Public Health Nurse Specialist - Full Time

CLOSES: 4/21/26

Interview Date: Monday, May 11, 2026 

Location: Carlton County Public Health and Human Services Building 14 N 11th Street, Cloquet, MN 55720. Interviews will be held in the Ojibway Room located on the first floor.  

Carlton County Public Health and Human Services is an engaging and safe place to work with a flexible day-time weekday schedule.  Ample opportunities for training, development, and career growth, with the possibility of telecommuting.  Very competitive salary and benefit package with respectful and open atmosphere. 

Why join Carlton County? The Public Health & Human Services department is committed to providing a welcoming environment. We offer:

• 41 hours personal paid time off and 12 paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling and opportunity for part-time remote work
• Comprehensive insurance including medical, dental, vision
• Advancement/professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee well-being valued and culture of self-care
• PERA pension plan
• Limited evening and weekend hours may be worked for some positions.
• The Minnesota Rural Public Health Nurse Loan Forgiveness program may be applied for if meet criteria(competitive)
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/loans/publichealth.html

Healthcare Benefits:

Family Health Insurance - Monthly Premium of $350.58

Single Health Insurance - Paid in Full by Employer

**HEALTH INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES COVERED IN FULL WITH A VEBA ACCOUNT FUNDED BY EMPLOYER

BASIC FUNCTIONS (SIX AREAS OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITY):

• As an independently licensed position operating under limited administrative supervision of the unit supervisor, perform professional public health nurse duties to ensure the proper administration and coordination of established public health programs per state statute, regulations, and guidance. Collaborate closely with local, regional, state, and Tribal health systems, governmental systems, and other agencies to develop interdependent programs. Provide a full range of public health nursing, case management, public health education, and health promotion within the six areas of Public Health (PH) Responsibility per MN State Statute 145A:. Assist with assigning and directing the work of other staff working in area of specialty, or on a project basis. Assist with developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating interventions to meet grant, policy and program objectives. Assist in integrating research and best practices into specific program areas. Responsible for managing program outcomes, implementing improvements, participating in the local health assessment and planning process, assisting with development and evaluation of staff core competencies in the area of specialty.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
General Public Health Intervention (adapted from the Public Health Nursing Practice Standards)

• Participate in public health surveillance: monitor health trends relevant to population of focus; and evaluate public health interventions.
• Disease and other health event investigation: identify threats to population health; determine mitigation measures; implement as appropriate.
• Serve as lead in providing outreach in designated areas.
• Administer screening: appropriately identify screening tools and use critical thinking to identify individuals with risk factors; secure appropriate response to the various screening tools.
• Continuously practice case-finding: locate individuals and families with risk factors and connect them to resources.
• Perform referral and follow up: link individuals, families, groups, organizations, and/or communities with available and proper resources.
• Provide case management and advocacy: empower individuals and families with a strengths based and reflective approach; build the capacity of the community to coordinate and provide services.
• Perform delegated functions: operate under the authority of the Public Health Medical Consultant as allowed by law; serve as a peer mentor for nurses within Public Health; direct and/or review any assessments where guidelines may require a co-signature.
• Perform health teaching: accurately communicate with individuals, families, systems, and communities to encourage change in knowledge, behaviors, and health status.
• Practice a counseling role: engage the community, a system, family or individual to increase self-care and coping skills and strategies to build relationships, connections, and mental health and well-being.
• Practice consultation: review and support team in case review and reflective practice.
• Collaborate with partners to build coalitions and organize the community to promote positive population health.
• Lead efforts in marketing program–related information using current tools. Assure website information is current and accurate for program area.
• Perform policy development and enforcement in designated program areas, as applicable, to assure that laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and policies are followed to promote and protect health.
• Provide program leadership through continuous quality improvement, performance management and workforce development planning and policy development; serve as a lead contact for designated community health programs.
• Coordinate and train staff on program–specific electronic charting and documentation.
• Delegate assignments within program area, manage workflow and reassign duties based on workload.
• Lead program-specific data and information efforts, contributing and applying to community health assessment and improvement planning.
• Prepare reports on an annual basis or as required by program area, for use by commissioners, public, state agencies, etc.
• Establish and maintain professional communication with local, state and federal elected officials regarding public health programs.

