Public Health Nurse

Houston County is seeking to fill a full-time Public Health Nurse vacancy in the Public Health and Human Services Dept.  This position will work with various Public Health programs with primary focus on WIC, Maternal Child Health, Family Home Visits, and other outreach/screening programs involving families/children, and other duties as required.  

Primary hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. No nights, weekends or holidays.

Current salary range is $65,852.80 - $86,694.40 per year, plus benefit package.  Please see the application instructions at the bottom of this announcement.

POSITION PURPOSE: A professional employee, acting under the general supervision of the Public Health Supervisor, a Public Health Nurse (PHN) is responsible for providing the full range of essential public health services enumerated in Minn. Stat. § 145A.02, Subd. 1a. Areas of Public Health Responsibility and Subd. 8a. Essential Public Health Services. Work in collaboration with Public Health unit colleagues to promote healthy communities and individual behaviors. 
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Although supervision is provided by the Public Health Supervisor, PHNs perform most work independently and have latitude in decision-making within the auspices of their professional license and certification. PHNs provide services to individuals/families through the following programs: Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program; Home and Community Based Services, Family Home Visiting; Child and Teen Check-Up; Early Hearing/Birth Defect detention program; Follow-Along Program; lead program; immunizations; respond to public health hazards; and disaster response. *Individual PHN positions may be assigned specific areas of focus based on their expertise and County need.   Essential Duties

1.  Family Home Visitor (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Maternal Child Health)  Provide home visiting services to targeted families as part of a multi county collaborative based on evidence based quality standards  Track/document services and document both program performance and child/family outcomes Screen infants; assess growth/development Screen care givers for depression, anxiety, domestic violence; refer to community resources Coordinate services/programs with other PHHS units Provide quarterly/annual TANF and MCH data/reports to state agencies
2.  Community Based Services/Case Management Conduct needs assessments  Manage a caseload inherent to Community Based Services including, meeting with clients; draft documents, e.g.  civil commitment petitions and protection reports Maintain client charts/records in SSIS, MMIS, and PH-doc in compliance with law and professional standards Maintain contemporary, discipline specific knowledge of field of practice;  Maintain contemporary, knowledge of field of practice
3. WIC Perform Competent Professional Authority (CPA) duties and certify eligible participants; gather and chart hematological/anthropometric metrics Breastfeeding coordinator/promotion
4.  Provide essential public health functions pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 145A.02, Subd. 1a. and              Subd. 8a.  Work with staff to coordinate staff clinical nurse services  Identify population health concerns; provide screening for various public health concerns, I.e. Hepatitis B, blood lead levels, etc.
5.  Maternal Child Health (WIC Clinic) Provide oral health screenings/fluoride varnish applications Screen for domestic violence; refer to community resources Review immunization record; administer vaccines; record in the State registry (MIIC); monitor for adverse reactions in the Vaccine Adverse Effect Recording System (VAERS) Screen for anxiety and refer to service providers Provide lead screening, education, and mitigation resources Refer to community resources i.e. Head Start, Free and Reduced Lunch Program, Child and Teen Checkup, Follow Along Enrollment, Energy Assistance, etc.
6. Child Teen Check Up Coordinator Target outreach and education to at risk children/teens in foster care ensuring wellness check ups Link clinics to insurance  Provide 1:1 client assessments/services
7. Early Hearing Detection Inventory and Birth Defects  Act on referrals from the MDH regarding newborns with identified hearing loss/birth defects Communicate with caregivers and assist in connecting them with educational resources Maintain contact with care providers; monitor cases
8. Follow Along Program  Enroll infants and children ages 0-36 months in developmental screening and monitor results Assess results of questionnaires and compile results Participate in regional quality improvement activities

This description describes the general list of responsibilities and is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position and classification and are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work performed.  The position description is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.Employment Standards
Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from an accredited university or college
• Current licensure as a registered nurse in Minnesota
• MN Public Health Nurse Certificate; met the coursework criteria set forth in MN Rule 6316.01000

-OR- 

• Registered Nurse degree from an accredited school of nursing or university 
• Current licensure as a registered nurse in Minnesota
• *Ability to obtain the MN Public Health Nurse Certificate within 1 year of employment

-AND-

• Minnesota DHS Public Health Nurse Merit rated

 
Other Pre-Employment Standards/Requirements 

• Pass a criminal history/background check 

 
Preferred Criteria/Experience

• N/A

 
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 
Pre-Employment 

• Strong working knowledge of the application of nursing practices and ability to apply nursing techniques
• Knowledge of public health nursing theory
• Knowledge of current trends in public health service delivery and the ability to apply the principles of public health nursing to families, individuals and the community
• Working knowledge of the principles of public health education, including  contemporary educational public health curriculum development and pedagogy 
• Strong client centered communication skills and the ability to provide services to clients in a respectful manner 
• Knowledge/understanding of prescription medications and their use
• Working knowledge of communicable diseases and the characteristics of each
• Strong oral and written communication skills, inclusive of developing and delivering presentations to groups, and ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds and with whom may be highly emotional
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with Agency staff and the personnel of other County offices,  clients, external professionals and agencies the media, and the general public

 
Post-Employment

• Working knowledge of  SSIS, MMIS, PHDoc, MIIC, and VAERS
• Working knowledge of service eligibility requirements and available public and private community health and social service resources/functions
• Knowledge of the programs and policies of the Agency 
• General knowledge of available funding sources

Persons with Disabilities
The above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act the following represents the physical/environmental demands

FUNCTION	N/A	<25%	25% - 49%	50% - 74%	>74%
Office Environment					X
Sitting				X
Standing, Walking			X
Hand Dexterity - Simultaneous/ Repetitive Hand Movements				X
Typing/Data Entry			X
Close Vision (Near Acuity)			X
Distance Vision (Far Acuity)	X
Color Vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)	X
Accommodation (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus)			X
Hearing/Speech					X
Sedentary (Exert up to 10 pounds of force)					X
Light (Exert up to 20 pounds of force)		X
Lifting, carrying or pushing of objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds		X
Lifting, carrying or pushing of objects up to fifty (50) pounds		X
Lifting or pushing of objects over fifty (50) pounds	X
Adverse movements such as overhead, bending, reaching		X

 
*Hazardous Working Conditions: Incumbents may be subjected to airborne pathogens, blood, and body fluids.
 
 NOTICE
A County employee in this position may encounter non-public data as defined by Minnesota or federal law in the course of their position. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that is necessary to fulfill the defined job duties. While data is being accessed, the employee shall take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data is not accessed by unauthorized individuals. Once the work purpose to access the data is reasonably finished, the employee must properly store and secure the not public data in accordance with applicable County policies as well as Minnesota and federal law. All employees are expected to become familiar with and comply with the requirements of the County’s Data Practices and Data Security Policies.  A breach of these policies may lead to disciplinary action against the employee. 
   
Status:                           Exempt
Job Category:               Professional
Labor Group:                Not represented
Band:                             C42, 2020: C42
Date Last Reviewed:   2014, 2018, 05.2020

PLEASE NOTE: APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION REQUIRES TWO APPLIATIONS BE SUBMITTED

1. Submit your application to the Minnesota Merit System for Public Health Nurse no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 14, 2024, by going to https://agency.governmentjobs.com/mnmeritsystem/default.cfm and clicking on job posting: Public Health Nurse - Houston County (558-28).

2. Submit your online application to Houston County by 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 14, 2024, by clicking the green "APPLY" button on this page. Please attach a cover letter and copies of any applicable licenses/certifications. If special accommodations are needed to complete this application for employment, please contact the Houston County Personnel Dept. at 507.725.5822.