Public Health Nurse I/II/III/Staff Nurse I/II

 

Shasta County offers all of the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, diversified culture, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with communities to protect and improve the health and well-being of Shasta County residents. Established in 2006, the HHSA is organized into four branches: Children’s Services, Adult Services, Public Health and Economic Mobility, with a centralized administration. The HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill and those without resources look to the HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety. This transformation improves efficiency, avoids unnecessary duplication of effort, encourages collaboration among programs and organizes the HHSA’s services to be more responsive to the needs of the public.

 

The Public Health Branch focuses on community-wide prevention of communicable disease, chronic disease, injury, substance abuse, family violence, and lead poisoning. Public Health helps the community develop policies and support community environments that encourage healthy behaviors. It promotes nutrition and physical activity, healthy aging, worksite wellness and healthy communities. Public Health is also where the HHSA’s emergency response unit is headquartered, and its laboratory provides testing services for Shasta and numerous other Northern California counties.

Effective September 30, 2021, employees in this position at this worksite are required to be COVID-19 vaccinated in accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Order issued on August 5, 2021, unless they have a qualifying medical or religious exemption, which will then require the employee to submit to COVID-19 testing on a weekly basis in lieu of vaccination.

Public Health Nurse I: Under close supervision, to perform public health nursing, teaching and health guidance services in homes, clinics, and a wide variety of community settings in connection with health promotion and the prevention and control of disease or disability; to participate in assessment of the community that leads to development and implementation of sound health policy that improves the health outcomes of the citizenry of Shasta County; and to perform related work as required.

 

Public Health Nurse II: Same as Public Health Nurse I, under general supervision.

 

Public Health Nurse III: Same as Public Health Nurse I, under direction, and additionally to administer a specialized public health nursing program. 

 

Staff Nurse I: Under general supervision, to perform professional nursing services for patients in the mental health programs of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and to perform related work as required.

Staff Nurse II: Same as Staff Nurse I, under direction, additionally to instruct and supervise other assigned medical personnel.

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.

Public Health Nurse III: Public Health Nurse III is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse II class by its responsibility for developing and managing special community health programs and projects.

Staff Nurse I: This is the entry level for Registered Nurses who have recently graduated from a basic nursing program, or for those Registered Nurses who do not have recent nursing experience. Incumbents in this class typically remain Staff Nurse I for six months. Assignments are in the mental health programs within the various branches of the HHSA. Typically, assignments in the Public Health Branch would not require the training and experience of a Public Health Nurse.

Staff Nurse II: This is the journey-level class for Registered Nurses who have recent professional nursing experience. Assignments are in the mental health programs within the various branches of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Typically, assignments in the Public Health Branch would not require the training or experience of a Public Health Nurse.

 

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 maternal, child, adolescent and adult health; identifies health care needs through physical assessments; assesses developmental level and nutritional status of infants and children; 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 instances of possible abuse and notifies appropriate agencies; 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 at high risk of complications throughout antepartum and postpartum periods, child rearing, infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood; assesses children and adults 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.

Public Health Nurse III: Plans, implements, coordinates, and evaluates care given to patients with complex health problems served by special programs; assists other disciplines or participates with other disciplines in the case management of individuals or families who present multiple health problems; assists in the preparation of grant proposals; determines health needs of special populations; writes plans and reports, develops data collection procedures, compiles statistics; assists in the preparation of budgets; supervises staff assigned to program; assists in providing orientation and training to staff; serves as liaison to project related community groups; participates in epidemiologic investigations for control of communicable and chronic diseases; identifies the health status of individuals and families by taking thorough histories, evaluates medical complaints to determine extent of medical needs of patients with appropriate referral; counsels and teaches patient about health problems; may assume delegated responsibility for work of Nursing Director in the absence of the latter.

Staff Nurse I: Assists in and personally administers general nursing care to assess patients at the Mental Health Clinic or in the field (e.g., hospital emergency rooms, local shelters, board and care facilities, homes, etc.) to determine if they are a danger to themselves and others or gravely disabled; assess for signs of adverse effects of medications and for compliance with medication instructions; work closely with community agencies (e.g., Crisis Centers, hospital emergency room staff, law enforcement, and psychiatric hospitals); make preliminary observations of patients' conditions and prepare them for medical treatment; assist physicians in treatment and examinations and may record instructions as emergency orders; provide for carrying out prescribed tests and treatments, and personally handles the less difficult cases or treatments; observe patient for symptoms, progress, and results of medical and nursing treatments; report unusual occurrences and conditions of patients to supervisors; administer special medications; instruct patients or their relatives concerning home care; render first aid; keep charts and records; and periodically attend in-service meetings.

Staff Nurse II: Same as Staff 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.

These employment standards are typically attained with possession of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited program.

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.

 

These standards are typically attained with 12 months of experience comparable to a Public Health Nurse I in Shasta County.

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public health nursing as applied in public health practices and preventive medicine or specialized health program to which assigned; environmental, sociological, and cultural factors which influence individual and community health; principles of budget and fiscal management; work of other social and health agencies and functions of other professions as related to public health nursing; principles of supervision and training; current literature and trends in public health and in public health nursing.

Ability to: Exercise independent judgment and plan, organize, and carry out public health nursing activities; plan, administer, and evaluate a specialized health program and initiate improvements under minimal supervision; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; supervise and train nursing staff; speak and write effectively, including preparing clear and concise reports and records; conduct a complete medical history, perform a physical assessment, identify problems, and evaluate patient's behavior; demonstrate ability to handle complex cases requiring advanced public health nursing skills in case management and problem solving; establish and maintain a cooperative relationship with those contacted in the course of work.

These standards are typically attained with two years of nursing experience comparable to Public Health Nurse II in Shasta County.

Knowledge of: Current nursing principles, methods, and procedures; medical terminology, hospital routines, and equipment; hospital policies and procedures.

Ability to: Administer treatments, medicines, and narcotics; keep records and prepare clear and concise reports; maintain a sympathetic understanding of the patients under care and supervision; follow oral and written instructions; establish and maintain cooperative working relationship with those contacted in the course of work; supervise and train other nursing personnel.

These standards are typically attained with a minimum of six months of experience performing the duties of a Registered Nurse.

·      Possession of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California;

·      Possession of a valid California State Public Health Nursing Certificate;

·      Possession of an appropriate California driver license.

The Public Health Nurse I/II/III or Staff Nurse I/II will possess the ability to perform the following:

 

The Communicable Disease Prevention Unit in the Public Health Branch is looking for a Public Health Nurse or Registered Nurse who has a desire to prevent the transmission of communicable disease in Shasta County. The ideal candidate has experience in communicable disease prevention, understands all aspects of disease transmission and works well with vulnerable or hard to reach populations. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication skills, both orally and written. The candidate will be comfortable with communicating directly with clients, referring clients to resources, and collaborating with medical providers and community partners.  The candidate must be able to work autonomously as well as collaboratively within a team. This position is a sunset position ending July 2024 and will be dedicated to the COVID-19 response.

Staff Nurse I/II: 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.

 

 

 

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until current vacancies have been filled. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered.

 

Veterans' Credit: Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE.

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at apply online or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

 

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.