions and procedures.
• Read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to regularly speak and listen.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to discriminate between colors, and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent may infrequently be required to push, pull, more or lift below the neck, objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Selection Procedure

Important Application Information:

• It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply.
• You must complete all sections of the application. A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application. Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference “see résumé” will be rejected as incomplete.
• Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.
• Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application.
• You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character.
• Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
• It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
• The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards. Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
• The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed with those judged most qualified progressing further in the selection process. Based on the number of qualified candidates, an oral examination (weight 100) or an unassembled exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form, will be administered. The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list.
Special Testing: If you require special testing arrangements to accommodate a disability or religious conviction you must contact Human Resources at 707.234.6600 prior to the test date to make your requirements known. You must provide enough advance notice to allow Human Resources to properly review and evaluate your request.
Special Requirements: Employment in some County departments or positions may require the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background, which may include fingerprinting, and/or a medical examination, which may include drug screening.
This announcement is a synopsis of duties and requirements of this job. To review the complete classification specification and benefits, please see the HR website. Applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.
The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer