Public Health Nurse

Join Vigo County, Indiana, in a dynamic role as a Public Health Nurse. As a key member of our team, you will play a vital part in promoting health and well-being in our community.

We are seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Registered Nurse to join our Public Health Department. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing education, health, and nursing care to County residents, ensuring compliance with established policies, practices, protocols, and professional and public health standards.

• Manage the care of clients using established protocols, ensuring compliance with all applicable County Health Department policies and procedures, Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) standards, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) regulations, and all other federal and state laws relating to privacy, confidentiality, and service delivery.
• Investigate reportable communicable diseases and enter information in Indiana National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS). Provide education to infected individuals and their close contacts, submitting appropriate specimens to lab, completing/filing epidemiological reports and submitting to ISDH as required. Provide case follow-up as needed.
• Provide case management and administer medication to patients with latent or active tuberculosis. Manage Indiana State University's latent tuberculosis student medication.
• Provide education to parents, children, and adults on immunizations and healthy choices.
• Perform nursing assessments, including blood pressure checks, vision screening, hearing screenings, and weight and height measurements.
• Review immunization records, prepare and administer vaccines, and initiate reminders or follow-up visits.
• Conduct hemoglobin checks and blood lead testing on children and provide lead exposure education to families, including providing lead poisoning case management for children with elevated blood levels.
• Evaluate the physical, social, and emotional development of children and make appropriate referrals.
• Conduct home visits for TB patients, perform sputum collections, and provide education on TB exposure and isolation.
• Participate in health fairs and first aid stations at community events and serve as public health consultant to school nurses. Work in cooperation with other public health agencies in providing improved service delivery, including identifying needs, planning solutions, and developing effective methods of implementation.
• Assist with County CPR trainings.
• Maintain and update nursing policies and procedures, and write grant proposals.
• Maintain current records and documentation on services provided, and complete a variety of quarterly and annual reports as required by supervisor, Health Board, and regulating agencies.
• Organize and maintain insurance billing procedures.
• Prepare and administer medications and/or treatment as prescribed by physicians.
• Investigate, document, and provide follow-up for complaints from the ISDH, local health care delivery agencies, private individuals, patients, or family members regarding health care delivery within Vigo County.
• Maintain appropriate vaccine inventories and orders/purchases supplies as needed. Maintain proper storage and handling of vaccines, including required documentation.
• Respond to telephone calls and questions from members of the public, including scheduling appointments, making referrals, counseling, and providing health-related information as appropriate.
• Maintain current knowledge of medical practices and public health issues by reading professional publications and attending in-service programs and professional education workshops/training/conferences.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Associates degree and current licensing as Registered Nurse in the State of Indiana. Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Certification in CPR, TB skin testing, lead testing, National Incident Management System (NIMS) and/or other areas as required for public health programs/operations.
• Ability to meet all department hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of standard policies and practices of the Vigo County Health Department.
• Knowledge of public health laws and accepted principles and practices of public health nursing, with ability to effectively examine and screen individuals, assess needs, and provide information, treatment, assistance, and referrals.
• Knowledge of health and social services available to County residents and ability to implement public health programs and facilitate referrals as appropriate.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to prepare correspondence, patient charts, and detailed written reports as required.
• Knowledge of standard filing systems and ability to create and maintain Department and patient files.
• Ability to operate standard office and medical equipment, such as computer, calculator, telephone, copier, fax machine, scanner, syringes, blood pressure equipment, hemocue, audiometer, otoscope, stethoscope, and thermometer.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, ISDH, personnel from various health-related agencies, hospitals, schools, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with difficult/distraught persons.
• Ability to effectively conduct field visits and resolve related emergencies and problems as situations demand.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out oral and written instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to compile, compare, observe, analyze, and evaluate data and make determinations based on data analysis.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate decimals and percentages.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, often amidst frequent distractions and interruptions, and on several tasks at the same time.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and locations, plan/layout work assignments, and manage time and resources effectively.
• Ability to use/interpret medical terminology/language and read/interpret lab reports, x-rays, and detailed reference books, medical texts, and nursing manuals.
• Ability to maintain positive public relations and present public speaking engagements and special events.
• Ability to occasionally work extended hours, evenings, and/or weekends and occasionally travel out of town for meetings/training/conferences, sometimes overnight.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

The incumbent's work is broad in range and often requires careful consideration of complex circumstances and variables. The incumbent performs duties according to established policies and procedures, exercising judgment to effectively develop and maintain health programs, examine and evaluate individuals, and provide information, counseling, treatment, assistance, and/or referrals.

The incumbent reports directly to the Administrator. The incumbent assures proper implementation of public health programs. Goals and objectives of the incumbent's work are known, with highly unusual circumstances and/or sensitive problems discussed with supervisor as needed. Work is primarily reviewed for adherence to instructions/guidelines, compliance with legal requirements, and continuing quality of Health Department services for Vigo County. On rare occasions, the incumbent makes decisions in the absence of specific policies and procedures, and/or guidance from supervisor.

The incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, ISDH, personnel from various health-related agencies, hospitals, schools, and the public for purposes of exchanging information, maintaining cooperative work relationships, and providing education, information, counsel, and efficient health care services.

The incumbent performs duties in a health clinic, involving sitting/walking at will, sitting for long periods, keyboarding, lifting/carrying objects weighing less than 25 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, close/far vision, color/depth perception, handling/grasping/fingering objects, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, and driving. The incumbent maintains considerable contact with the public and may be exposed to difficult persons or crying/screaming/struggling children. The incumbent is regularly exposed to normal health hazards associated with public health nursing for which universal health precautions must be followed to ensure safety of self and others.

The incumbent occasionally works extended hours, evenings, and/or weekends, and occasionally travels out of town for meetings/training/conferences, sometimes overnight.