Public Health Nurse Ii - Clinical Services

Salary : $55,645.00 Annually

Location : Alamance County, NC

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 202100199

Department: Health Department

Opening Date: 09/29/2021

Closing Date: 6/30/2023 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Purpose
This is an intermediate level professional nursing position with the primary purpose in providing primary, preventive, and rehabilitative care to individuals and families in Public Health programs.

These positions are full time, 40 hours/week, intermediate level professional nursing positions providing preventative services in the Alamance County Clinical Programs which include all facets of the health department which includes duties in the following programs: Immunizations/Other Vaccines, Communicable Disease, Tuberculosis, Family Planning, Pregnancy Testing, STD and HIV/AIDS, Well Child Health, Maternity and Bioterrorism.

Recruitment is ongoing until best candidate is chosen.

Position does provide an CME allowance.
Responsibilities

• Serves as charge nurse in assigned clinic directing work, clinic flow, and assigning tasks to lower-level staff and advising other clinic staff about management of unfamiliar patient situations
• Provides nursing history, assessment, interventions, treatment and follow-up of psychosocial and physical well-being according to ACHD established program policies, procedures and standing orders.
• Requires independent nursing judgment to perform appropriate nursing assessments, screenings and develop appropriate nursing plan of care.
• Provides education, counseling and recommendations to patients.
• Counsels and obtains appropriate patient consent for treatment.
• Orders appropriate lab tests per standing orders and provider order.
• Provides counseling, referral and follow-up of abnormal clinical findings.
• Dispenses and/or administer medications as ordered per provider order, standing orders and Board of Pharmacy rules. This includes STD treatments, dispensing/administering/counseling regarding all FDA approved birth control measures.
• Provides immunizations per NC State Laws.
• Evaluates patient outcomes and response to treatments.
• Provides appropriate referrals as indicated.
• Documents accurately and concisely all patient care, counseling, services provided, provider consultation/recommendations and patient response in the client EMR.
• Documents accurately in appropriate State Electronic Systems. (i.e. NCIR, NC EDSS)
• Provides follow-up for missed appointment per agency policy/procedures.
• Completes appropriate reports as indicated.
• Visits patient home as indicated/needed.
• Assists clients in making appointments;
• Collaborates with other providers, staff, and agencies;
• Attends meetings and continuing education sessions;
• Participates and provides off-site assistance in community health fairs, agency Communicable Disease outbreak responses including mass vaccination clinics, testing, staffing emergency shelters and perform any other assigned duties.

Qualifications

• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Compassion - Ability to show kindness, empathy and genuine care.
• Honesty - Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Integrity - Trustworthiness to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility or pledge
• Judgment - Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to following policies and procedures.
• Safety-Minded - Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities.
• Teamwork - Ability to work with others successfully and productively for the common cause and desired end goal.

Skills & Abilities
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Nursing: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and one year of professional nurse experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Valid N.C. driver's license and have access to a personal vehicle. Possesses a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the N.C. Board of Nursing.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Fluent in both Spanish and English both oral and written.

**This position, like all other positions within the Department will be required to participate in any emergency response activities as deemed necessary by the Health Director or his/her designee. Availability during emergencies and exercises is required." This includes staffing emergency shelters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.
O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs./day)
F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs./day)
C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs./day)

Physical Demands
Stand F
Walk F
Sit F
Manually Manipulate C
Reach Outward F
Reach Above Shoulder O
Climb O
Crawl O
Squat or Kneel O
Bend O
Hear F
Speech F
Taste N

Lift/Carry
10 lbs. or less O
11-20 lbs. O
21-50 lbs. O
51-100 lbs. O
Over 100 lbs. N

Push/Pull
12 lbs. or less F
13-25 lbs. O
26-40 lbs. O
41-100 lbs. O

Other Physical Requirements
• Vision (Near, Distance, Peripheral)

Health Insurance - Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health benefits upon the 1st of the month following the 30-day waiting period. Changes to elections can then be made during the annual open enrollment period, usually in the fall, or within 30 days of a qualified life event (marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, change in child's dependent status, death of a spouse or other dependent and other change in employment status).

