Public Health Nurse I/II / Registered Nurse Extra Help

SALARY INFORMATION

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE I: $35.30 - $45.05 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE II: $40.86 - $52.15 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

REGISTERED NURSE:  $35.64 - $45.49 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases*.  Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all of the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere.  With its natural beauty, diversified culture, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Health and Human Services Agency

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with communities to protect and improve the health and well-being of Shasta County residents. Established in 2006, the HHSA is organized into four branches: Behavioral Health & Social Services, Public Health, Economic Mobility, with a centralized Administration Services. The HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill and those without resources look to the HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety. This transformation improves efficiency, avoids unnecessary duplication of effort, encourages collaboration among programs and organizes the HHSA’s services to be more responsive to the needs of the public.

Public Health focuses on community-wide prevention of communicable disease, chronic disease, injury, substance abuse, family violence, and lead poisoning. Public Health helps the community develop policies and support community environments that encourage healthy behaviors. It promotes nutrition and physical activity, healthy aging, worksite wellness and healthy communities. Public Health is also where the HHSA’s emergency response unit is headquartered, and its laboratory provides testing services for Shasta and numerous other Northern California counties.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Public Health Nurse I: Under close supervision, to perform public health nursing, teaching and health guidance services in homes, clinics, and a wide variety of community settings in connection with health promotion and the prevention and control of disease or disability; to participate in assessment of the community that leads to development and implementation of sound health policy that improves the health outcomes of the citizenry of Shasta County; and to perform related work as required.

Public Health Nurse II: Under general supervision, to perform public health nursing, teaching and health guidance services in homes, clinics, and a wide variety of community settings in connection with health promotion and the prevention and control of disease or disability; to participate in assessment of the community that leads to development and implementation of sound health policy that improves the health outcomes of the citizenry of Shasta County; and to perform related work as required.

Registered Nurse: Under general supervision, to provide prevention-oriented nursing expertise in the assigned program area for population-based policy development and education to groups and individuals in the community; to perform nursing functions in developing provider networks and/or in the Public Health clinic if assigned; and to perform related duties as required.

Extra help positions are hourly employees that may work up to 900 hours in a fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Benefits are not included.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Public Health Nurse I: This is an entry-level class for Registered Nurses who have recently been certificated as a Public Health Nurse or those who have been out of practice for a number of years. Incumbents apply the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities in learning to perform the full scope of public health nursing duties.

Public Health Nurse II: This is the journey and fully qualified professional level of the Public Health Nursing series in which incumbents have demonstrated competence to assume broad responsibilities requiring independence and professional judgment in assessing individual, family, and community health needs, and in planning and evaluating public health nursing activities.

Registered Nurse: Incumbents in this class are distinguished from Public Health Nurse in that the latter works independently in the field, while the Registered Nurse is either designated as Coordinator of a specific Public Health program or works in the Public Health Clinic.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Public Health Nurse I: Elicits health and social histories of individuals and families through use of observation and effective interviewing skills; participates in the promotion of maternal, child, adolescent and adult health; identifies health care needs through physical assessments; assesses developmental level and nutritional status of infants and children; recognizes the significance of abnormal findings; helps individuals and groups change their health behavior through discussions that highlight their specific health knowledge, attitudes, and skills; provides case management services based on assessment of the comprehensive health needs of the individual and family; identifies cultural patterns influencing community health practices, increases access of hard-to-reach populations to public health and other services, and assists in increasing the cultural competency of staff and the Health and Human Services Agency as an organization; teaches and counsels individuals, families, and groups regarding specific diseases or health conditions as well as health maintenance; investigates instances of possible abuse and notifies appropriate agencies; investigates and monitors cases of communicable disease, obtains specimens, interprets laboratory results, determines sources and contacts to prevent the spread of communicable disease; compiles and uses records, reports, and statistical information for appraisal and planning; attends required meetings and trainings; and performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Public Health Nurse II: Plans, organizes, and provides public health nursing services, including assessment, intervention, referral, and follow up of persons at high risk of complications throughout antepartum and postpartum periods, child rearing, infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood; assesses children and adults to assure early detection and referral of health conditions deviating from normal; provides tailor-made personal, preventive, and community health services to targeted populations in need; teaches individuals and groups about disease and disability prevention, and health promotion; participates in epidemiological investigations for control of communicable and chronic diseases; interacts with all aspects of the community--individual, family, agency, business, and professional; develops and implements community projects as an outgrowth of issues identified during public health nursing practice; mobilizes the community to develop partnerships and alliances to address identified high-priority community health needs; evaluates health of special population groups, such as the elderly, the culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged, or those with alternate life styles; identifies cultural patterns influencing community health practices, increases access of hard-to-reach populations to public health and other services, and increases the cultural competency of staff and the Health and Human Services Agency as an organization; keeps accurate, concise, and legally-appropriate records and reports; effectively uses records, reports, and statistical information for appraisal and planning; attends required meetings and trainings; with certified sexually transmitted disease (STD) training and supervision, may be assigned to perform STD exams, including moderate complexity laboratory tests; prioritizes multiple tasks, exercises effective time management, and manages workload and personal stress well; may assume delegated responsibility for the work of the Program Supervisor or the Program Manager in the absence of either; and may supervise a small number of other Department staff, interns, or volunteers.

