Public Health Nurse I: Under close supervision, a communicable disease public health nurse will be responsible for the prevention, investigation, and control of infectious diseases within the community. Duties will include case investigations and contact tracing. Monitoring and analyzing disease trends to support outbreak detection and response efforts. Provide education to individuals, families and community on disease prevention and control measures. Collaborate with healthcare providers and agencies to ensure compliance with reporting requirements and treatment protocols. Participate in outbreak response activities, including field investigations and implementation of control measures. Maintain accurate and confidential records in accordance with public health regulations and organizational policies. Administer immunizations and support vaccination campaigns as needed. Support emergency preparedness and response initiatives related to infectious disease threats. Public Health Nurse II: Same as above, however this classification will work under general supervision. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS - Public Health Nurse I: This is an entry-level class for Registered Nurses who have recently been certificated as a Public Health Nurse or those who have been out of practice for a number of years. Incumbents apply the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities in learning to perform the full scope of public health nursing duties. Public Health Nurse II: This is the journey and fully qualified professional level of the Public Health Nursing series in which incumbents have demonstrated competence to assume broad responsibilities requiring independence and professional judgment in assessing individual, family, and community health needs, and in planning and evaluating public health nursing activities. IDEAL CANDIDATE - Shasta County is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Public Health Nurse to join the Communicable Disease Unit in the Community Health Protection Division. The ideal candidate holds a valid California Public Health Nurse (PHN) certificate, a BSN, and at least two years of recent experience and/or knowledge in one or more of the following areas: public health nursing, communicable disease prevention including sexually transmitted infections, epidemiology, and/or nurse case management. The candidate must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, basic computer proficiency, and a valid driver’s license. They must be able to work independently and collaboratively within a team and alongside partner agencies. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to public health emergencies outside of normal working hours are essential. Home visiting experience is preferred. EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Public Health Nurse I - Elicits health and social histories of individuals and families through use of observation and effective interviewing skills; participates in the promotion of communicable disease prevention education; identifies health care needs through physical assessments; recognizes the significance of abnormal findings; helps individuals and groups change their health behavior through discussions that highlight their specific health knowledge, attitudes, and skills; provides case management services based on assessment of the comprehensive health needs of the individual and family; identifies cultural patterns influencing community health practices, increases access of hard-to-reach populations to public health and other services, and assists in increasing the cultural competency of staff and the Health and Human Services Agency as an organization; teaches and counsels individuals, families, and groups regarding specific diseases or health conditions as well as health maintenance; investigates and monitors cases of communicable disease, obtains specimens, interprets laboratory results, determines sources and contacts to prevent the spread of communicable disease; compiles and uses records, reports, and statistical information for appraisal and planning; attends required meetings and trainings; and performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned. Public Health Nurse II - Plans, organizes, and provides public health nursing services, including assessment, intervention, referral, and follow up of persons who have a communicable disease; assesses persons who have been exposed to a communicable disease to assure early detection and referral of health conditions deviating from normal; provides tailor-made personal, preventive, and community health services to targeted populations in need; teaches individuals and groups about disease and disability prevention, and health promotion; participates in epidemiological investigations for control of communicable and chronic diseases; interacts with all aspects of the community--individual, family, agency, business, and professional; develops and implements community projects as an outgrowth of issues identified during public health nursing practice; mobilizes the community to develop partnerships and alliances to address identified high-priority community health needs; evaluates health of special population groups, such as the elderly, the culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged, or those with alternate life styles; identifies cultural patterns influencing community health practices, increases access of hard-to-reach populations to public health and other services, and increases the cultural competency of staff and the Health and Human Services Agency as an organization; keeps accurate, concise, and legally-appropriate records and reports; effectively uses records, reports, and statistical information for appraisal and planning; attends required meetings and trainings; with certified sexually transmitted disease (STD) training and supervision, may be assigned to perform STD exams, including moderate complexity laboratory tests; prioritizes multiple tasks, exercises effective time management, and manages workload and personal stress well; may assume delegated responsibility for the work of the Program Supervisor or the Program Manager in the absence of either; and may supervise a small number of other Department staff, interns, or volunteers. QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:Public Health Nurse I - Knowledge of: Skilled nursing as applied to public health practices; promoting health and the prevention of disease and disability; general nursing skills in the areas of maternal, child, and adult health; child growth and development; nutritional needs of all ages; normal and abnormal health conditions and health behavior; teaching, counseling, interviewing, and history taking; case management; epidemiology and methods for the control of communicable diseases; community resources and how to utilize them; environmental, sociological, cultural, policy, and psychological