Public Health Nurse 0.8 FTE

We need you to help families in our community!
We welcome you to join our team as a Registered Nurse (0.8 FTE, 32 hours per week) in the Isabella County Branch office of the Central Michigan District Health Department while improving the health outcomes in the community. Having excellent communication skills to accommodate health related needs in public health programs, while being detail oriented and possessing exceptional technical skills are necessary. CMDHD is a progressive agency that develops people who can solve problems on a daily basis. Must possess a RN license from the State of Michigan and recommend at least one year of experience in maternal/child public health, or immunizations and communicable disease investigation; Bachelor of Science in Nursing highly recommended. CMDHD offers a comprehensive benefits package; including health/life/dental insurances including leave time with 12 prorated vacation and sick leave days with an additional prorated 3 ½ paid days of personal time per year, 15 prorated paid holidays, and MERS defined contribution retirement with up to 10% employer contribution.  This position offers a flexible schedule and great work hours. 

General Summary: Working independently and with minimal supervision, provides public health nursing services to individuals, families, and population groups in assigned program(s.) Conducts professional planning and evaluation and implements actions directed toward goals of prevention, assessment, risk reduction, and health status improvement for individuals, families and communities. Collaborates and consults with multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams to achieve desirable outcomes for families and communities. Nursing interventions occur at individual, family, community and system levels depending upon position responsibilities and issues involved. 

Essential Duties:

1. Promotes health of individuals, families and community through advocacy, education and/or counseling.
2. Utilizes skilled nursing to provide essential and community-based public health services in assigned program area(s.)
3. Organizes and provides assigned program-specific nursing services to individuals and/or families, directly or through referrals to appropriate services.
4. Documents services utilizing program forms and/or electronic health records, in accurate and timely manner.
5. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates services and outcomes of care on an ongoing basis.
6. Conducts research, case investigations, or case management utilizing advanced nursing principles and evidence-based decision making.
7. Collaborates with health care providers and community partners, as well as other health department staff to improve individual and population health.
8. Participates in mentoring new staff and allied health professional students.
9. Exercises significant independence and initiative in performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.
10. Maintains professional knowledge, and keeps current on assigned program rules, regulations, protocols, and practices to ensure continual compliance and quality improvement.
11. Reviews scheduled appointments and health record, and assesses client and clinician needs for laboratory testing based on clinical protocols.
12. Performs vitals and client assessment for appropriate laboratory testing. Accurately records client data in electronic health record.
13. Performs prescribed laboratory procedures following clinical standards and program specific policies and procedures including finger sticks and blood draws. Prepares samples for submission to external laboratories.
14. Provides Immunizations and/or injections per scope of practice and agency policies and procedures.
15. Assists clinician as needed during client exam and clinical procedures.
16. Assembles and completes program specific paperwork for external referrals and/or orders including mammography, and so forth, timely and accurately.
17. Maintains laboratory space and exam rooms according to program protocols to ensure compliance with infection control standards including disposal of contaminated supplies, and sterilization of medical instruments.
18. Performs and documents quality control tests on laboratory equipment.
19. Documents accurately and within a timely manner within the paper and electronic health record.
20. Maintains efficient clinic flow by serving as liaison between clients, reception and other clinic staff.
21. Participates in mentoring new staff and allied health professional students.
22. Maintains appropriate clinic supply inventory per county; ordering supplies as needed.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Performs other duties and responsibilities as necessary in response to emergencies, workloads or staffing shortages. Works flexible hours as needed.
2. Participates in Emergency Preparedness Incident Command System (ICS) as assigned.
3. Supports other program and office functions as necessary to ensure effective customer and community service.
4. Maintains up-to-date vaccines including flu (influenza,) in accordance with CDC guidelines: Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers, in which you allow CMDHD to access your current immunization status based on Michigan Improvement Care Registry (MCIR).

