Public Health Nurse - Health - PAT IV

Description

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Incumbent serves as Public Health Nurse for the Health Department, responsible for providing health screening, treatment, and education.

• Communicable Disease Nurse:
  Investigates reports of communicable diseases according to guidelines, including interviewing, educating, and testing patients and their contacts, maintaining records, communicating with/reporting to appropriate agencies, and conducting follow-up interviews. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.
• Tuberculosis Nurse:
  Assists in monitoring/maintaining tuberculosis prevention and treatment program, including screening and testing adults and children, maintaining detailed records, administering medications as prescribed by physicians, conducting periodic follow-up tests, coordinating control activities in the community, and notifying medical personnel of new cases. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.
• Immunization Nurse:
  Implements free and public immunization programs according to Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) guidelines, including scheduling clinics, interviewing/educating patients, assessing vaccine history, determining/giving appropriate immunizations, maintaining written client records for entry on computer, and preparing/submitting monthly statistical reports to ISDH as required. Monitors/ maintains current vaccine inventory, ordering as needed.
• Conducts various community health clinics, such as providing influenza shots, and screening for blood pressure, hepatitis B, pregnancy, rabies, lead poisoning and lice. Promotes community education regarding various health topics by providing oral and printed information to patients and office/clinic visitors. As well as duties listed below for All Public Health Nurses.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Assists Department environmental health personnel as needed in testing persons exposed to environmental hazards, such as foodborne and waterborne illnesses, animal diseases, and lead.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Provides nursing care to local parochial schools, including interviewing patients, making physical assessments, providing information, making referrals, and administering medications, injections and treatment as ordered.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Maintains current knowledge of medical practices, public health issues by reading professional publications, attending meetings, and periodically attending training seminars as required.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Performs blood draws to determine HIV status as required by court order.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Are cross trained with each of the other nursing departments to cover each other for time off/out of office or any time needed.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Prepare and dispense medications and administer injections.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Maintain inventory of medical supplies and forms, ordering and restocking accordingly.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Contact patients, pharmacies, and other medical facilities as necessary, issuing codes to hospitals, obtaining approval from Medicaid and phoning in prescription information to pharmacies.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Serves on 24-hour call for emergencies.
• All Public Health Nurses:
  Performs related duties as assigned.

Current Indiana Registered Nurse license required, and experience in public health or related area preferred.

• Certification in CPR, Mantoux, and as tuberculosis instructor. Possession of Nurse's Liability Insurance required.
• Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of state and local public health regulations, Department policies and procedures, and accepted principles and practices of public health nursing.
• Working knowledge of standard immunization practices, procedures and potential complications, with ability to effectively supervise related clinics.
• Ability to effectively examine and screen individuals, assess needs, and provide appropriate information, treatment, assistance and appropriate referrals. Ability to properly use various medical equipment, including stethoscope, thermometer, Bp cuff, scales, and syringes.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, local health care providers, school personnel, community organizations, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to properly use standard office equipment, including computer, printer, and telephone.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and work alone and with others in a team environment with…