COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE II

GRADE

19

LOCATION OF POSITION

Howard County Health Department 8930 Stanford Blvd. Columbia, MD 21045

Main Purpose of Job

The main purpose of this Community Health Nurse II (CHN II) position is to provide communicable disease prevention, surveillance, and control activities in both a community and clinical setting with a primary focus on tuberculosis. This position provides nurse case management, contact tracing, tuberculosis treatment and prophylaxis, direct observation therapy, follow-up, and education to tuberculosis patients and suspects in Howard County. Also assists with surveillance activities to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. This position assists in the daily operations of Howard County Health Department (HCHD) providing direct nursing care to patients in various community settings and HCHD clinics. The work may be performed at patients' homes, schools, and other community settings to provide community health nursing services to individuals, families, and the community. Provides assessment, education, and assistance to patients in understanding present health status with consideration for social determinants and provides counseling, guidance, referral, and treatment of physical, mental, and emotional health needs to patients, their families, and other caregivers. This position is NOT eligible for telework.

POSITION DUTIES

70% TB Case Manager Coordinates the care of a selected caseload of patients for referred services. Provides outpatient clinical care; managing active TB cases or outbreaks; Conducts patient home visits as needed for TB treatment. Undertakes epidemiological investigations of infectious diseases (tuberculosis) reported to the health department using Maryland Department of Health (MDH) protocols and standards in order to control infectious diseases in the county. Ensures that tuberculosis case investigations are initiated and completed using HCHD/MDH workflow, protocols, forms, and data systems. Completes electronic database records of tuberculosis cases, ensuring record review of cases for accuracy and completeness. Records health status of patients, treatments administered, and other appropriate information in the patients' record accurately and timely, and reports to the clinician and TB supervisor as indicated. Ensures that reports are completed per HCHD and MDH guidelines and protocols. Responds to calls, voicemails, emails, faxes from medical community, labs, and general public related to tuberculosis. Assist in identifying intervention needs associated with tuberculosis and helps to lead health department response for case management. Provides guidance for isolation measures to affected individuals, families, community members as needed. Initiates and completes contact studies for infectious cases - tuberculosis. Tracks treatment progress of patients with infectious illness - tuberculosis per HCHD/MDH guidelines and processes. Follows up with clients to ensure compliance with recommended guidance via phone, email, letters, or home visit if needed. Confers with TB team and medical director during case rounds regarding management of identified cases. Functions as a HCHD SME for HCHD/MDH/CDC recommendations, protocols, and public health management of infectious diseases - tuberculosis. Writes timely and accurate disease summary reports for HCHD and/or MDH as directed. Reports to TB supervisor and medical director all unusual cases, outbreak activity, emerging diseases, and any problematic issues. Phlebotomy as needed as related to CD functions Administers injections to adults and children as related to CD functions. Review and maintain program policy and procedures Conducts and maintains accurate medication inventory and supply records; Collaborates with medical director, providers, other TB program staff to ensure effective service delivery Attends necessary or required meetings Collaborates with medical director for educational materials Responsible for data management to include gathering, organization, review and presentation of data to supervisor; Participates in TB program community outreach and formal presentations Performs DOTs (Directly Observed Therapy) and/or reviews VDOTs (Video Directly Observed Therapy) as needed Completes documentation in new patient summaries, TB case rounds, and snapshot in a timely manner Provides individual assessments of social determinants of health and makes appropriate referrals to a variety of community resources Evaluates the effectiveness of nursing interventions and recommends revisions as necessary Provides assistance with management of communicable disease outbreaks as additional staff needs dictate Participates in the orientation of staff Ensures confidentiality of written, electronic, and verbal communication Uses appropriate lines of communication within and outside the agency Responds to requests for information in a timely manner Provides interpretation and translation services according to agency policy Provides education appropriate to meet the needs of those with functional needs 20% Clinic Nurse Provides flexible coverage of various health department programs including communicable disease and immunizations as needed: Participates in the coordination of communicable disease investigation and surveillance; Provides assistance with management of communicable disease outbreaks including tuberculosis; Applies specific disease and outbreak guidelines to determine and execute best clinical interventions, collaborating with healthcare providers to develop and deliver effective infection control measures. Manages contact tracing, ensuring HCHD, and MDH guidelines are met. Communicates