Registered Nurse (RN) - Public Health
Nash County
Nashville, NC

Public Health Nurse II - STD ERRN

Public Health Nurse II - STD ERRN Salary $63,640.00 Annually Location Nashville, NC Job Type Full Time Job Number 2024-00089 Department Health Department Division Health Departments Opening Date 09/30/2024 Closing Date Continuous * Description * Benefits General Statement of Duties Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;} A. Primary Purpose of Position: Serves as the highest level of provider to see Women's Health Watch and STD patients. Responsible for providing adult physical assessments (including breast exam, pelvic exam, and bimanual exam as appropriate) in the Women's Health Watch and Sexually Transmitted Disease clinics. Works with the physician and the other disciplines to obtain medical histories, obtain and perform appropriate diagnostic procedures, prescribe treatment under the direction of standing orders, document findings, develop care plans and counsel patients. B. Work Schedule: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Hours may vary depending on services offered by the health department. Essential Duties and Tasks 80% Sexually Transmitted Disease Responsible for assisting Program Coordinator with keeping staff informed of policy, procedure and clinic changes. Ensures that the activities of the program are carried out in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Health Department. Assists with orientation of new staff to the STD program and its policies and procedures. Assists with notifications and follow-up of all positive results from all programs, following STD Treatment Guidelines. Reviews all records from these clinics and notifies patient as indicated through letters and phone calls. Counsels regarding results, need for treatment, follow-up and partner notification. Assists with reporting and follow-up of patients seen with STDs in local Emergency Rooms. 4. Assists with coordination of patient follow-up and treatment with other program coordinators (Maternity, Family Planning and Adult Health) and STD Management Support person. 5. Serves as a resource person for fellow staff and provides them with technical assistance. Also serves as a resource person for Infection Control Nurses from area hospitals and area physicians. Maintains effective working relationship with STD Regional Office Personnel, area Infection Control Nurses and area physicians. 6. Responsible for reporting cases of STDs and AIDS/HIV. 7. Serves as a counselor for patients requesting HIV test and those identified with risk factors. 8. Serves as back-up member of the Agency's STD Quality Assurance Committee, which includes representation from the Nashville and Rocky Mount Office. Composed of the following: Nursing Supervisor, RN, Lab, Management Support, and Health Education. 9. Responsible for maintaining an up-to-date workflow in the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NC EDSS) according to State Guidelines. Performs physical assessment exams in STD clinics Reviews or obtains medical history. Counsels regarding appropriate communicable disease and discusses general STDs with patients. Identifies and evaluates high risk behavior. Provides HIV counseling. Performs a physical exam including the bimanual pelvic. Collects lab samples relative to the medical history. (GC, chlamydia, NGU, herpes, serology for syphilis and HIV, and wet preps for trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis and yeast) Assesses findings. Prescribes treatment according to the Agency's STD standing orders. Refers sex partners for treatment. Provides appropriate individual education and counseling - stressing safer sex practice with condom use. Advises and notifies patient of follow-up appointments and/or referrals. Treats genital warts per standing orders after the diagnosis has been established by MD, PA or NP. 6% Women's Health Watch Performs physical assessment exams in the Women's Health Watch Program Reviews or obtains medical history. 2. Counsel's patients regarding acute and chronic disease, communicable disease, lab findings and diet. 3. Performs breast exams and teaches self-breast examination. 4. Follows the agency's procedure manual for the collection of specimens for pap smear, gonorrhea cultures, Chlamydia antigen, herpes cultures and wet mounts. 5. Performs bimanual and rectal examinations as approved under Category II Nursing Procedures outlined in procedure manual. 6. Evaluates and interprets test results and treats according to Standing Orders signed by Clinician and refers patient as indicated from findings. 7. If applicable, offers HIV testing/counseling and BCCCP referral. 4% Family Planning Interviews/collects lab specimens in Family Planning clinics Counsel's patients regarding birth control methods. Obtains medical history and other pertinent data such as Blood Pressures. Assists Clinician with examination. Interprets instructions to patient, interprets consents and obtains signatures. Issues supplies of prescribed methods of birth control and dispenses according to pharmacy policy. Collects specimens such as Paps, GC, Chlamydia, and wet preps. 4% Maternity Interviews in maternity clinics Obtains prenatal history. Teaches patient important information to help her have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Counsel's patient about complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery. Assists Clinician with exams and interprets instructions to the patient. Schedules test needed to be performed outside of agency and schedules return appointments. Issues vitamins and iron tablets according to Pharmacy Policy. 2% Pediatrics Interviews and Administers Immunizations in Pediatric Clinics Interviews parents of infants and children to obtain medical history. Counsel's parents regarding diet, growth, development and preventative health care. Administers vision and hearing tests. Evaluates patient for needed lab work and administers immunizations. 2% General Clinic Works General clinic administering immunizations, checking rashes, head lice, blood pressures, administering immunizations for WIC recert appointments, etc. Obtains medical history and orders lab work on TB patients, contacts, reactors. Administers and reads TB skin tests, issues sputum containers, and dispenses medicines per Standing Orders. 