Public Health Nurse

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill full-time and part-time regular, limited-term or extra-help positions as vacancies occur or the need arises.

The Department of Health and Social Services has Public Health Nurse/Public Health Nurse (Entry) positions in various programs including:

• Family Health Services (Public Health Clinics)
• Children’s Medical Services (CMS)
• Nurse Family Partnership Program (NFP)
• Communicable Diseases/Tuberculosis Programs
• Child Welfare Services (CWS)
• Older and Disabled Adult Services (ODAS)
• General Public Health Nursing
• Maternal Child Health
• Emergency Preparedness and Readiness (EPR)
• Occupational Health

Promotes community health maintenance through health assessment, education and counseling in the detection, prevention and control of disease.

This class is the fully qualified professional level in the Public Health Nursing series.  This class is characterized by the responsibility to work with individuals and/or families in an assigned geographic area within the County and/or in clinics operated by the Health and Social Services Department or in Foster Care services. Clients typically have limited knowledge of health principles, nutrition, disease process, appropriate care or available resources.  Incumbents work in the community making home visits, as well as conducting specialty clinics and health education activities.  This class is distinguished from Public Health Nurse (Senior) in that the latter has responsibility to lead a work group in the delivery of services in an assigned health program, and typically perform special assignments requiring more sophisticated health assessment and evaluation techniques.

Performs epidemiological investigations, health assessment, education and counseling for the detection, prevention and control of disease and health threats to promote community health maintenance.
 
Educates and counsels the client and their family in health maintenance, promotion and disease prevention, to enhance the individuals’ abilities to recognize need for and to seek treatment to meet health care and general social needs; acts as a patient advocate to ensure that nursing services meet community and individual needs.
 
Assesses the physical, psycho-social and health care status and needs of families, individual clients, or children in foster care; interviews individuals and/or family, collecting a health history and data regarding current health status and life situations; obtains and reviews medical records and health histories to identify medical conditions; observes client and client-family interaction in the home; develops plan of care; detects cases of physical and/or emotional illness; participates in epidemiological studies by conducting community investigations.
 
Confers with other health professionals to coordinate client care and assist in improving client’s health; participates in policy development; refers clients and/or families to appropriate community or public agencies to obtain services or assistance to improve or maintain social functioning and health; refers clients to physicians if medical intervention is indicated.
 
Collaborates with community, county, state and out-of-state programs in the development of health-based systems and resources for the target population.
 
Manages an assigned caseload, including needs assessment, care coordination and service authorization; provides nursing consultations and recommendations to ensure that medical needs are met; interprets and explains program guidelines to beneficiaries, service providers and community agencies; maintains cases according to program requirements; records data on patients and completes state forms, nursing daily reports and provides written referrals to other agencies; plans and organizes caseload to ensure that work is completed within professional practice and ensures caseload is covered during short periods of absence; acts as client advocate with health care providers.
 
Participates in public health clinics by conducting health screening and assessment; screens, recommends, and administers vaccines and tuberculosis tests and provides venipuncture testing; trains staff in collection of specimens; interviews and counsels patients; may participate in clinic management.
 
May be assigned to work within or lead an area of specialization (e.g., geriatric or maternal health) or target population; may be responsible for coordination of small public health programs and/or clinics which may involve the functional supervision of support staff or volunteers; may participate in procedural development/review activities or in-service training coordination; may provide training to County staff and outside agencies on health related topics.
 
Maintains professional knowledge in applicable areas and keeps abreast of changes in job-related rules, statutes, laws and trends and of new technology and products applicable to the area of specialization; participates in disaster preparedness for control of communicable diseases; makes recommendations for the implementation of changes; reads and interprets professional literature; attends training programs, workshops and seminars as appropriate.

Education: 

A Bachelor’s degree is required in Nursing from a nursing school accredited by the National League for Nursing or equivalent.

Experience/Training:

One year of public health and clinical nursing experience.

All candidates must submit a copy of their college diploma (verifying the degree, date earned and area of specialization) or official/unofficial transcripts (verifying the courses and units completed) and the required license and certificates.  Candidates who fail to submit their diploma or transcripts and license and certificates  within five (5) days from the final filing date or for open until filled recruitments within five (5) days from the application submittal date will be disqualified from the recruitment.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:  Candidates who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non-U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service.  The result must be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than the close of the recruitment.  Please contact the local college or university to learn where this service can be obtained.

In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents in-person or by mail at Solano County Department of Human Resources 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800, Fairfield CA  94533, or by fax to (707) 784-3424.  When submitting documents in-person, by mail or by fax, include the recruitment title (e.g., Office Assistant II) and the recruitment number (e.g., 12-123456-01).

Possession of a valid Registered Nurse license issued by the California State Board of Registered Nursing and certification in Public Health Nursing.  