Registered Nurse: Meets with community groups and medical providers to provide policy development leadership and education in assigned program areas; plans, implements, coordinates, and/or evaluates prevention activities, programs or care provided to assigned program population; writes plans and reports, coordinates data collection procedures, and oversees the compilation of statistics to comply with funding agency requirements; assesses the capacity of the program population care system, its providers, and the community needs and identifies gaps and duplication of programs and services; assists in the development and monitoring of assigned program budgets for compliance with applicable State and/or Federal regulations, and assists in the preparation of application proposals; collaborates with and advocates for programs and activities for assigned program populations by working with individuals, community groups, coalitions and agencies in accord with Departmental policies; provides program-specific consultation in the development of health education and outreach strategies and materials, media campaigns and media outreach; participates in community or agency task forces or committees as designated by the Health Officer and/or Deputy Health Officer to promote interagency collaboration and coordination; serves as liaison to program related state, regional, and/or community groups when so assigned; participates in epidemiologic studies for control of vaccine preventable diseases affecting the assigned program population; counsels and teaches individuals, families, and other human services providers about health promotion and preventable health problems; provides clinic nursing functions if assigned to the Public Health clinic.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Public Health Nurse I: 

Knowledge of: Skilled nursing as applied to public health practices; promoting health and the prevention of disease and disability; general nursing skills in the areas of maternal , child, and adult health; child growth and development; nutritional needs of all ages; normal and abnormal health conditions and health behavior; teaching, counseling, interviewing, and history taking; case management; epidemiology and methods for the control of communicable diseases; community resources and how to utilize them; environmental, sociological, cultural, policy, and psychological issues influencing health; current developments in public health nursing; ordinances, rules and regulations governing public health services and nursing practices; basic economics for delivery of health care; workload management and management of personal stress; and the work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health nursing.

Ability to: Exercise independent judgment to plan, organize, and problem solve; manage time effectively; adapt to various cultural, physical and behavioral conditions of patients and environment; teach individuals and groups; seek and use appropriate resource materials; work effectively with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and coalitions to assist in the satisfactory solution of health problems; recognize and respect the impact of cultural differences on health behavior and practices; perform assessments, interviews, and gather needed information to reach appropriate nursing diagnosis; make appropriate referrals to community resources; provide adequate follow up to help maximize use of resources; perform clinical tasks such as venipuncture, injections, and dispensing medications; keep accurate, concise and legally appropriate records and reports; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with health and other professionals, paraprofessionals, agencies, community groups, and the general public; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and actively promote the Department's mission and its population-based health outcomes orientation.

These employment standards are typically attained with possession of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited program.

Public Health Nurse II: 

Knowledge of: Skilled nursing as applied to public health practice; control and prevention of communicable and chronic disease; maternal, child, adolescent, and adult health; prevention of abuse, neglect, and violence throughout the age continuum; prevention of injuries; learning, teaching, interviewing, counseling, and problem solving; normal growth and development including the aging process; impact of nutrition at all age levels; community resources and methods to mobilize and access them; case management; work of other social and health agencies, and functions of other professions as related to public health practice; literature and trends in public health nursing and the general field of public health as a whole; environmental, sociological, cultural, psychological, political and policy issues influencing health; and funding sources and cost of health care.
  