1% Community Health Staff's emergency shelters for disaster services. Backs up school nurses and assists other health department staff with school activities (ex., school-based screenings, immunizations, communicable diseases services, etc.). Assists with department wide community activities (ex., community flu programs, health fairs, etc.). 1% Other Duties As assigned. Maintain Personnel records. Attends staff meetings and other county education programs. Participates in disaster services as required. II. B. OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS: Accuracy Required in Work: Accuracy required in reviewing lab data results, physical assessment exams, in identifying problems and needs and initiating appropriate referrals and treatments. Legal responsibility falls to acting nurse for herself, her patient and her place of employment. Consequence of Error: Errors may result in bodily harm either physically or mentally. Timely and accurate interpretation is vital to protect patient. Instructions Provided to Employee: This position has scheduled clinic assignments. Management responsibilities and program responsibilities are prioritized by the employee. Guidance is available from the nursing supervisor if requested. Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee: Nash County Policies, Procedures, and Standing Orders. The Breast Screening Manual: A Guide for Health Departments and Providers. NC BCCCP Guidelines on Mammography Screening (directive of CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program). DEHNR directive. Nash County Health Department Personnel policies. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines from CDC. NC Nurse Practice Act. Federal and State Statutes and Rules. ACIP Manual. NC STD Manual. Supervision Received by Employee: Work is supervised by the Personal Care Nursing Supervisor. Sexually Transmitted Disease and HIV/AIDS Policies and Procedures, and Standing Orders are reviewed quarterly by members of the Adult Health STD Quality Assurance Committee and updated as needed by the Program Coordinator and Nursing Supervisor. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts: Variety of contacts include: Local physicians' office. State laboratory staff. Surrounding area Health Department Personnel. Patients on a daily basis to assure that all needed services are provided for referrals made. Local hospitals, Emergency Department, Infection Control, Prison Systems, etc. Physical Effort: Requires the provision of patient services each day whether physically through applying direct clinical skills, phone calls, mail, record management, or attending a continuing education workshop. Requires travel between the Nashville and Rocky Mount offices. Requires home visits as needed. Work Environment and Conditions: Usual work environment is the office or clinic setting. Has the potential to be exposed to body fluids. Adheres to the BBP and Infection Control Policies of the Agency to minimize this exposure. Also provides care in STD clinics to inmates. Inmates are always accompanied by a deputy. Driving is required sometimes during bad weather for clinic duties and home visits. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used: Blood Pressure Cuff/Stethoscope, Doppler, Copy Machine, Speculums, Computer/EMR, Scales, Fax Machine, telephone, stadiometer and OAE. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration and Manipulative Skills: Must be able to organize work efficiently. Must be able to perform quality work independently. Must have proficiency in Level II Nursing Procedures. Requires good communications skills. Must have good writing skills to record documentation and initiate referrals. Assertive. Safety for Others: Must follow recommended guidelines to prevent transmitting any communicable diseases. Universal precautions are used for safety of staff and patients. Must be knowledgeable of local policies, procedures, and standing orders. Must have nursing expertise to provide appropriate patient care. Must be adequately immunized per agency policy. Dynamics of Work: Flexibility is an important component of this position. New situations arise every day. Ability to prioritize work is essential since workload and schedule may change. Positive attitude is crucial to be able to motivate patients. Diplomacy and tactfulness in dealing with physicians regarding referrals is very important. Knowledges, Skills and Abilities Position requires strong assessment skills and qualification to perform breast exams, pap smears, bi-manual/rectal vaginal exams, and collect lab specimens. Good verbal and writing skills are needed to document findings and communicate with patients. Requires knowledge of available resources and appropriate referral methods. Requires the ability to plan and coordinate work with others, to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgement in appraising situations and making decisions. Desirable Education and Experience Required Minimum Training: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and one year of professional nursing experience. Additional Training/Experience: NC Credentialed Public Health Nursing Course (NCCPHN) Introductions to Public Health in North Carolina Online Training Series, Certificate of Public Health Nursing in North Carolina Completion of a State approved Adult Physical Assessment Course Completion of a State approved STD course Red Cross Disaster Training CPR Certification CPR/Defibrillator training HIV counseling and testing program ICS Trainings License or Certification Required by Statute/Regulation/Agency: Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the N.C. Board of Nursing Valid North Carolina Driver's License INSURANCE PROGRAMS Group Health Insurance Nash County provides full time and part-time benefit eligible employees working 30 plus hours per week with Health Insurance coverage with the North Carolina State Health Plan Included in each selection is: * Preventative Care Coverage * Prescription Coverage * Chiropractic Coverage Health Insurance may become effective for employees the first day of the month following employment. Group Dental Insurance Nash County provides full-time and part-time regular employees working 30 plus hours per week. Dental Insurance becomes effective for employees the first day of the month following the 30th day of employment. Group Life Insurance Nash County provides term Life Insurance for full-time and part-time regular employees working 30 or more hours per week. Life insurance is paid for you by Nash County and pays your beneficiary one time your annual salary not to exceed $200,000 in the event of your death. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is also provided. Life Insurance becomes effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Voluntary supplemental term life insurance coverage for you, your spouse or your dependent children is also available - please see the Human Resources Department for more details. Short Term Disability Insurance Nash County provides active full-time regular employees working 30 plus hours per week the option to purchase Short Term Disability Insurance. Short Term Disability Insurance may cover up to 70% of an employee's monthly salary with a maximum of $2,000 per month, in the event of an injury or illness, for up to 13 weeks. FINANCIAL PROGRAMS Retirement Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System is a requirement for all regular full-time and regular part-time employees. Employees contribute 6% of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave 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 5 years of service, you are 100% vested in the NCLGERS. NC401(k) The NC401(k) supplemental retirement program is available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees. The County establishes this 401(k) account for each eligible employee and makes a 5% contribution based on monthly earnings. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions through payroll deduction. 457 Deferred Compensation The 457 Deferred Compensation program is available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees through payroll deduction. Deferred compensation is a voluntary investment plan to supplement retirement income and to defer taxable income. Special Separation Allowance The Separation Allowance is available to law enforcement officers between the ages of 55 and 62 years that are eligible and retire under the provisions of the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System. 125 Flexible Benefit Plan Flexible Spending Account options are available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. The Flex Convenience Card program gives you instant access to your account funds. * Health Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses. * Dependent Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible dependent care expenses. Direct Deposit Direct Deposit is a condition of employment for all employees. Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice. Credit Union Local Government Federal Credit Union membership is available to all employees. Once you join, you can remain a member for as long as you choose. Immediate family members such as spouse, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, and parents can all become members. Employees of both the Departments of Social Services and Public Health are eligible to join the State Employees Credit Union. LEAVE PROGRAMS Vacation Leave For regular full-time County employees, vacation leave accrues based on length of service. Regular part-time employees accrue prorated vacation leave based on a percentage of the full-time benefit. Sick Leave For regular full-time County employees, sick leave accrues at 8.0 hours per month. Regular part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time benefit. Your unused sick leave balance can be applied as creditable service toward a service retirement under the guidelines of the NCLGERS. Holidays The policy of the County is to follow the holiday schedule as published by the State of North Carolina each year. The following holidays are observed: * New Year's Day, * Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, * Good Friday, * Memorial Day, * Independence Day, * Labor Day, * Veteran's Day, * Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and * Three (3) days at Christmas. Military Leave Annual Training - Reserves and National Guard -Ten paid workdays per fiscal year. Active Duty - Reserves and National Guard - Ten paid workdays upon activation. Civil Leave Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof. Family Medical Leave Act Federal law provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events. These events can include birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee. OTHER PROGRAMS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The Employee Assistance Program is open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. EAP provides certified counselors who administer assessment and brief therapy to employees who want help with a variety of personal and work-related issues such as stress, parenting concerns, grief, alcohol/drug use, family problems, financial concerns, and work-related problems. Wellness Center and Telemedicine We believe that staying healthy is inclusive of exercising regularly and taking care of your physical body. Nash County has a Wellness Center, which consists of various exercise equipment and videos, open to all full and part-time employees. All full-time employees also have access to telemedicine through Teladoc. Teladoc treats conditions like allergies, sore throats, asthma, and more. Doctors are available by phone or video 24/7 from wherever you are. They are available to diagnose symptoms and send a prescription if needed. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES The benefits offered by Nash County are subject to change. In the event there is a conflict between the above contents and Nash County policies and/or a State or Federal statute, the policy/statute shall control. Plan documents will govern benefits plans should there be a conflict with this information. They are not held out to any employee as part of any contractual agreement. Benefits, policies, and procedures are subject to change or termination at any time. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Actual provisions of each plan will be provided on the certificate of coverage as part of the Summary Plan description. Nash County is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Provider In accordance with Federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html and any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: [email protected] USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.