Registered Nurse:

Case Investigation:

1. Interviewing & Data Collection:

• Calls newly diagnosed cases and collect data on symptoms, exposures, and persons with whom they have been in contact while infectious.
• Communicates with contacts in a professional and empathic manner, assuring them of the confidentiality of the information collected and explaining how the contact information will be utilized.
• Collects and records information into a statewide database and assures the accuracy of data.

1. Health Education:

• Provides cases with approved information about state isolation procedures and monitors compliance with isolation.
• Alerts Epidemiologists if the case is associated with a congregate or other high-risk settings that require additional public health investigation or intervention.
• Following established procedures and/or script, the incumbent will provide the ill individual with resources available for further information or support as needed.
• Provide education with outside partners and community stakeholders as needed as a way to decrease spread of disease.

1. Data Entry & Maintenance:

• Utilizes established database(s) to identify newly diagnosed patients.
• Inputs data collected (i.e. symptoms, contacts, etc.) into a database and assures database is kept up to date.
• Provides data from Case Investigation efforts to Epidemiologists and/or Health Educators as necessary.

Contact Tracing:

• Utilize excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that you build and maintain trust with patients and contacts as you work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the timeframe while they may have been infectious.
• Notify exposed individuals (contacts) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible.
• Protect patient privacy, contacts are only informed that they may have been exposed to a patient with the infection. They are not told the identity of the patient who may have exposed them.
• Provide contacts with education, information, and support to understand their risk, what they should do to separate themselves from others who are not exposed, monitor themselves for illness, and the possibility that they could spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill.
• Encourage contacts to follow CDC guidance as recommended.
• Check in with contacts to make sure they are self-monitoring and have not developed symptoms.
• Maintain data in contract tracing software.