Ability to: Assess comprehensive health needs of children and adults; problem solve and case manage individuals or families with complex problems and health issues; identify and respect cultural patterns influencing health practices; facilitate access to resources; identify populations with specific health needs; monitor the accessibility and quality of community and personal health services in the community; advocate for needs of culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged persons; work effectively with individuals, department staff, families, community groups agencies, and coalitions in developing and implementing satisfactory solutions to health problems; apply principles of epidemiology to a wide range of social and health issues; apply principles of primary prevention to the prioritization, design, implementation and evaluation of community-based health programs; maintain confidentiality; communicate effectively orally and in writing; mentor other nursing personnel and train and direct the work of staff, interns, or volunteers; respond effectively to critical situations and emergencies; and actively promote the Department's mission and its population-based health outcomes orientation.

These standards are typically attained with 12 months of experience comparable to a Public Health Nurse I in Shasta County.

Registered Nurse: 

Knowledge of: Modern principles, techniques and procedures of nursing, including methods of communicable disease control such as immunizations and partner notification; prenatal and child growth and development and processes for promoting maternal and child health; maternal, child and adolescent health issues, control and prevention of vaccine preventable diseases, and prevention of abuse and violence; work of other health and social agencies and functions with other professions as related to public health; function, guidelines, development and mobilization of community resources and networks; current literature and trends in the general field of Public Health. 

 Ability to: Perform skillfully and effectively the duties of a Registered Nurse in a public health setting, including having an aptitude for blood drawing and giving injections while working in a fast-paced environment; exercise sound judgment; plan, administer, and evaluate a specialized health program consistent with Departmental health policy decisions; initiate program improvements and recommend policy changes to improve the health of populations; analyze situations accurately and take corrective action; communicate effectively orally and in writing; identify, respect, and work effectively with cultural patterns influencing health behavior to improve health outcomes of specific population groups; provide expert consultation and technical assistance to other professionals and agencies as assigned; establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with the wide variety of people and groups contacted in the course of work, both internal and external to the Public Health Department; represent the Department effectively as assigned, in contacts with providers, agencies, organizations, families, community groups, and the public; implement evaluation of health outcomes of assigned program activities, in consultation with other Department staff, such as program manager and the Information and Evaluation unit coordinator; actively promote the Department's mission and its population-based health outcome goals and objectives. 

These employment standards are typically attained with possession of an Associate of Arts Degree in Nursing/Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program or completion of a hospital-based accredited nursing program. One year experience overseeing the community health component of a hospital or involvement in outpatient/outreach services or involvement in a community education program is preferred.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Case Management unit located in the Public Health Branch is looking for a Public Health Nurse/Registered Nurse who has a desire to work to improve the health of children with severe dental issues or who have been exposed to lead.   The ideal candidate has case management experience and understands aspects of care coordination and program outreach. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication skills, both orally and written. The candidate will be comfortable referring clients to resources and presenting to medical providers and community partners.  The candidate must be able to work autonomously as well as collaboratively within a team.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Public Health Nurse I: 

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing; OR
• Possession of a valid California State Public Health Nursing (PHN) Certificate; AND
• Possession of an appropriate California driver license.

Public Health Nurse II: 

• Possession of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in California
• Possession of a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate
• Possession of a valid California driver license

Registered Nurse: 

• Possession of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.
• Possession of a valid California driver's license.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you possess a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California?  Yes/No
2. If yes, what is your license number and expiration date?  If no, please type "n/a."
3. Do you possess a valid California State Public Health Nursing Certificate?  Yes/No
4. If yes, please attach a copy of your Certificate to your application and provide us with the number and expiration date.  If no, please type "n/a."
5. If you do not have a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate, have you applied for one? Yes/No
6. If yes, please list the date you applied for the Certificate. If no, please type "n/a."

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment 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 functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk and sit.   The employee is occasionally required to stand; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.   The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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 functions.

Some positions may require adequate mobility to move very quickly in certain situations. And employee must operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis. 

Some positions may require working with clients in crisis situations and/or working with clients who are incarcerated or otherwise detained in a criminal justice facility. 

In certain situations, noise levels may be loud.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
• Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
• As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
• Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing.
• Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader). If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flier.
• In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 5:00p.m., on May 22, 2024. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. 

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515