Overview
Position Overview
The Public Health Nursing Director will serve primarily as the supervisor for the public health nurses in general clinic and immunizations, providers, and medical office assistants, all clinical services such as family planning, adult health, prenatal, communicable disease, employee health, STD, BCCCP, WiseWoman, and other services such as sports physicals, school health assessments, etc. Under general supervision; to provide a variety of nursing services in homes, clinics, and other community sites; to serve as a case manager for high risk clients; to coordinate specialized clinic activities; to provide preventative nursing services including health assessment, teaching, counseling and referral; and to do other job duties as assigned. Grade 28
Duties and Responsibilities
Work Schedule:
Forty (40) hours per week with the option to work four (4) ten (10)-hour workdays from 7:00 am until 5:30 pm with thirty (30) minutes for lunch from 12:30 pm until 1:00 pm; or 7:00 am until 6:00 pm with one (1) hour for lunch; or five (5) eight (8)-hour workdays Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with (1) one hour for lunch; based on department needs and supervisor approval. Occasional work late evening or weekend work may be required. On call 24/7 for any unusual surveillance activities or events. The person in this position is required to work nights and weekends when necessitated.
Supervision:
Supervision of public health nurses, providers, Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies (CMHRP) Social Worker, Care Management for At Risk Children (CMARC) Social Worker, medical office assistants and managing of Clinic flow
Reviews efficiency and quality of nursing services performed by clinical staff
Resolves disciplinary problems, with input from Clinical Services Director, Health Director, and Deputy Health Director if needed
Interviewing and hiring of new clinical employees and providers
Responsible for performance appraisals of public health nurses, as well as promotion and firing of public health nurses
Planning:
Plan work operations for public health nurses
Set priorities and personnel assignments to meet program and client needs
Establish and implement policies and procedures for clinical staff
Participates in preparation of procedure manuals, forms, instructional materials, surveys, and questionnaires
Monitor staff for compliance to policies and procedures
Advising other clinic staff about management of unfamiliar patient situations
Coordinates and/or provides public health nursing services such as STD, Immunization, Family Planning, General Clinic, Adult Health, BCCCP, WiseWoman, OS, Prenatal, Perinatal, and Tuberculosis by assessing health requirements, counseling, teaching, and providing follow-up health and social services to clients and their families; may organize and coordinate specialized clinics; make appropriate referrals to other County programs, community agencies and physicians, works within established agency protocols to provide therapeutic nursing care, administer medications, and treatments, and to teach self-care
Participates in defining community health needs
Data Management:
Collect data related to staff output and program outcomes to assist agency management in making program decisions
Make recommendations, based on data review, regarding project changes to enhance the health of the community
Use staff input to identify patterns in the community that affect health as related to agency priorities
Project Development:
Work with higher and lower level staff to develop new projects
Participates in needs assessments
Develops community collaborations
Assists on grant or demonstration project preparation, implementation, and evaluation
Budgeting:
Determines equipment, supply, and personnel needs to justify and/or manage budget
Training:
Provides on-the-job training for new staff
Identifies and coordinates staff development
OSHA Safety Officer
Infection Control Lead
Work Standards:
Participates in establishing, reviewing, and revising special program, nursing, and agency policies and guidelines
Responsible for the quality of services delivered
Member of QA committee
Changes in program agreement addendums or policies are reviewed and the clinical staff are in-serviced on changes
Other Responsibilities:
Serve as Back-up for Clinic Public Health Nurses in one or more settings
Participate in epidemiological studies by conducting investigations to control diseases
Makes home visits to a variety of high risk clients and their families to provide public health nursing services
Makes physical, psycho-social and health care needs assessments, arranges for required medical and social services, consults with clients’ physicians on matters pertaining to the clients’ health status and care, and counsels clients and families concerning child abuse and other sensitive issues
Assess physical, psycho-social and health care needs for high risk clients
Acts as a client advocate to health care providers; coordinates, develops, and implements various community and specialized health education programs to teach and inform in the following public health program areas- immunization, sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health, preventive measures, family planning
May serve as a consultant for public health nursing issues to social workers and other staff
May be assigned to coordinate a specialized program or provide specialized nursing services to target populations-such as a program manager assignment; program manager for immunizations and general clinic
Attends staff meetings, in-service training, team meetings, and others
Makes presentations to community groups, assists in developing and maintaining automated and manual recordkeeping systems
Utilizes electronic health records and other electronic documentation
Provide community outreach services by making home visits for the purpose of case management or any other nursing activity that involves functioning independently outside the agency
