Grand Traverse County is a team of passionate and incredible people who are committed to providing responsive, effective quality service to our up-north community. We strive to be a leader in innovative, effective, collaborative, and sustainable county government. We offer stable work environments and competitive salaries to both full- time and part-time employees. Understanding the many challenges facing today’s professionals and families, we offer a competitive compensation package including an impressive list of benefits and time off.

Job Description:

The Public Health Nurse II provides comprehensive, skilled, and specialized nursing care under a physician's order. Employees in this job have no formal supervisory role, however, may train, guide, or lead employees in the designated work unit. Employees must meet the minimum requirements, conditions of employment, and be able to perform successfully all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations.

This position may require irregular hours.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but are not limited to the following)

Under the guidance of a supervisor provides skilled, comprehensive nursing services through a wide variety of preventative health and clinic programs:

Demonstrates independent nursing judgment performing comprehensive individual and family assessments, including social determinants of health.
Demonstrates decision making and problem solving, using critical thinking skills, regarding public health issues.
Demonstrates knowledge and appropriate actions to be taken in multiple diverse and complex circumstances.
Promotes and participates in public health education and disease prevention.
Promotes immunization recommendations.
Acts as a health advocate for individuals, families and the community.
Prepares, updates, and maintains records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Complies with privacy and security laws (HIPAA), Federal, State, and Agency policies, and procedures.
Complies with all job safety requirements, including OSHA standards and quality control requirements.
Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and makes referrals to community agencies.
Collaborates with community agencies to ensure coordination of care.
Participates in continuing education programs and self-directed education to keep skills and knowledge current.
Demonstrates appropriate communication skills in addressing co-workers, community members and partners, and clients.
Demonstrates basic computer skills and willingness to adapt to new software programs as indicated.
Demonstrates dependable and reliable attendance patterns.
Participates in trainings, drills, investigations, and team responses to public health emergencies and bioterrorism events.
Participates in Community Health Outreach activities and events.
All other duties as assigned or delegated.

EDUCATION, FORMAL TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE (minimum requirements)

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program
Two to four years of related nursing experience

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES

Possession and maintenance of a current license to practice as a registered nurse in Michigan
Current CPR certification
Other certifications may be required depending on assignment
Requires a valid driver's license and personal vehicle insurance and must maintain eligibility to drive as per the County's Vehicle policy.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (minimum requirements - legal or contractual preemployment obligations and/or requirements, such as drug testing, background check, etc.)

A background check may be required initially and periodically for an individual hired, transferred, reclassified, promoted, or currently working in this job. Appointment to or continued employment in this job is contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include but is not limited to: confirmation of a persons’ identity; review of criminal conviction records; verification of educational degree, license, or certificate required for the position; review of Department of Motor Vehicles records; Department of Justice fingerprint scan; and/or drug and alcohol testing as required and allowable by law. A satisfactory background check is defined as the absence of a criminal history record which bears a demonstrable relationship to the applicant's or employee's suitability to perform the required duties and responsibilities of the position. Annually, all public health nurses are required to receive the seasonal flu vaccination.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Work involves evaluating the relevance and importance of theories, concepts, and principles to develop different approaches or tactical plans to fit specific circumstances where guidelines may not exist but are flexible and open to considerable interpretation. Independent judgment, personal discretion, and resourcefulness are needed to interpret and apply guidelines. Errors at this level could lead to the loss of life or major harm or life impairment.

Compared to the Public Health Nurse I classification, employees act as lead over less experienced nursing staff. Work is more complex requiring more experience and knowledge obtained through receipt of an advanced degree.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

May be required to climb or balance; reach with hands and arms; sit; stand; stoop, kneel, twist, or crouch; talk and hear; smell; use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
Position occasionally works in an outdoor environment with exposure to weatherrelated heat and cold, rain, wind, and related elements.
May be exposed to infectious diseases, criminal suspects or prison inmates.
May occasionally be required to lift/move up to 50 pounds.