Specific Public Health Intervention

• Through autonomous decision making, facilitate progress, meet objectives and deliver prescribed outcomes within a variety of public health and grant programs.
• Participate in Public Health Specialist and Leadership common goals to achieve the strategic plan and foundational public health responsibilities (FPHR) framework.
• Collaborate and work closely with regional community health board staff and other county colleagues to administer family home visiting programs within collective grant or funding workplans.
• Ensure ongoing competency using best practices including peer review, reflective practice, goal setting, and self-evaluation.
• Attend and participate in assigned local, regional, or statewide committees, task forces, teams, councils and meetings for program and policy work as relevant and based on assigned program(s). Provide leadership on these as relevant.
• Assist with local and regional Community Health Assessment and Action Planning
• Maintain appropriate program-specific electronic charting. Ensure documentation is current, accurate, and timely and maintains confidentiality within a legal and ethical framework. Implement peer chart review process.
• Initiate and draft proposals with potential grant sources. Manage grants by maintaining data related to activities, administering programmatic duties required by grant funds, and drafting periodic reports to grantors as required. May assist with health plan, local, state and federal audits of grants or programs.
• Using nursing process, perform health assessments of individuals, families and communities by evaluating their physical, mental, social, spiritual and environmental health status using the appropriate assessment tool; perform gap analysis; provide nursing and community health intervention based on assessment of need and current community resources.
• Assure training timelines are met for staff working in area of specialty.
• Intervene in emergency situations, assess safety, and notify proper authorities. Act as a mandated reporter.
• Implement disease control measures during infectious disease outbreaks. Lead activities as needed.
• Participate in planning, exercising, responding, recovering, and post-incident evaluation. Actively engage in emergency operations as needed.
• Educate and support parents to promote healthy parent-child relationships. O. Train and orient program staff, colleagues, technical and other agency staff, and students, in implementing designated health programs, objectives, and goals. Serve as a lead resource for professional development for colleges and universities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Experience: 

• Three years of Family & Community Unit public health nursing preferred, or proof of applicable experience in a similar setting.

Certificates/Licenses Required: 

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse and certification as a Public Health Nurse in the State of Minnesota. Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance required.

Training Required:

• Complete Incident Command System training to include ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 (minimum) and 300, 400 (advanced).
• Red Cross CPR/BLS, AED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of, skill in and ability to project a positive outlook and implement solution-oriented leadership style.
• Knowledge of public health nursing practice and theory, practice advances and updates to nursing literature.
• Knowledge of the document entitled “Relevant Challenges and Considerations for Public Health Nursing Practice”, May 2016, written by the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Public Health Nursing Practice Council.
• Knowledge of health care systems structure and function; ability to make appropriate client referrals based on need, program guidelines, and community resources.
• Considerable knowledge of health care issues and trends specific to the work specialty to which assigned.
• Knowledge of information management systems appropriate for assigned program(s).
• Knowledge of billing procedures required by Medicaid/Medicare and other third-party payers if applicable.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, ordinances, resolutions and regulations relating to health programs and accompanying documentation requirements, including, but not limited to, mental health. Ability to understand and interpret public health laws and regulations and departmental policy.
• Knowledge of and skill in using specialized screening tests and evaluation tools as needed in assigned program areas.
• Skill in use of medical equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuff, scale, stethoscope, thermometer, etc.).
• Skill in obtaining blood specimens.
• Skill in administering vaccines and tuberculin testing to adults/children.
• Skill in interviewing adults and children using motivational interviewing techniques, and person-centered language.
• Skill in performing physical, emotional, and social assessments of individuals, families and communities.
• Skill in working effectively with diverse cultural or ethnic populations.
• Skill in synthesizing and analyzing data collected from medical equipment and ability to respond appropriately.
• Leadership skills required to delegate tasks, coordinate client/family care and mobilize community resources.
• Ability to maintain records, compile data in meaningful form, and prepare complex written and oral reports for local, county and state level agencies.
• Ability to access and identify current public health information and data.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with citizens, public officials, physicians and other medical professionals and co-workers, etc.
• Ability to work cooperatively with clients, co-workers, public and other agencies.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and complete a variety of different assignments at various stages.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, including providing back-up to others, willingness to create, implement, and adopt new methods.
• Ability to develop, organize and deliver public health presentations, classes, fairs, workshops and other outreach activities.
• Ability to assess and use critical thinking skills and exercise independent judgment in all situations including, but not limited to, crisis or emergency situations.

Salary : $69,089 - $82,251