findings and recommendations as indicated. Screens patients, reviews vaccination histories, and provides appropriate immunizations to adults, children, and infants in the clinic and community settings Administers vaccines according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requirements, Vaccines for Children (VFC) eligibility criteria, and current Howard County Health Department Immunization Program standing orders; Provides culturally competent patient education on immunizations using appropriate resources such as Vaccine Information Statements and scientifically based information about vaccines. Provides individual assessments of social determinants of health, makes appropriate referrals to a variety of community resources, and coordinates the care of a selected caseload of patients for referred services; Records health status of patients, immunizations and treatments administered, and other appropriate information in the patients’ record, and reports to the clinician and to the nursing supervisor as indicated; Evaluates the effectiveness of nursing interventions and recommends revisions as necessary; Documents work accurately and within agency guidelines; Accepts responsibility for special projects and performs other duties as assigned; 10% Quality Assurance and Reporting Assists in the compilation of materials needed and works in collaboration with the TB supervisor in the preparation of reports Collects and analyzes data to support planning and program development, as directed Participates in internal meetings, chart review process, audits and case study presentations to monitor services and ensure standards of best practice Participates in nursing research as assigned Attends professional development related to assigned duties Complies with standards for infection control and risk management Protective Equipment, After-Hours On-Call procedures, FEMA trainings, and Data Security and Confidentiality compliance. 5% Standard Nursing Duties Accepts responsibilities for special projects as assigned by TB supervisor, medical director, Deputy Bureau Director, Bureau Director Participates in annual Back to School vaccine clinics and annual respiratory virus vaccine clinics by preparing vaccine and/or administering vaccine injections to children and adults. Participates in HCHD Nurse Trainings as required including but not limited to: the orientation of new staff, cross training of other HCHD staff and nursing students as assigned. Participates in a nurse on-call rotation as delineated in the HCHD After Hours Policy. Participates in community outreach and education events including career fairs. Participates in specimen collection, packing, and/or shipping and transport, including after hours, if needed. Is prepared to provide other nursing functions for HCHD as needed, including but are not limited to outbreak investigations, TB contact studies, and phlebotomy. Maintains compliance with standards of care through training including, but not limited to: CPR certification, Local Health Department (LHD) Nurse Dispensing, Personal Protective Equipment, After-Hours On-Call procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. Experience: None. Notes: 1. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and one year of experience as a Registered Nurse for the required education. 2. Candidates may substitute two years of experience as a Registered Nurse for the required education. 3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Nursing classification or Nursing or Health Care Specialist specialty codes in the Nursing field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The desired candidate should possess the following: Experience providing case management services. Experience independently conducting nursing assessments and effectively communicating assessment findings to clinicians. Experience in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, with a preference for tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control. Experience performing phlebotomy. Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel), Microsoft Teams, OneDrive/SharePoint, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215. A copy of your license or license number should be uploaded on your application. 2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this classification will be required to provide the facility with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all related education, experience, dates and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree and major on your application, if applicable. For education obtained outside the U.S., any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added. Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Candidates may remain on the certified eligible list for a period of at least one year. The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies.

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, the paper application (and supplemental questionnaire) may be submitted to MDH, Recruitment and Selection Division, 201 W. Preston St., Room 114-B, Baltimore, MD 21201. Paper application materials must be received by 5 pm, close of business, on the closing date for the recruitment, no postmarks will be accepted. If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If you are unable to upload, please fax the requested information to 410-333-5689. Only additional materials that are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the MDH Recruitment and Selection Division at 410-767-1251. If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov. Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling: 410-767-1251 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.