ORGANIZATIONAL KEY COMPETENCIES

All Grand Traverse County Health Department employees are expected to provide professional preventative health services in a compassionate, efficient, progressive, comprehensive, and holistic manner. Additionally, all Grand Traverse County employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the following values:

Serve with Integrity
Be Innovative
Be Accountable
Engage the Team
Provide Service
Be Transparent

COMPETENCIES

Position Specific Key Competencies for Public Health Professionals, also known as Core Competencies, are a consensus set of skills for the broad practice of public health, as defined by the 10 Essential Public Health Services:

Analytical/Assessment Skills

Describes factors affecting the health of the community
Explains how community health assessments use information about health status, factors influencing health, assets, and resources
Use quantitative and qualitative data
Describes assets and resources that can be used for improving the health of the community
Describes how evidence (e.g., data, findings reported in peer-reviewed literature, evidenced based practices) is used in decision making
Make evidence-based decisions using data and best practice strategies to promote community health
Apply ethical principles on the use of data and information • Advocate for the use of evidence using public health science skills
Uses information technology in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining, and disseminating data and information

Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

Contributes to community health improvement planning
Contributes to implementation of organizational strategic plan
Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives
Identifies and describes implications of current trends and policies affecting the health of the community, with a focus on marginalized/disadvantaged population groups
Implements policies, programs, and services
Explains the importance of evaluations for improving policies, programs, and services
Applies strategies for continuous quality improvement

Communication Skills

Identifies the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, and use health and other information, social media literacy)
Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency
Solicits input from individuals and organizations for improving the health of a community
Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches
Communicates information to influence behavior and improve health
Describes the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community

Cultural Competency Skills

Describes the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals, populations, and the community served
Recognizes and addresses the diversity in individuals and populations when developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
Describes the effects of policies, programs, and services on different populations in the community

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills

Describes the programs and services provided by governmental and nongovernmental organizations to improve the health of a community
Recognizes, suggests, and supports relationships that affect and are needed to support health in the community
Provides input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
Uses assets and resources to improve health in a community • Informs the public about policies, programs, and resources that improve health in a community • May collaborate in community-based participatory research

Public Health Sciences Skills

Describes the scientific foundation of and prominent events in public health history
Retrieves evidence from multiple sources to support decision making
Recognizes limitations of evidence (e.g., validity, reliability, sample size, bias, generalizability)
Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services

Financial Planning and Management Skills

Describes public health funding mechanisms and governmental agencies with authority to impact the health of a community
Adheres to organizational policies and procedures
Describes how teams achieve program performance standards and measures
Motivates colleagues for the purpose of achieving program and organization goals

Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

Incorporates ethical standards of practice into all interactions
Describes public health as part of a larger inter-related system of organizations work together or individually to impact the health of populations at local, national, and global levels
Collaborates in developing a vision for a healthy community (e.g. emphasis on prevention, health equity for all, excellence, and innovation)
Advocates for the role of public health in population health
Participates in professional development opportunities
Describes ways to improve individual and program performance

Compensation:

Salary: $60,340.00 - $75,388.00

Grand Traverse County is a great place to live, work and play. Come join our team and experience what northern Michigan is all about, apply today!

You really should see what we have to offer:

Medical: The County offers employees a high-deductible plan through Priority Health. To help cover the cost of the deductible, Grand Traverse County will deposit a contribution amount up to $2,000 into an employee Health Savings Account every year. You may also direct deposit funds into this account every pay period.
Vision: The County provides a no cost plan for employees. We also offer an enhanced plan through EyeMed.
Dental: Our dental insurance provider is Delta Dental. You will pay no costs or premium for diagnostic and cleaning services.
Wellness: Grand Traverse County is committed to creating a culture of health. We provide a variety of incentives and programs that allow you to live a healthy lifestyle.
Employee Recognition: We highly value our employees, which we show by providing our employees awards and recognition throughout the year, and on anniversary dates.
Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are reimbursed up to $5,250 annually for enrollment in courses at an accredited college, university, or trade school.
Vacation: Grand Traverse County provides a generous amount of vacation days to benefitted employees so you can spend time with family and friends.
Holidays: The County gives you 12 days a year to celebrate holidays. Beyond these 12 days, you will receive additional floating holidays to use at your discretion.
Personal Leave: Employees receive up to 72 hours annually depending on contract, to use for appointments, take care of family needs and other personal reasons. Employees are paid every year for unused personal leave up to 40 hours.
Parental Leave: Employees may take up to 6 months of leave to begin at birth or date of adoption of their child.
Retirement: Grand Traverse County offers a defined contribution through MERS. The plan includes a generous match that fully vests after 6 years of employment. We also offer a deferred compensation 457b Plan.
Life Insurance: Benefitted employees automatically receive life insurance.
Short Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays two thirds of your salary or wages for a maximum of 182 days.
Long Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays 60 percent of your salary or wages for a maximum of 24 months.

Public Health Nurse

Benefits

Job Description