Public Health Nurse I/II - Full Time
Definition and Distinguishing Characteristics
The Public Health Nurse I position involves learning to plan and conduct a variety of public health clinics and services; providing basic nursing, educational, and health counseling services in connection with the control and prevention of disease and adverse health conditions; and performing related work as required.
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 in the latter is the journey level of the series, with responsibility for independently performing the full range of assigned duties.
Reports to higher level management or supervisory staff. This classification does not exercise supervision over staff.
Essential Qualifications
Knowledge of: Operations, services and activities of a comprehensive health system.
Principles, methods, and procedures of general nursing and public health nursing.
Public health issues and problems.
Causes, means of transmission, and methods of control of communicable diseases, including venereal disease, AIDS, and tuberculosis.
Means of promoting child and maternal health and public health programs.
Sociological and cultural problems involved in public health nursing.
Community resources and demographics.
Principles of public health education.
State laws relating to reporting child/adult abuse.
Reproductive physiology and child development.
Human Anatomy.
Operations, services and activities of a clinic setting.
Applicable state and federal guidelines and regulations.
Ability
To learn to provide professional nursing support in an assigned program area.
To learn to educate and work with patients and their families.
To read and understand medical information.
To assess the physical conditions of patients.
To learn to make oral presentations to local community groups and health care providers.
To maintain confidentiality of material.
To learn to coordinate assigned activities with community organizations and other government agencies.
To interview patients and families to gather medical history.
To draw blood samples.
To learn appropriate resources for clients and make referral to those agencies.
To work responsibly with physicians and other members of the medical team.
To effectively represent the Health Department in contacts with the public, community organizations, and other government agencies.
To understand and carry out oral and written directions.
To communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
To establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.