OPEN UNTIL FILLED
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position provides public health nursing services in schools, homes, clinic, shelters, and other community settings. The public health nurse works with communities, the individuals, and families that comprise communities, and the systems that impact the health of those communities. Public health nursing practice is population-based, focuses on the entire population at risk or affected by the condition, focuses on the broad determinates of health, and services are prevention focused all in accordance with applicable Rule, Statute, any other federal or state regulations and Agency policy. The professional in this position provides nutrition screening and education to improve the nutritional well being of families in Morrison County, including the determination of nutritional eligibility and certification of clients for participation in the WIC program.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides for the prevention of illness, promotion of health and protection of health of Morrison County residents.
- Assumes leadership in monitoring health status to identify community health problems utilizing the public health nursing intervention of surveillance.
- Diagnoses and investigates health problems and health hazards in the community utilizing the public health nurse interventions for disease and health threat investigation, case finding, and outreach.
- Informs, educates, and empowers people about health issues utilizing the public health nursing interventions of health teaching, counseling, and social marketing.
- Reviews or participates in research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problemsutilizing the public health nursing interventions of disease and health threat investigation, collaboration, and policy development and enforcement.
- Complies with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act with regard to confidentiality of clients, staff and records.
- Collects data regarding health status in systematic, current and continuous manner. Ensures that thedata is accessible, communicated, and recorded according to program regulations.
- Links people to needed personal health services utilizing the public health nursing interventions of screening, referral and follow-up, case management, and delegated functions.
- Assures a competent public health and personal health care workforce, utilizing the public healthnursing intervention of provider education.
- Provides leadership and participates in mobilizing community partnerships to identify andsolve health problems utilizing the public health nursing interventions of consultation,community organizing, coalition building, and collaboration.
- Using the Evidence based Program of MECSH facilitates a caseload of Family Home Visiting families.
- Enforces laws and regulations that protect and ensure safety utilizing the public health nursing interventions of health teaching, parenting and Maternal Child Health.
- Evaluates effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services, utilizing the public health nursing intervention of policy development andenforcement.
- Determines nutritional risk and program eligibility by analyzing diet history and health history, taking anthropometric measurements and blood work for each client.
- Develops high risk care plans and provides follow up to those clients identified to be at risk.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Assumes accountability for own practice and for delegated nursing care.
- Assesses own abilities and potential, sets goals and demonstrates ongoing personal andprofessional development.
- Practices within the legal definition of the nurse practice act and adheres to the nursing codeof ethics.
- Promotes a positive personal and professional image of nursing.
- Serves as a mentor for student nurses utilizing Morrison County Health and Human Services as a site for Clinical experience.
- Readily volunteers to serve on or lead internal and external committees/teams where nursingknowledge and skills advance/or support public health’s mission.
- Participates in periodic review of program procedures.
- Knowledge of culture of poverty, social systems, and impact of trauma.
- Ability to work constructively within an agency in the community setting and to effectively utilize appropriate resources and services.
- Ability to work constructively in the development and coordination of community resources to meet special needs.
- Ability to manage time productively.
- Ability to prioritize caseloads.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to work with clients who may not be motivated to improve their or their children’s nutritional status.
- Knowledge of community-based resources.
- Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the goals, objectives, policies, and procedures that are necessary to operate the WIC program.
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must pass a background investigation.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- May involve visits in homes with disagreeable conditions and hostile or unstable clients.
- May need to lift equipment related to nursing duties.
- May involve exposure to infectious waste, blood and body fluids.
- Involves driving and making visits during inclement weather and hazardous conditions.
- May be exposed to unfriendly household pets or farm animals.
- May be subject to unruly children while performing blood work, and anthropometric measurements on children.
- May be subject to exposure to blood, including HIV and Hepatitis C viruses.
- May travel one to two times per month.