Possession of a current CPR certificate.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license maybe required.

Positions allocated to this class may require specialization in target populations, programs and/or bilingual skills.
 
Independent travel is required.
 
Incumbents must be able to work in an environment that may include exposure to communicable disease.
 
Candidates for employment must as a condition of employment sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting.

<><>08/07/2012 Tentative date for initial review of applications.
08/13/2012 Tentative date for Human Resources to establish eligible list.
08/13/2012 Projected date to certify names to the hiring department.

SALARY POLICIES - The starting salary is ordinarily the first rate shown on the front of the announcement.  Salary advancement is authorized after satisfactory completion of additional periods outlined in the employee’s memoranda of understanding or the County’s Personnel and Salary Resolution.  Longevity, shift differential, bilingual, call-back and stand-by pay maybe available for some job classes. 

HOLIDAYS – Regular and limited-term employees receive 12 paid holidays per year.

ANNUAL/SICK LEAVE - Regular and limited-term employees accrue vacation leave at the rate of ten days per year.  After a certain period of continuous service, employees accrue vacation time at a higher rate as outlined in the employee’s memoranda of understanding or resolution. Regular and limited-term full time employees accumulate 12 sick leave days per year.

RETIREMENT - The County is a member of the Public Employee’s Retirement System (PERS), and benefits are coordinated with Social Security.  The County has reciprocity with all State PERS and County 1937 Act Retirement Systems agencies.  PERS retirement for miscellaneous employees is based on a formula of 2% @60. 

HEALTH BENEFITS - Employees and their dependents are eligible for vision and dental insurance with 100% of the cost paid by the County of Solano.  The County also participates in a cafeteria medical plan administered by PERS HealthCare (eligibility is dependent upon job class). 

OTHER BENEFITS – Employees may also elect to participate in deferred compensation, credit union, life insurance, and flexible spending plan.  All County employees are eligible to purchase auto and/or home owners, renter insurance from Liberty Mutual Insurance.  An Employee Assistance Program is also provided.

EXTRA-HELP - Extra-help employees do not receive or accrue benefits of regular employees during their period of employment.

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the best qualified applicants will be invited for further examination. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a written and/or practical exam, an oral interview, or any combination listed. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted. These provisions are subject to change.

All additional application materials as requested in the job announcement (e.g. copies of diploma and/or transcripts, certificates, DD-214) must be submitted with the Document Cover Sheet, available on the employment website or at the Department of Human Resources’ office,  and are due within five (5) calendar days of the final filing date or within five (5) calendar days from application submittal if the recruitment is Open & Continuous or Open until Filled. 

Please visit the County of Solano website, www.jobsatsolanocounty.com to apply.  Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at (707) 784-6170 or at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800 Fairfield 94533.  The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Paper applications may be completed in person during office hours. EOE/AA

To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE, MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF APPLICATION.  Applicants who have a service connected disability must submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons.  Disability must be rated at least 10% to be eligible for disabled veteran's points. 

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined grade.  Disabled veterans shall have 10 points added to their combined grade.  Veteran scores will only be added to passing scores.

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need special testing arrangements, must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: http://webstartadmin/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6664.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment.  Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: All persons hired will be required to participate in the direct deposit program.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE ACT – Depending on the applicant’s job class, prospective employees may be required to undergo a Urine Drug Test in accordance with the Solano County Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace Policy once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Solano County employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the California Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1990.

BACKGROUND PROCESS –The background process may include but not limited to conducting a reference check, completing a personal history statement, conducting a background interview, and live scan fingerprinting.  The County of Solano also utilizes e-Verify to verify employment eligibility. 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION - Prior to appointment, candidates may be required to pass a medical examination.  Candidates are encouraged not to quit or give notice to present employers until the medical examination has been completed and passed.

APPOINTMENT - At the time of appointment, all candidates will be required to execute an oath of allegiance to the United States and the State of California and may be fingerprinted.  Candidates will also be required to offer proof that they are a lawfully admitted alien or U.S. citizen.

EXAMINATION APPEALS – Applicants for Civil Service positions may appeal their disqualification in any phase of the examination process by submitting a written statement to the Director of Human Resources, within five (5) calendar days of the action.  Applicants must indicate the action being appealed, the specific basis for the appeal, and the remedy sought.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD - All new positions are required to successfully complete a minimum probationary period of 6 to 12 months, depending upon the job class.  A probationary period does not apply to "at will" positions.

DISASTER WORKERS - In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

EXTRA-HELP – An employee appointed to an extra-help position must meet all the requirements of the corresponding regular position.  Extra-help employees cannot work more than 999 hours in the fiscal year.  Extra-help employees are excluded from civil service and do not have rights to regular or continued employment.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.  Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

"SOLANO COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"