Description

The Public Health Nurse improves and maintains the health of individuals, families, groups, and the community by assessing the needs of people and the community by 1) functioning as a professional within the nurse practice act, 2) fostering independence by assisting people to recognize, accept, and adapt to health problems, 3) increasing knowledge of health through education and counseling, 4) providing direct nursing services, 5) interacting and coordinating with formal and informal service providers and 6) participating in community health planning, program implementation and evaluation. The position to be filled is a Public Health Nurse OR Registered Nurse and will be offered to the best qualified candidate.
Less than full-time will be considered, if desired.
This position has flexibility with start/end time each day as well as scheduled days of week. There will be an opportunity for some telework.

Essential Duties

• Contributes to a positive, efficient and professional work environment by working independently and as a team member to achieve and continuously improve individual, team, and department outcomes.
• Assesses and evaluates the health status of individuals and families in the home, clinic and community. Comprehensive assessment includes demographic data, physical condition, health history, medications, mental status, environment, functional inventory, financial screen, and social and family dynamics.
• Summarizes and records assessment data. Operates the computer and software programs for nursing care (OMAHA and OASIS); enters information into the computer terminal following standard procedures. Identifies areas of risk and vulnerability. Develops a comprehensive plan of care, which includes client, family and service goals. The plan of care outlines problems, goals, and interventions.
• Explore and coordinate resources and services with the individual and family.
• Develop plans of care in consultation with multiple service providers. Coordinates formal and informal services, which includes monitoring cost effectiveness, quality of care and safety, and to ensure client/family service needs are met. Provides ongoing case management to at-risk populations.
• Provides nursing care to individuals and families following professional standards and procedures within the Nurse Practice Act. Perform delegated medical functions, recognize the need for and request changes in physicians' orders and questions unclear orders.
• Provides ongoing evaluation of individual/family health status, signs and symptoms of disease process, monitoring progress toward goals, responses to treatment, and appropriateness of service.
• Maintains extensive and accurate documentation which is subject to frequent audits which comply with the data practices act, to maintain client and record confidentiality. Documentation must comply with extensive and varied industry standards, i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, Alternative Care, Elderly Waiver, or School Health.
• Assigns and orientates Home Health Aides to clients and families, directing their work activities. Supervises Home Health Aide activities as to safety, confidentiality, quality, productivity, and ability to follow assignments. Assure the care provided meets agency standards and is within acceptable liability and insurance risks. Provides input to supervisor for yearly home health aide evaluations.
• Implements acute and chronic disease prevention and control measures, i.e., immunization clinics, tuberculosis assessment, lice investigations, cancer screening, universal precautions.
• Assists the Minnesota Department of Health with investigation treatment, follow-up and enforcement of communicable disease outbreaks within the county. Administers vaccines and medications for emergency plans as needed.
• Provides comprehensive pediatric (0 to 21 years) and family assessment by using various screening tools, observations, and interviews (Preschool Screening, School Health, Women Infant and Children). Assessment includes physical examination, hearing, vision, scoliosis, developmental, nutrition, dental, family dynamics, and appropriate lab work.
• Coordinate and supervises school health programs. Provides assessments on children by use of various screening tools and observations; follow through on deviations according to student needs; referral to appropriate resources, parent, child, and teacher education and counseling; communicable disease control in the school; coordination and review of school health records; and policy recommendations regarding school health issues.
• Performs core Public Health functions. Provides ongoing needs assessment, identification of high risk groups, case finding, referral, consultation, coordination of services to eliminate duplication and/or gaps in services, local community involvement with civic groups, churches, volunteers, schools, public officials, businesses, and participation and organization of multi-disciplinary committees.
• Program coordination responsibility (MNChoices; PrimeWest Case Management; Home Care; Women, Infants and Children; Family Home Visiting; Help Me Grow; Child & Teen Checkup; Public Health Emergency Preparedness; Disease Prevention, Social Media, etc.) involves assuring goals and objectives are met, evaluation, outreach, monitoring budgets, ensuring adequate staff, ensuring compliance with related policies, procedures, state and federal mandates, and recommending change in the direction of programs as needed.
• Coordination of clinics (Early Childhood Screening, WIC, blood pressure, foot care, immunizations) which involves scheduling, outreach, staffing, coordination of volunteers, referral, follow-up and monitoring agency costs and clinic effectiveness.
• Develops relationships with individuals/family to promote the highest level of self-care and wellness possible. Facilitates personal decision making regarding healthy and positive lifestyle choices.
• Works with other community groups and individuals in creating environmental, system and policy change for healthier communities. Participates in and supports community-based coalitions that examine health data, set goals and develop plans to improve health.
• Identify community health education needs and priorities. Plan and teach programs utilizing teaching/learning principles, public speaking techniques and outreach activities.
• Actively seeks out areas which would benefit from a quality improvement (QI) process and follows up as outlined in the agency's Quality Improvement Plan. Participates in quality improvement activities when asked to be part of a QI team.
• To assume responsibility of continued education and professional development of self and contribution to the professional growth of others. Participates in agency staff meeting and participates in nursing research activities.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Minnesota Public Health Nurse Certification
Minnesota Registered Nurse license
Bachelor's Degree from accredited liberal arts college with National League of Nursing approved program in nursing, including course work and field experience in Public Health
Fifteen hours of continuing education credits each year
Minnesota driver's license
Minimum of one year previous nursing experience in an acute or chronic care setting.
Upon hiring, requires two months of formal orientation and one year period of adjustment to the job.

Selection Process

First Round interviews will be held via technology on 5/29/24.
If selected, 2nd Round interviews will be held in person on 6/10/24.

Why work here?
Renville County offers advantages and opportunities others can't, including:

• Meaningful work
• Public service
• Work-life balance
• Generous benefits
• Opportunities to grow
• Commitment to your success