Public Health Nurse-26456509

The County of San Diego is currently accepting applications for:

Public Health Nurse

Interviews will take place week of October 26, 2026.
Job Offers for selected candidates will be week of November 5, 2026.

Reflecting our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent, candidates selected for this classification are hired at the highest step 5, at the base pay of $131,164.80 within the salary range.

Future Salary Increases** June 2027 – 5.63% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 2.63% Market Adjustment)
Hourly Salary with Premiums

Qualified employees assigned to a position which has been determined to require bilingual skills may receive a bilingual premium.
Applicants who are fluent in Haitian Creole, Spanish, Persian (Farsi & Dari), Arabic, Somali, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, and Tagalog are encouraged to apply.
Public Health Nurse is the journey level class in the Public Health Nurse series. Under general supervision, a Public Health Nurse performs the full range of public health nursing duties in homes, public health centers, public health settings and other community settings.

Public Health Nurses can be assigned to various programs including, but not limited to: Tuberculosis (TB) Control, Refugee Health, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), Immunizations, Foster Care, Maternal Child Health, Border Health, Public Health Preparedness & Response, Bioterrorism, Epidemiology, Adult Protective Services, In-Home Support Services (IHSS) and Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP).

NOTE: Public Health Nurse in Adult Protective Services in Aging and Independence Services (AIS) identifies dependent and elder abuse for case investigation.

Duties include: providing public health nursing services to individuals and/or families; conducting home visits in urban and rural communities; examining patients to identify health problems; assessing and identifying individual and community health needs; providing case management to high-risk populations; instructing families in health promotion and management of health and health-related problems.

The current openings are in Medical Care Services (MCS), Public Health Services (PHS) and Aging and Independence Services (AIS); however, the list established from this recruitment may be used by other departments. 

To learn more about Public Health Services of the Health and Human Services Agency, see the Strategic Plan:  County Strategic Plan-County of San DIego

For required education, experience and license information, working conditions, etc., please click here. For a complete job description of Public Health Nurse, including essential functions.

***Effective September 9, 2022, this hard to recruit position qualifies for the Employee Referral Reward Program. If a current County of San Diego employee referred you to apply for this position, please indicate the employee’s name on your job application in the space provided. ***

HIRING PROCESS AND TIMELINE
 
The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process: Shortly after interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
•  Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

1. Valid California Registered Nurse License (RN) is required at time of appointment; AND,
2. Valid Public Health Nurse Certificate (PHN) from a State Public Health Nursing or other regulatory agency is required at time of appointment; AND,
3. A Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in nursing from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency.

Notes:

1. Applicants who do not possess a Public Health Nurse Certificate at the time of application should begin the process of obtaining their certification to avoid delays in the hiring process.
2. A copy of your final transcripts or diploma or foreign studies equivalency report MUST be submitted immediately.
3. A valid CPR card is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
4. A valid National Provider Identification Number (NPI) is required at the time of employment.
5. Some positions require that incumbents acknowledge that they are aware of child abuse reporting requirements and agree to comply with them in accordance with California Penal Code Section 1166.5.

NOTE: Public Health Nurses may be required to attend the professional development program for nurses at the County of San Diego in the Public Health Nurse Residency Program. 
Public Health Nurse Certification

Please be advised that candidates must possess a current California Public Health Nurse (PHN) Certificate in order to be hired for this position. Candidates who do not possess a PHN Certificate at time of application should begin the process of obtaining a PHN Certificate immediately in order to avoid any delays in the hiring process.

The process for obtaining Public Health Nurse Certification involves completing one (1) online child abuse course and the necessary application. Please visit www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/applicants/phn-app.pdf to obtain the application and information on the application process. You may also contact the California Board of Registered Nursing at (916) 322-3350.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments.  This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.  

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview.  Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a three (3) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental application questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate, as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying. 
Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy
The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policyfor additional information.

Military Skills Translator
Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translatorto access the tool. 

Disaster Service Worker

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of :a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on ourStrategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov)(Download PDF reader).

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

 

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.