Public Health Nurse

Job Title: Public Health Nurse (RN)

Department: Health Department

Reports To: Deputy Director of Health

Date Revised: March 2026

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Principal Function: The Public Health Nurse is responsible for providing clinical care, health education, and public health services to County residents in accordance with established clinical protocols, professional standards, and public health guidelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Administers vaccines in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and applicable state programs.

2. Provides patient education regarding vaccinations, including contraindications, side effects, and follow-up care.

3. Maintains accurate and complete immunization records within the Children and Hoosier Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP).

4. Reviews and interprets immunization records, including foreign records, and follows established protocols for vaccination schedules.

5. Maintains appropriate vaccine inventory levels and storage conditions in accordance with established guidelines and procedures.

6. Participates in disease surveillance and reporting activities in accordance with Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) requirements.

7. Assists with communicable disease response activities and provides education to affected individuals and groups.

8. Serves as the County Preparedness Coordinator and supports public health emergency preparedness activities.

9. Ensures adherence to established Health Department policies, procedures, and clinical protocols.

10. Assists with immunization reminder efforts and follow-up activities, as needed.

11. Responds to requests for public health-related information from individuals and community groups.

12. Collaborates with department staff to support clinic operations and public health initiatives.

13. Completes administrative duties to include attending meetings, reviewing reports, and responding to inquiries, as needed.

14. Maintains an effective communication process with the Director and Deputy Director of Health.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

County-related Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees working in the County should demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time; Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

2. Citizen Service - Manages difficult or emotional Citizen situations; Responds promptly to Citizen needs; Solicits Citizen feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

3. Professionalism/Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills -Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views and tries new things; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality.

4. Oral and Written Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

5. Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

2. Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.

3. Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision- making process; Makes timely decisions.

4. Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improves and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

5. Ethics – Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

6. Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

7. Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.

8. Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.

Education and/or Experience: Associate’s degree from a two-year college or university in a related field plus three-years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Registered Nursing (RN) license is required and a BSN is preferred. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification is required, Mantoux Tuberculosis (TB) skin testing certification is preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities: The following skills and abilities are either required or desired.

· Computer software skills required include: Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CHIRP, and Medicaid.

· The ability to maintain knowledge of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and immunization/vaccination standards, County Health Department policies and procedures, Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) standards and Children and Hoosier Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP) regulations is required.

· The ability to utilize considerable technical judgment in making recommendations and decisions that affect the health of the community is required.

· The ability to participate in emergency preparedness activities to include; drills, mass prophylaxis clinics and education on man-made and natural disasters. Cross training in non-nursing needs as part of the emergency preparedness activities is required.

· A general understanding of report writing, while paying close attention to detail is required.

· The ability to maintain confidentiality and deal with complex, highly sensitive information is required.

· The ability to work rapidly for long periods, manage and coordinate multiple workloads, work on several tasks at the same time, and complete assignments effectively amidst frequent distractions and interruptions, often under time pressure is required.

· The ability to be cross-trained in all department operations is required.

· The ability to work with other County offices internally and externally to resolve customer issues is required.

· The ability to attend meetings and conferences, as needed.

· The ability to operate a computer, printer, copy machine, scanner, fax machine, and other office equipment is desired.

· The ability to speak, read and write in English is required. Spanish is desired.

Physical Demands: 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 duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is exposed to infection from disease bearing specimen; blood borne pathogens; work near moving mechanical parts and the risk of electrical shock when working with office equipment. The employee occasionally is exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outdoor weather conditions; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn on the job at all times in accordance with the department’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

While the Health Department is usually open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, this position may require work beyond these hours and on the weekends. It also may require the ability to drive a County vehicle. Thus, a valid driver’s license is required.

Pay: $26.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• On-site gym
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $26 - $27