Public Health Nurse I​/II

Definition and Distinguishing Characteristics

Public Health Nurse I

Under general supervision, learns to plan and conduct a variety of public health clinics and services; provides basic nursing, educational and health counseling services in connection with the control and prevention of disease and adverse health conditions; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the entry level classification in Public Health Nurse series, responsible for performing the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series. Assignments are generally limited in scope and are performed within a procedural framework. This is the first working level classification for persons with requisite public health nursing certification, but limited public health nursing work experience.

This classification is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse II, which is the journey level of the series, with responsibility for independently performing the full range of assigned duties.

Under direction, plans, conducts and participates in a variety of public health clinics and services that support the County’s public health programs; provides nursing, educational and health counseling services in connection with family planning, the control and prevention of disease, and adverse health conditions; and performs related duties as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the journey level classification in the Public Health Nurse series. This classification is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse I in that incumbents at this level are responsible for independently performing the full range of assigned duties.

Higher level management or supervisory staff.

Public Health Nurse I:
This classification does not exercise supervision over staff. Public Health Nurse II:
Higher level management or supervisory staff.

• Learns the performance of Public Health Nurse assignments and services.
• Conducts physical examinations.
• Assists with diagnosis and treatment (by protocol) of certain diseases.
• Learns to investigate and interview patients to determine health needs.
• Acts to obtain treatment for ill patients.
• Learns to search for unreported or missed cases of communicable diseases and give instructions in their prevention and care.
• Assists with the operations of clinics and satellite immunization sites assessing and providing immunizations and family planning services.
• Serves as a patient advocate to assist patients with attaining optimal health care.
• Learns to coordinate health care between patients and care providers.
• Learns to assess, screen, and provide intervention strategies to high-risk individuals and families in clinics and home visits.
• Learns to instruct parents on child safety, growth, and development and screen for signs of abuse, poor nutrition and failure to thrive.
• Reports abuse of children, elderly or the disabled.
• When requisite experience is obtained, acts as “on-call” nurse to receive referrals and provide information.
• Performs case management as assigned.
• Screens for tuberculosis by giving and reading skin tests, providing medications and education.
• Participates in patient meetings for “special needs” children.
• Learns to make public presentations on health issues and needs.
• Documents treatment given and medications in patients' charts.
• Keeps statistics on a variety of communicable diseases.
• Teaches prenatal care to expectant mothers.
• Learns to work cooperatively with County departments, state and federal agencies and with community groups on local health issues.
• Provides education counseling and screening for AIDS.
• Draws blood samples to determine deficiencies or assist with disease diagnosis.
• May make home visits as needed.
• Meets with health care providers to recruit their participation in health programs.
• Participates in family planning and other department programs.
• Participates in Targeted Case Management (TCM) and Medi-Cal Administration Activity (MAA) services.

• Performs a variety of professional nursing duties in support of the County’s public health programs.
• Nursing…