Public Health Nurse - II

Are you passionate about health promotion?

Consider serving the community as a Public Health Nurse in a non-hospital setting!

Click on the video below to see what a day in the life of a Public Health Nurse in Placer County is like.

This continuous recruitment will remain open for the calendar year, or until the final filing date, whichever occurs first. The eligible list established from this continuous recruitment will expire by the end of the calendar year. Applicants will be eligible to reapply and take an examination if a new recruitment opens the following calendar year.  

Applications in this recruitment are screened on a bi-weekly basis. This recruitment may be used to fill both open and promotional vacancies as they arise, subject to specific position requirements.

The Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division is currently recruiting for the positions of Public Health Nurse I and Public Health Nurse II.  Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications.  To be eligible for more than one level in the series, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment: 

• Public Health Nurse I: 2023-14302-01
• Public Health Nurse II: 2023-14303-01

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future permanent and/or extra help/temporary vacancies in various assignment areas within Public Health.

Extra-help assignments are not eligible for benefits and are limited to working 28 hours per week with a fiscal year cap of 999 hours or 960 for CalPERS retired annuitants. Extra Help/Temporary appointments made from this eligible list may be eligible for transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

Position assignments may include any of the following areas:

• Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health
• Adult and Elderly In-Home Visitation Case Management
• California Children’s Services (CCS)
• Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP)
• Foster Care
• Immunizations
• Communicable Disease Control

Please refer to the supplemental questionnaire for this recruitment for a description of each assignment area.

This position is scheduled to receive a general wage increase of 4% in July 2024.

Upon successful completion of a foreign language proficiency exam, an additional 5% bilingual pay will be paid to employees who use a second language on a regular basis in the normal course of business.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees, including:

• Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year, 2 of which are floating holidays*
• Vacation leave: 10 days/year with ability to accrue 25 days/year
• Sick leave: 12 days/year*
• Cafeteria plan: 6% of employee’s salary will be contributed towards employee to use towards 401(k), dependent care, medical co-insurance, or cash
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available for employees and dependents
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee
• CalPERS retirement plans
• Retiree medical insurance
• Deferred compensation
• Education allowance: up to $1,200 per year
• Bilingual incentive: incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of proficiency.

*Amounts will be prorated for part-time employees and employees hired after the first of the year.

The information above represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire about the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. For a detailed listing of benefits, please click here to view Professional benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform public health nursing duties in an assigned program, project, or district; to perform field and clinic nursing services; and to instruct adults and children in accepted health practices, including prevention and control of disease.

This is the full journey level class within the Public Health Nurse series.  This class is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse - I by the assignment of the full range of duties assigned.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and they are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

Receives direction from a supervisory/management staff and may receive technical and functional supervision from other professional or medical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Make home or other field site visits as assigned to provide families and/or individuals with health supervision and guidance; identify and assess health needs and provide advice, counsel, and instruction related to health maintenance and promotion, preventive practices, treatment, and rehabilitation for at-risk, ill, or injured individuals; provide nursing care and demonstrate nursing techniques as needed.
• Provide case management through observation, history taking, physical examination, analysis, documentation of findings, and development of nursing plan; make referrals and conduct follow-up as necessary.
• Aid in prevention and control of communicable and chronic diseases through epidemiological investigation, instruction in preventive measures, immunization programs, and case follow-up.
• Oversee and participate in various clinics, including referring and advising for further medical care under established policies and protocols.
• Identify and evaluate health needs of individuals and special population groups, such as the elderly, culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged and those with varying life styles.
• Represent the Health and Human Services Department to various community groups and provide information regarding Department programs, services, and policies, as well as instructional information about disease prevention, health promotion, treatment maintenance, and rehabilitation.
• Coordinate with other divisions and sections within the Health and Human Services Department, as well as with private, public, and voluntary health and social service agencies/providers in the community; participate in interagency conferences as needed.
• Provide or oversee training for new staff, nursing students, and volunteers.
• Initiate, implement, and evaluate projects or programs; prepare and maintain patient charts and other records and prepare reports.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities as requested.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible nursing experience performing duties similar to a Public Health Nurse - I with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in nursing.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Health Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public health nursing.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations.
• Principles and practices of public health nursing, including preventive medicine, epidemiology, public health education, gerontology, and sociological problems involved in public health nursing.
• Procedures and practices used to promote maternal and child health and to assess infant, child, and adolescent development.
• Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations governing public health and nursing practices.
• Policies and procedures of a health services department, especially as related to public health nursing.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, patient charts, reports, and perform special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; and observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at 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 condition; and lift moderate weight.
• Interpret and explain pertinent Public Health policies and procedures.
• Provide professional nursing care; administer and handle biologicals; and take and properly handle specimens.
• Provide instruction in the prevention of disease and promotion of health and nursing care of ill or injured individuals.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and efficient manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; handle multiple case assignments; and work effectively with interruptions.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, and photocopy machine.
• Use clinical and instructional supplies and equipment, including blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, audiometer, syringes, needles, and audio-visual equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Independently provide professional nursing care and instruction in the prevention of disease and promotion of health and nursing care of ill or injured individuals.
• Identify and assess client settings for contributing conditions and/or causes of health or socially-related health problems.
• Independently provide case management.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.