Public Health Nurse II, Communicable Disease (STD/HIV)

Job Description:

Public Health Nurse II, Communicable Disease (STD/HIV)

Description

Summary

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

Deschutes County Health Services supports over 400 staff in Behavioral and Public Health programs working to promote and protect the health and safety of the community in a broad variety of community-based settings.

This position is part of Public Health service area, which works to keep people healthy and safe by striving to improve and protect the health of people in Deschutes County. This work includes: disease prevention, surveillance and control; food and consumer safety; assuring clean and safe drinking water; ensuring access to essential health services; providing education about healthy lifestyles; implementing strategies to reduce and prevent high-risk behaviors among youth; and responding to pandemics and emerging threats, outbreaks and other events.

ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team.

ABOUT THE JOB:
The Public Health Nurse II plays an important role in decreasing sexual health disparities within Deschutes County. This position will provide Disease Investigation Specialist (DIS) services and community outreach with the goal of preventing and reducing reportable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Duties include, but are not limited to, receiving and managing reportable STD cases; interpreting lab results; investigating and controlling the spread of STD-related communicable diseases and outbreaks; notify persons infected with, or exposed to, sexually transmitted diseases through office and field work; provide testing and treatment services for cases and contacts; provide screening services through our STI/HIV safety net clinics, conducting individualized risk reduction counseling for those with or exposed to STDs, HIV and Hep C; coordinating with medical providers and health care systems regarding client evaluation and treatment guidelines; conducting community outreach testing services on the mobile medical unit; providing community education and health promotion; completing timely and accurate case and data entry; providing active surveillance of targeted populations; participate with internal and community stakeholders and partners to achieve programmatic priorities; and other duties as assigned. This position is housed within the larger Communicable Disease Team and may be required to conduct case investigations (other than STDs) during an outbreak or pandemic.

Position may require travel throughout the tri-county region to include Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

*This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and functions.

Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.

Additional information regarding the position may be found by clicking here.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with communities impacted by sexually transmitted infections in a professional and non-judgmental manner.
• Create trust through effective communication both verbally and in writing with clients, community members and co-workers.
• Explain medical and health information accurately and in an understandable manner to clients.
• Apply knowledge of public health issues related to communicable disease, trends affecting health care, social conditions and population groups.

What You Will Bring:

Knowledge of or experience with:

• Basic epidemiology and understanding of disease symptoms, causes, transmission, and control concepts.
• Nursing assessment and intervention skills in specialty area.
• Use of electronic health records systems such as EPIC platform.

Skill in:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with community partners, the general public and other employees at all times.
• Working independently as well as in a team setting.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing on health-related topics to audiences with diverse backgrounds.

Compensation

$7,352.53 to $9,853.10 per month for a 172.67 hour work month. Salary normally starts at the first step. Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This union-represented position is available immediately.

Attention all candidates: please make sure your application includes all job history, education, training, certifications, licenses, and other relevant experience, as this information will be used to determine your starting salary range in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity. Resumes will not be reviewed.

BENEFITS:

Our robust healthcare package covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE for full benefit details.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Nursing, AND two (2) years of relevant experience;
• OR any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills and knowledge to perform the essential functions of the job.

Preference will be given for:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing.

Necessary Special Requirements

Driving is a requirement for this position. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.

Possession of an Oregon Registered Nurse license or ability to obtain by hire date.

Must have dependable transportation and be willing and able to drive throughout the tri-counties (Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook) in sometimes adverse weather conditions.

Computer literacy with strong typing and computer skills required.
Physical Requirements : Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to drive throughout Deschutes County and to provide face-to-face services in the community. Must have the ability to work in an office that is environmentally controlled; possess sufficient hand coordination to perform keyboarding and data entry; arm/hand movements to retrieve work materials and operate a variety of general office equipment; and an ability to sit, walk, stoop, bend, kneel, reach, stand, grasp, talk, hear, see, and lift up to 10 pounds on an occasional basis.

Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive healthcare package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, Deschutes County provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

When Are you Eligible:
If you are hired on the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first of that month (immediate benefits, either that day or back to the first of the month if the first is on a Saturday or Sunday). If you are hired after the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first day of the following month.

Employer paid benefit offerings include:

• Life Insurance for employee and dependents
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
• Time Management Leave

Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:

• 125 Flexible Spending Program
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance

To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit our Benefits page and click on Employee Benefits or click HERE for full benefits guide.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$7,352.53 - $9,853.10 Monthly