Public Health Nurse - Community Outreach

This position is open until the first review and is a bargaining unit represented position.

A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position.

Why Join Snohomish County?
Snohomish County’s commitment to life-work balance and an inclusive culture. The County offers outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities to our employees, and we also enjoy flexible work schedules, telework options and a convenient downtown Everett, WA. location. Snohomish County believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and is committed to embedding these values into our workplace culture. Snohomish County is located on the Puget Sound; we are situated near some of the country’s most scenic national parks and is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S.  

Teleworking Options
The Health Department typically has a hybrid model for most roles; however, it is outlined by the supervisor for the given role based on performance and business needs.  When working remotely, employees are expected to maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. 

Description
Incumbent will work collaboratively with clients and various disciplines and agencies in Snohomish County, region, and state. The Public Health Nurse serves as a health resource person in the community and interpret public health programs and policies to individuals, families, community groups, schools, physicians and other collateral community agencies and service providers.

This position will primarily support chronic disease screening, referrals, and educational outreach in the rural areas of Snohomish County. Incumbent will also provide new-arrival health screenings and referrals for refugees settling in the county. This position may also provide surge capacity in other programmatic areas of the health department such as communicable disease outbreak response or immunization clinics. Work will be performed in coordination with community and internal partners and will occur in clinical, mobile unit, and community, settings. 

The Public Health Nurse demonstrates cultural competency in the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic circumstances to influence effective change at multi-levels of communicable disease control and prevention.  

Work is performed under general supervision. Program Supervisor, or designee, defines objectives, priorities, and deadlines; and assists incumbent with unusual situations, which may not have clear objectives or precedents.  Incumbent plans and carries out assignments and handle problems and deviations in accordance with experienced judgment, instructions, policies, procedures and/or accepted practices. Incumbent is expected to operate with considerable latitude and apply sound judgment and teamwork.   Work is evaluated for technical soundness and conformity to practice and policy.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Evaluate health trends, health disparities, and risk factors of individuals and communities; assist in determining priorities, assist in researching interventions for identified groups and for specific health issues
• Provide public health guidance to medical providers, schools, childcares, community partners and department staff; serve as subject matter expert to staff and community partners
• Able to conduct client assessments, provide referrals according to client needs, and maintain electronic medical records
• Exercise independent professional judgment in the application of public health principles and nursing practice
• Completes Random Moment Time Survey (RMTS) in compliance with Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) program.
• Participates in and supports emergency preparedness and response activities, including preparedness for the division, agency, and community
• Coordinates client referrals to primary care providers for refugee immunization and other health-related services
• Completes documentation required by the Office of Refugee and Immigration (ORIA) services and submits documentation in a timely manner

Policy Development and Program Planning:

• Assures practice is in compliance with ANA code and WA State Nurse Practice Act
• Participates in the development of disease response policies and protocols

Partnership and Collaboration:

• Collaborates with other Health Department programs as needed  
• Collaborates with community partners to develop and implement communicable and infectious disease control measures and prevention resources in Snohomish County 
• Acts as a liaison, serves as a resource person and interprets public health nursing and other Health Department services to individuals, groups, agencies and other professional disciplines 
• Refers, consults and conferences with program manager and team/community members on a regular basis
• Assists in orientation of new team members and may act as a preceptor to students

Communication:

• Serves as a resource and assists in the development of selected educational materials 
• Develops written communications for various settings 
• Presents information sensitively, effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds and persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences

Associated Duties:

• Provides 24/7 call coverage during non-business hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays) as part of a rotation. When on call, act as the primary point of contact for receiving, triaging, and responding in a timely manner to notifications of communicable disease reports from health care providers, laboratories, veterinarians, or other public health agencies
• Participates in opportunities for professional growth and development
• Performs other related duties as requested by the Program Supervisor
• Provide surge support to other Health Department programs as needed
• Protects the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal law
• Adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines, including timely completion of mandatory trainings

Qualifications: 
Skills for the position may be gained through education, certification, relevant job experience or a combination, such as:

• A registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing
• One year of recent, relevant experience in public health nursing 

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Information:

• A valid Washington State Registered Nurse license or ability to obtain one by date of hire
• Experience in community-based services or public/community health nursing, Preferred
• Two or more years of experience with a public health agency, Preferred
• Two or more years of experience in communicable disease control, Preferred
• Acute nursing care experience within last 10 years, Preferred
• Experience with emergency preparedness response, Preferred
• Fluency in a foreign language/culture, Preferred  

• Valid Washington State Driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire and a driving record which meets the requirements of Snohomish County’s insurance carrier

• Successful completion of a background check pursuant to RCW 43.43.830

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. 
Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.  
EEO policy and ADA notice

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please reach out to SHD.HR@co.snohomish.wa.us.

Job Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.