STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
HUMAN RESOURCES


CLASSIFICATION:  PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

 

Class Code:  7183-19                                         Date Established:  01-03-94           

 

Occupational Code:  7-4-9                                 Date of Last Revision:  12-28-01

 

BASIC PURPOSE:  To perform public health nursing duties in a specialized area in the Division of Public Health Services.

 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

·        Performs epidemiological investigations of reportable diseases and other conditions of public health importance.

 

·        Assists the Public Health Nurse Coordinator in coordinating nursing and health services, and in functioning as a liaison between the community, the Bureau of Public Health Nursing and other Division programs.

 

·        Assists in arranging conferences, in-services, and other educational programs on healthcare delivery, disease prevention and health promotion relating to the specialty area for health officials, health care providers and community groups.

 

·        Collects and summarizes statistical information, reports to state and federal officials as required, and maintains records relative to patient care and health planning activities in the specialty area.

 

·        Reviews and makes determinations of condition eligibility based on established protocols and professional nursing judgment.

 

·        Establishes service plans for eligible clients/patients and refers them to the appropriate provider.

 

·        Initiates the expenditures of state funds in order to purchase needed medical services.

 

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DISTINGUISHING FACTORS:

 

Skill:  Requires skill in developing formats and procedures for special applications OR in investigating and reviewing the use of equipment and data for a specialized function.

 

Knowledge:  Requires logical or scientific understanding to analyze problems of a specialized or professional nature in a particular field.

 

Impact:  Requires responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other state agencies.  Errors at this level result in inaccurate reports or invalid test results and require significant investment of time and resources to detect.

 

Supervision:  Requires partial supervision of other employees doing work which is related or similar to the supervisor, including assigning job duties, providing training, giving instructions and checking work.

 

Working Conditions:  Requires performing regular job functions in an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical elements or a number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure to minor injuries or health hazards.

 

 

 

Physical Demands:  Requires light work, including continuous walking or operating simple equipment for extended periods of time as well as occasional strenuous activities such as reaching or bending.

 

Communication:  Requires explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of alternative or appropriate courses of action.  This level also requires interviewing or eliciting information from state employees or members of the general public.

 

Complexity:  Requires coordinating a combination of diverse job functions in order to integrate professional and technical agency goals.  This level also requires considerable judgment to implement a sequence of operations or actions.

 

Independent Action:  Requires a range of choice in applying a number of technical or administrative policies under general direction and in making routine decisions or in recommending modifications in work procedures for approval by supervisor.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:  Bachelor's degree in nursing or an allied health field from an accredited college or university.  Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience.

 

Experience:  Three years' experience as a registered nurse under supervised nursing practice in a community health agency.  Each additional year of approved work experience may be substituted for one year of required formal education.

 

License/Certification:  Current license as a registered nurse issued by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing Education and Nurse Registration.

 

RECOMMENDED WORK TRAITS:  Thorough knowledge of professional nursing theory.  Considerable knowledge of public health laws, rules and regulations as they apply to the nursing program.  Considerable knowledge of health care organization and administration.  Knowledge of public health and community nursing practice.  Knowledge of the consultive and educational process.  Ability to organize and work with community groups in planning and evaluating health services.  Ability to communicate the application of theory in patient care situations whether in homes or clinics.  Ability to assess the health status and needs of individuals, families and communities in relation to the health of the total population.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional staff, social and health oriented agencies.  Must be willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.

 

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:  This class specification is descriptive of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this class title.

 


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Last Updated 01/04/02
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