Public Health Nurse I

  • Sonoma County, CA
  • Santa Rosa, California
  • Apr 12, 2024
Full Time Public Health
  • Salary: 115,563 USD

Job Description

Position Information

If you are looking to grow your career while making a positive difference in the health of our community, apply to be a Public Health Nurse with the Department of Health Services!

Starting salary up to $67.31/hour ($140,484/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Department of Health Services, Public Health Division, is currently recruiting to fill a Public Health Nurse position at either the I or II levels. If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.

About the Position

Public Health Nurse I is the entry-level position in the Public Health Nurse series. The position requires qualified candidates to possess a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate. Through on-the-job training and experience, a Public Health Nurse I can gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to promote to Public Health Nurse II.

Public Health Nurses provide a wide range of services on behalf of vulnerable families and populations, including comprehensive case management, referrals, facility reviews, disease investigations, systems planning and coordination, and technical assistance to health care agencies. Additional duties of Public Health Nurses include:

  • Providing comprehensive case management services
  • Performing facility reviews and providing guidance based on findings to ensure continued high-quality healthcare to the community
  • Conducting disease investigations
  • Performing health systems planning and coordination
  • Providing technical assistance to health care agencies
  • Collaborating with other providers, community members, and County agencies to ensure clients receive access to high-quality health care and community resources
The ideal candidate to join this team will possess the following:

  • Possession of a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate
  • Experience working in community/clinic/public health settings with medically fragile individuals
  • Working knowledge of modern public health practices and community-based resources
  • The ability to work independently and in close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team
  • Ability to work well in stressful situations
  • The ability to talk to people from diverse backgrounds and communities about difficult topics
DHS currently has a position available in the following program:

Public Health Disease Control
The Public Health Nurse in this position is a core public health function and will be responsible for the investigation of Title 17 diseases and conditions. They will be responsible for m onitoring communication of reportable diseases and initiating investigations. This position is expected to provide guidance to facilities that are experiencing outbreaks and manage cases of patients with infectious diseases. They will provide updates to community members, and other County agencies. This position will stay up to date on guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help them best serve the community in their role.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

  • Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
  • Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Public Health Nurse II
  • Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
  • Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
  • Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Union Local 20 Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.

The Department of Health Services is currently recruiting to fill a Public Health Nurse position at either the I or II levels. This Public Health Nurse I employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a California State Public Health Nursing Certificate.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Working Conditions: Duties may require exposure to hostile, emotionally disturbed or mentally ill persons and/or confrontational interpersonal situations; intermittently sit at a desk for long periods of time while reviewing patient charts and histories and preparing patient charts and reports; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb and reach while making field visits, conducting clinics or making educational presentations or demonstrations; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk or treatment areas; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see and hear with sufficient acuity to examine and assess patient conditions; lift moderate weight; may work in dangerous, high crime areas of the community; and/or standby, callback and work during non-routine hours.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: Modern principles, methods, and practices of public health nursing, including preventive medicine, epidemiology, public health education, gerontology, and sociological problems involved in public health nursing. Community aspects of public health nursing programs. Prevention, detection and treatment of communicable and chronic disease, handicapping conditions, mental illness and other disabling conditions; environmental, sociological, and psychological problems related to public health nursing programs. Principles and procedures involved in family planning, sexually transmitted disease control, and pre and post-natal care; and current literature and trends in community health.

Ability to: Organize and carry out public health nursing activities in assigned district or program; differentiate medical problems requiring immediate consultation with a physician rather than a deferred consultation; to follow prescribed protocols set up by physicians and to consult with physicians and other medical personnel; work effectively with families and individuals to assist them in solution to health problems; develop and maintain effective public relations with clients, staff, community groups and organizations; exercise independent judgment, analyze and evaluate situations independently and take appropriate actions; instruct in the prevention of disease and promotion of public health; and write and speak effectively and prepare and maintain clear and concise records and reports.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.


Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination(weight 100%).Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: SZ
HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan : Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit.For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU).A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Base Pay

115,563

Job Address

Santa Rosa, California United States View Map