issues influencing health; current developments in public health nursing; ordinances, rules and regulations governing public health services and nursing practices; basic economics for delivery of health care; workload management and management of personal stress; and the work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health nursing. Ability to: Exercise independent judgment to plan, organize, and problem solve; manage time effectively; adapt to various cultural, physical and behavioral conditions of patients and environment; teach individuals and groups; seek and use appropriate resource materials; work effectively with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and coalitions to assist in the satisfactory solution of health problems; recognize and respect the impact of cultural differences on health behavior and practices; perform assessments, interviews, and gather needed information to reach appropriate nursing diagnosis; make appropriate referrals to community resources; provide adequate follow up to help maximize use of resources; perform clinical tasks such as venipuncture, injections, and dispensing medications; keep accurate, concise and legally appropriate records and reports; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with health and other professionals, paraprofessionals, agencies, community groups, and the general public; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and actively promote the Department’s mission and its population-based health outcomes orientation. Public Health Nurse II - Knowledge of: Skilled nursing as applied to public health practice; control and prevention of communicable and chronic disease; maternal, child, adolescent, and adult health; prevention of abuse, neglect, and violence throughout the age continuum; prevention of injuries; learning, teaching, interviewing, counseling, and problem solving; normal growth and development including the aging process; impact of nutrition at all age levels; community resources and methods to mobilize and access them; case management; work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health practice; literature and trends in public health nursing and the general field of public health as a whole; environmental, sociological, cultural, psychological, political and policy issues influencing health; and funding sources and cost of health care. Ability to: Assess comprehensive health needs of children and adults; problem solve and case manage individuals or families with complex problems and health issues; identify and respect cultural patterns influencing health practices; facilitate access to resources; identify populations with specific health needs; monitor the accessibility and quality of community and personal health services in the community; advocate for needs of culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged persons; work effectively with individuals, department staff, families, community groups agencies, and coalitions in developing and implementing satisfactory solutions to health problems; apply principles of epidemiology to a wide range of social and health issues; apply principles of primary prevention to the prioritization, design, implementation and evaluation of community-based health programs; maintain confidentiality; communicate effectively orally and in writing; mentor other nursing personnel and train and direct the work of staff, interns, or volunteers; respond effectively to critical situations and emergencies; and actively promote the Department's mission and its population-based health outcomes orientation. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. Public Health Nurse IA bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university nursing program. Public Health Nurse II - Twelve (12) months of experience comparable to a Public Health Nurse I with Shasta County. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT - Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Possession of a valid California State Public Health Nursing certificate. Possession of a valid California driver’s license. SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS - Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application. Do you possess a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California? Yes/ No If yes, what is your license number and expiration date? If “No,” type N/ A. Do you possess a valid California State Public Health Nursing Certificate? Yes / No If “Yes,” please provide your certificate number and expiration date, and attach a copy of your certificate to your application. If “No,” type N/ A. If you do not have a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate, have you applied for one? Yes/ No If yes, please list the date you applied for the Certificate. If “No,” type N/ A. Please describe your public health nursing experience, or school/volunteer experience, working with general population from multiple cultural backgrounds to provide communicable disease prevention education, case investigations and contact tracing. Be sure to provide sufficient detail to allow for a full evaluation of your qualifications in these areas. If you do not have nursing experience with these populations, please indicate N/ A. Proficiency with electronic case management systems and computer programs/software, particularly with word processing, spreadsheets, and databases are critical skills for this Public Health Nurse position. Please list the programs with which you have worked, and for each include your level of proficiency (i.e., basic, intermediate, expert) and an example of how you have used this program. If you have no computer program experience, please indicate N/ A. I acknowledge this position requires a valid California driver's license. Yes / No. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT - 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 this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Some positions may require adequate mobility to move very quickly in certain situations. And employee must operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis. 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. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position. As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit DOJ Right to Work Poster. If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer. In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly. Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the UPEC Professional bargaining unit. Employees in this classification are covered under the Cal. PERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following Cal. PERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 9.50% of their pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at Shasta County Employee Benefits for additional information regarding benefits and Cal. PERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern.