PHIG - Public Health Nurse - Public Health Infrastructure

SUMMARY
Supports the Nurse Practitioner with clinics, women’s health exams, well child checks including vision and hearing screenings, assists the NP with basic screenings such as DM, HTN, COPD and high cholesterol. Performs immunizations; attends meetings and educational seminars as required; participates in sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Assists Nurse Practitioner with immigrations and sports physicals;

2. Assists Nurse Practitioner with women’s health exams;

3. Assists Nurse Practitioner with well child exams including vision and hearing screenings;

4. Assists Nurse Practitioner with basic screenings for DM, HTN, COPD, and high cholesterol;

5. Performs immunizations and gives shots as needed;

6. Participates in STI clinic, including drawing blood for laboratory tests, assisting provider with exams as necessary, counseling patients in person and on the phone, issuing medication and/or administering injections, and referring patients as appropriate;

7. Participates in Rapid HIV, Hep C and HIV PrEP clinics, including drawing blood work, finger sticks, obtaining urine samples, counseling patients, issuing medication, providing information and referrals as appropriate;

8. Provides information and assistance with TB and STI testing, immunization administration, and communicable disease reporting to local agencies and organizations;

9. Attends meetings and educational seminars as required, and prepares and distributes statistical reports monthly;

10. Assists in maintaining the monthly inventory of STI medication;

11. Reports and investigates reportable-communicable diseases and conditions to appropriate officials, organizations, and individuals, including coordinating and relaying recommendations for preventative measures, and acting as a education resource for communicable diseases to local community schools and organizations; and;

12. Provides public health and medical information to individuals and groups, including preparing and giving presentations and representing the Health District at community functions.

13. Complies with policies and procedures delineated in the current “Employee Handbook and Personnel Policies of Brazos County, Texas”  and department supplements;

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This is a non-supervisory position.

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

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited school of nursing (Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, and/or Associate Degree in Nursing, or Diploma Nurse)  plus 2 years of general nursing experience, or any equivalent combination or education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, abilities, licensure requirements.

KNOWLEDGE OF 
Medical/first aid procedures; immunization laws and schedules; physical assessment skills; and the philosophy, purpose, goals and objectives of public health.

SKILLS/ABILITY TO
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with county employees, representatives of governmental agencies, and the general public; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; communicate effectively with individuals, families and groups from all social levels;  operate standard word processing, spreadsheet software and electronic medical record software, interpret public health policies and procedures; administer medical tests; provide counseling to patients; and analyze and interpret data.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Registered Nurse Licensure, valid Texas Driver’s License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hand and fingers to handle and/or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand and walk, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as files, stacks of records, or other similar  objects.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  The employee must frequently perform multiple tasks simultaneously work closely with others as part of a team, and work under time pressures.  The employee may face possible exposure to diseases and illnesses.