Alamance County Government currently offers three plans of medical/pharmacy benefit options including a COPAY Plan 70, COPAY Plan 80 and a QHDHP with HSA.

Dental Benefit - Alamance County offers one dental insurance plan for FT employees. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Dental Insurance - A dental insurance program is available to FT employees. The current program allows employees access to dental providers for a variety of dental services. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Vision Insurance - A voluntary vision program is available to FT employees. The current PPO style plan allows employees to seek treatment and hardware from any vision care provider of their choice. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Voluntary Benefits: Alamance County Government provides a variety of voluntary health related benefits to allow employees to purchase protection from what life may bring. A sampling of voluntary benefits includes Flexible Spending Accounts with dependent care opportunities, Health Saving Account with an employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance and more.

Death Benefit - Alamance County Government has elected to contribute towards a Death Benefit associated with the Retirement System for all employees that are contributing Retirement System members. Once an employee has met at least one (1) year as a contributing member to the retirement system, the employee will have a benefit payable to their beneficiary of no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000 based on the employee's salary. Benefit is payable if the employee is actively working and has not reached 70 years of age.

Life Insurance - Basic term life insurance is the amount of one times the annual salary (no greater than $70,000) is provided for all FT employees. Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deductions for employee and eligible dependents.

Retirement Benefits - Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is a requirement for all full-time and regular part-time employees (working more than 1,000 hours annually). Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave the County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have at least five (5) years of service, you are considered 100% vested in NCLGERS. Alamance County will be contributing a percentage as required by NCLEGRS on your behalf as well.

Time Off Accruals:
Vacation Time - All Alamance County full time employees immediately earn a bank of vacation hours that can be used after 6 months of employment (exhausting their probationary period). Vacation time accrues based on the full-time hire date (most recent hire date is used in the case of rehires). Employees with a hire date before the 15th of the month will receive vacation credit for that month; otherwise, time will not be earned. Time will be contributed to the employee's time off bank on the 15th of the month based on a monthly proration of the schedule below.

Years of Service - Days of Vacation Annually
0-4 years of service 10 days equivalent to 80 hours
5-9 years of service 13 days equivalent to 104 hours
10-14 years of service 16 days equivalent to 128 hours
15-19 years of service 21 days equivalent to 168 hours
20 years or more 25 days equivalent to 200 hours

Sick Time - All Alamance County full-time employees will earn a bank of sick hours to be used when they are away from work for instances related to their own illness or the illness of an immediate family member, death of an immediate family member or when they (or an immediate family member) need to attend a health-related appointment. All County employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year with an earnings of 8 hours per month if employed on or before the 15th of the month.

County Observed Holidays - Alamance County will observe the State of North Carolina Holiday Schedule. Holidays will include the following and will be paid at 8 hours holiday pay. Exceptions have been made for certain departments given the nature of the services provided. Please check with your department head for supplemental information.

Wellness Benefits & Programming:
Employee Assistance Counseling Program: There are times when everyone needs a little help or advice. The confidential Employee Assistance Counseling Program (EACP) through a local provider can help you with things like stress, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, relationship issues, legal issues, parenting questions, financial counseling and dependent care resources. Best of all it's free for County employees and available for your household to utilize. Utilization of the EACP is completely confidential and participation isn't recorded.
Help is available 24/7/365 by telephone.
Please see brochure available on the SharePoint for additional information about the EACP program.

Alamance County Employee Health Clinic: Available to employees and spouses who are covered under the Alamance County Insurance Plan and their covered dependents, 18 years of age and older. Retired employees under age 65 are also eligible to use the clinic. Depending on insurance coverage elected, care at the clinic ranges from free to a fair market value cost.

Services Available:
Treatment of injuries or illnesses such as Flu, Sinus Infection, pink eye, sprains, strains or fever.
Monitor chronic conditions (Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Health Disease, Asthma, etc...)
Assistance with finding a Primary Care Provider
Health Education and Counseling
Triage and referrals to specialists when appropriate.

Employee Fitness Center:
Alamance County encourages all employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at home and at work. In support of this philosophy an Employee Fitness Center is available for all County employees to use at their convenience during non-work hours and is open 24/7/365. This center includes weight training equipment, cardio equipment, a small aerobics room along with restrooms, changing room and lockers.