Work with considerable independence in a community-based health promotion project that involves developing programs or support groups, promoting community advocacy, and developing strong partnerships with residents
Managing a program-level support activity, such as In-Service or Quality Assurance; participating in program or agency-wide planning and quality assurance activities (in this capacity, they will contribute observations or data related to patient or community trends or practices, ideas for improved program performance, and will participate in record audits and other program reviews)
Observes federal, state, and local HIPAA laws and regulations
Participating in Public Health Preparedness activities as directed by agency management; this nursing director will be expected to work as needed during public health emergencies, which may result in extended hours and long work shifts
Other duties as assigned by supervisor, Health Director, or Deputy Health Director
Education and Experience:
Master’s in Nursing and two years of Public Health Nursing experience; or graduation from a four-year college of university with a B.S. in Nursing which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation and three years of Public Health Nursing experience; or Master’s in Public Health and graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and two years of professional nursing experience; or graduation from a school of professional nursing and four years of professional nursing experience three of which must have been in Public Health; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of North Carolina
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Considerable knowledge and skill in the administration and organization of a Public Health program
Considerable knowledge of public health nursing supervision of staff and programs
Considerable knowledge of, and skill in, the application of nursing theory, practice, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs
General knowledge of public health administration on the local level
General knowledge of educational methods and training techniques
Considerable knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to coordinate these as needed
Ability to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions
Ability to plan and execute work effectively and to deal tactfully with the public and other health professionals
Considerable knowledge of epidemiologic investigation, control, and care of chronic and communicable diseases and illnesses, and handicapping conditions
Considerable knowledge of technical nursing procedures and medical terminology
Considerable knowledge of normal and abnormal physiological development and behavior
Working knowledge of prevention, detection, reporting, and treatment of child abuse and neglect
Working knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations governing public health programs
Working knowledge of interviewing, counseling, and teaching techniques
Working knowledge of the literature and trends in public health
Working knowledge of the community aspects of public health nursing
Working knowledge of cultural, environmental, sociological, and psychological differences and problems encountered in public health nursing
Considerable knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health, including health disparities
Ability to plan, coordinate, and supervise the work of others
Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgement in appraising situations and making decisions
Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions
Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information
Ability to assess health care needs and develop and implement health care plans
Ability to learn to provide public health nursing services independently in homes, clinics, and community sites
Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal form
Ability to coach, counsel, teach, and inform clients concerning public health issues
Ability to administer treatments and medications
Ability to teach and supervise other health professionals and volunteers
Ability to deal with sensitivity to the needs of people with different cultural, environmental, and social backgrounds
Ability to speak effectively before groups
Ability to assess health care, physical, and psycho-social needs and implement care plans as needed per program
Ability to provide public health nursing services to high risk groups in homes, clinics, and community sites
Ability to assess community health needs
Ability to teach and supervise other health care professionals and volunteers
Ability to assume a leadership role in community health programs
Ability to write and prepare a variety statistical and other reports, records, and charts
Ability to provide confidentiality and observation of HIPAA laws and regulations
Must maintain and possess a valid North Carolina Driver’s License
Participating in Public Health Preparedness activities as directed by agency management; this nursing director will be expected to work as needed during public health emergencies, which may result in extended hours and long work shifts
Statement of Equal Employment Opportunity
Jackson County recognizes its continued success in meeting the needs of its citizens requires the full and active participation of talented and committed individuals, regardless of their gender, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or political affiliation. It is the policy of the County to foster, maintain, and promote equal opportunity by use of a systematic, consistent recruitment program, and to identify and attract the most qualified applicants for employment with the County. This policy is to be achieved by announcing all position vacancies, by evaluating all applicants using the same criteria, and by applying testing methods through the NC Career Works Office. Selection decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
