Senior Public Health Nurse

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This employee functions as a Registered Nurse in the Women's Health Program at Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH).  The Maternal Health Clinic is a component of the Women’s Health Program in the Medical Services Health Division.  The clinic provides comprehensive services relating to prenatal care with the purpose of reducing infant mortality and morbidity.  The Women's Health Program is comprised of the Family Planning and Maternal Health Clinics.  This position functions as a Senior Public Health Nurse in the Maternal Health clinic at DCoDPH. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The functions listed below represent most of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

Direct Patient Care:

• The Senior Public Health Nurse provides obstetrical/maternal health services including education and counseling to pregnant clients.
• Monitors patients’ vital signs, weight, and urine results.
• Administers medication and vaccines as ordered by medical provider.
• The Senior Public Health Nurse also administers injections, follow up on abnormal labs and missed appointments, and triage phone calls.
• Instructs patients on prenatal care for each trimester and provides other education.
• The Senior Public Health Nurse assists medical providers in performing physical exams and procedures.
• This position participates in charge nurse duties, orientation and precepting of new Women's Health Program staff and nursing students that rotate through the program. 
• Assists in performing NST (Neonatal Non-Stress Test) and ultrasound.
• This position may be required to work in other clinical areas across the organization.
• Participates in COVID and emergency response activities and performs other tasks as requested by supervisor, Program Manager, and Division Director.

Charge Nurse Duties:

• Manages other nurses and community health assistants assigned to clinic.
• Manages and coordinates clinic flow.
• Redirects and reassigns staff when clinic flow shifts.
• Assesses charts for needed labs and procedures when patient checks in.
• When the patient is leaving, checks to make sure that needed tests have been performed and that appropriate referrals have been made.
• Reviews patient encounter for sheets for accuracy.
• Responds to patients’ requests and via phone call or walk-in to identify needs and advise appropriate follow-up.
• Assists with orientation of new staff and students.
• Assists with conducting record audits.

Performs other tasks as requested.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Must be able to work independently and make sound nursing judgments in a variety of complex health situations.
• Must have the ability to record the services rendered accurately and interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions.
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
• Considerable knowledge of, and skill in, the application of nursing theory, practice, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health.
• Knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to coordinate these as needed.
• General knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public health, including health disparities; ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of others.
• Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions.
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions.
• Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information.
• The ability and flexibility to float for purposes of working in other nursing units of the DCoDPH as needed.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and one year of professional nursing experience.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIREMENTS:

• A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the N. C. Board of Nursing.

About Durham County Public Health

A Great Place to: Live. Work. Thrive. Durham County, North Carolina is one of the nation’s top ranked places to live, work and play! With its rich history and reputation Durham is a great place to call home. As one of the nation’s most prominent technology and research areas, Durham County is also an economic development leader among its peer counties both locally and in other regions. As the state’s 4th largest county, we are poised to continue our successes and our enviable quality of life.

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