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Graduation from accredited professional nursing program. Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
2. Advanced nursing skill and knowledge of public health policies, procedures and practices at a level normally acquired through two years of related, professional experience.
3. Current license to practice as registered nurse from Michigan Board of Nursing.
4. CPR certification required
5. Ability to enter, retrieve and manage client data, notes and care plans in electronic health records, and other online or network databases or logs.
6. Ability to plan and organize own work and accomplish multiple tasks in accordance with established practice and professional standards.
7. Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse communities and families.
8. Communication and writing skills necessary to interview and instruct clients, conduct professional presentations, write care plans and reports, and collaborate with community partners.
9. Manual dexterity and feeling by touch necessary to pick, pinch, and palpate; and grasp and use small instruments.
10. Reliable transportation with valid Michigan driver’s license and certificate of insurance to travel to other locations for work, training, meetings, and/or home or site visits.
11. Completion of National Incident Management System/Incident Command System online and face-to-face training courses based on current Public Health Emergency Preparedness requirements.

Core Competencies:

Professional Public Health Core Competencies required:

Domain 1: Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

• 1.1. Describes factors that affect the health of a community.
• 1.2. Accesses existing quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.3. Collects quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.4. Analyzes quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.6. Uses quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.7. Applies public health informatics in using data, information, and knowledge.
• 1.8. Assesses community health status.

Domain 2: Policy Development and Program Planning Skills

• 2.2. Implements policies, programs, and services.
• 2.3. Evaluates policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.
• 2.4. Improves policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.

Domain 3: Communication Skills

• 3.2. Communicates with internal and external audiences.
• 3.3. Responds to information, misinformation, and disinformation.
• 3.4. Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations.

Domain 4: Health Equity Skills

• 4.1. Applies principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• 4.2. Engages in continuous self-reflection about one’s biases.
• 4.3. Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations.
• 4.4. Reduces systemic and structural barriers that perpetuate health inequities.
• 4.5. Implements organizational policies, programs, and services to achieve health equity and social and environmental justice.
• 4.6. Contributes to achieving a sustaining and diverse, inclusive, and competent public health workforce.
• 4.7. Advocates for health equity and social and environmental justice.

Domain 5: Community Partnership Skills

• 5.1. Describes conditions, systems, and policies affecting community health and resilience.
• 5.2. Establishes relationships to improve community health and resilience.
• 5.3. Maintains relationships that improve community health and resilience.
• 5.4. Collaborates with community members and organizations.

Domain 6: Public Health Sciences

• 6.1. Describes systems, policies, and events impacting public health.
• 6.2. Applies public health sciences in delivering the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
• 6.4. Contributes to the evidence base for improving health.

Domain 7: Management and Finance Skills

• 7.4. Engages in professional development.
• 7.7. Implements organizational policies, programs, and services to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• 7.10. Applies critical thinking in decision making.
• 7.11. Engages individuals and teams to achieve program and organizational goals.
• 7.12. Facilitates collaboration among individuals, groups, and organizations.

Domain 8: Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

• 8.2. Implements a vision for a healthy community.
• 8.3. Addresses facilitators and barriers impacting the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
• 8.4. Creates opportunities for creativity and innovation.
• 8.5. Responds to emerging needs.
• 8.8. Advocates for public health.

Demonstrates Core Values: integrity, positive attitude, communications, customer service, responsibility, and accountability. Professional Public Health Core Competencies required.

Environment & Effort:

1. Depending on program assigned, works inside in general office or clinic environments; or works in home environments with potential exposure to dust, dirt, odors, poor ventilation, and uncomfortable temperatures. Exposures in home environments could include environmental hazards (lead, mold, animals, or vectors;) or unsafe living conditions (abuse, drugs, meth labs, or weapons.)
2. Exposure Control – Category A. At higher risk for occupational percutaneous or mucosal exposure to blood or body fluids. Per OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard requirements, CMDHD protects the employee by an established exposure control plan which includes but is not limited to use of universal precautions, engineering controls, work practice controls, personal protective equipment, and worker training.
3. Some exposure to adverse weather conditions when traveling to other locations or conducting home visits.
4. Physical effort necessary to move about office, clinic and/or home environments; lean and bend to administer treatments or do close inspections; and occasionally lift or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
5. Visual effort regularly required in reading and reviewing records and reports; close inspection or examination; preparing and analyzing data; viewing computer screens; reading scales, thermometers, and gauges; and performing close contact procedures such as drawing blood, dispensing medications, or administering vaccines.
6. Mental effort and strain from continual review and analysis of data and information, multi-tasking, and pressure of ensuring high degree of accuracy under tight deadlines or time constraints.