Public Health Nurse

About the role

This is advanced and specialized professional-level nursing work in providing primary, preventive, and rehabilitative care to individuals, families, and communities in Public Health programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and indirect patient services including physical exams, immunizations, contraceptive care, and preventive counseling for individuals and families
• Perform lab tests and manage clinic supplies
• Support outreach efforts in the Health Department clinic
• Deliver comprehensive nursing assessments, interventions, and follow-up care in line with program policies and standing orders
• Use independent clinical judgment to conduct screenings, build care plans, and make informed nursing decisions
• Educate, counsel, and empower patients to make informed health choices
• Obtain informed consent and ensure patients understand their treatment plans
• Order labs and understand orders and provider directives to support accurate diagnosis and care
• Provide follow-up, counseling, and referrals for abnormal clinical findings
• Administer or dispense medications, including STD treatments and all FDA-approved birth control methods, in compliance with provider orders and NC Board of Pharmacy rules
• Deliver immunizations in accordance with North Carolina state laws
• Evaluate patient progress, monitor outcomes, and adjust care as needed
• Ensure high-quality, accurate documentation in the electronic health record and required state systems (such as NCIR and NC EDSS)
• Provide follow-up for missed appointments and complete required reports
• Conduct home visits when needed to ensure continuity of care
• Assist patients in navigating appointments and services
• Collaborate seamlessly with providers, internal teams, and community partners
• Participate in ongoing training, department meetings, and professional development
• Support community outreach efforts, including health fairs, communicable disease response, mass vaccination clinics, testing events, and emergency shelter staffing

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of and skill in the application of nursing theory, practice, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs
• Considerable knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to coordinate these as needed
• General knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health, including health disparities
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of others; ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health
• Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing
• At least one year of professional nursing experience

Additional Training/Experience

• Required to complete the "North Carolina Credentialed Public Health Nurse" course within one year of employment as a condition of continued employment in accordance with Health Services Commission Rule
• Complete program-specific trainings

License or Certification

• A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the NC Board of Nursing
• A valid North Carolina Driver's license
• CPR certification
• Intermediate to expert skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
• Preferred experience with EPIC electronic health record

Additional Requirements

• Pre-employment drug screening
• Background check
• Current immunizations

Pay

$57,753 - $75,287