PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE SPECIALIST

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• This position participates in clinic nurse duties, charge nurse duties, orientation of new patients, precepting of new staff and nursing students, and lactation counseling and education directly with patients.
• The PHNS works with community partners to facilitate breastfeeding education and support groups for patients.
• The PHNS assists medical providers in performing physical exams and procedures, administers injections, and follows up on abnormal labs and missed appointments.
• This position may be required to work in other clinical areas across the organization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES :

• A thorough knowledge of, and skill in, the application of principles and techniques employed in the field of public health, general nursing, and provision of women’s health- specifically obstetrical / mental health, lactation, and family planning preferred.
• General knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health, including health disparities;
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of others; ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and make decisions;
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions;
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health;
• Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

• At the minimum, candidates must have graduated from a four-year college or university with a B.S. in Nursing which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation and two years of Public Health nursing experience;
• or a Master’s in Public Health and graduation from a school of professional nursing and two years of professional nursing experience;
• or graduation from a school of professional nursing and three years of professional nursing experience including two years of Public Health nursing experience;

or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES :

• Must be licensed to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
• Must be certified as either a lactation educator or a lactation consultant.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

• Training as a lactation educator or a lactation consultant
• IBCLC certified
• CPR certified
• Bilingual

To further the mission of the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) to partner with our community to advance health equity, protect the environment, and promote health and wellness for all, DCoDPH is implementing the employee vaccination and tuberculosis screening policies.

All DCoDPH employees are considered healthcare personnel (HCP) working in a health care setting with the potential for exposure to patients and / or infectious materials and, therefore, are required to comply and provide documented proof of the following :

• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination / immunity
• Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chicken Pox) vaccination / immunity
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Tuberculosis (TB) baseline screening within the last twelve (12) months prior to employment
• Hepatitis B vaccination / immunity only required for DCoDPH employees with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposures.

Identified DCoDPH HCP with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposure have an additional requirement for the Hepatitis B vaccination.

Required vaccination, serological testing to determine immunity, and baseline tuberculosis screening are available for all Public Health employees who elect to become DCoDPH patients upon request and at no cost.

Proof of vaccination and tuberculosis screening must be provided to Human Resources within seven (7) business days prior to the date of employment.