Public Health Nurse

The Public Health Nurse focuses on prevention of illness, injury or disability, the promotion of health, and maintenance of health of populations in accordance with standards, codes and regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The Public Health Nurse works to improves health by consistent utilization of the nursing process, application of critical thinking skills, and decision-making informed by science and evidence. Public Health Nurses, under the direction of the local board of health and the local health officer, shall conduct a generalized public health nursing program in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Reference: [250.06(01)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/250/06/1) *Assessment* - Plans and provide health assessment, programs, projects, interventions, and/or strategies at the individual, family and community level (e.g.., care management, education, referral, and policy, systems, and environment change) that is culturally appropriate to achieve relevant objectives and goals. - Assists in conducting community population assessments through the collection of monitoring and analyzing of health data to help determine needs of the population and with governmental and community partners to help fill gaps and improve policy, systems or the environment to improve health. - Provides communicable disease prevention and control including epidemiological investigations, education, surveillance, and food/waterborne disease outbreak investigations and implements control measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. *Policy Development* - Builds and maintain relationships with community agencies and members who are committed to improving the health of the community, serves as a member and possible facilitator of local collaborative groups; participates as a member of local and state public health committees. - Participates in planning for development and operation of the agency, including, but not limited to, assistance in coordination of agency services with other community services, orientation of new staff to the service, quality improvement, quality assurance, performance management, and supervision of students, interns, and volunteers. *Assurance* - Provides communicable disease services including administering, distributing and monitoring Tuberculosis related medication. - Assures community wide systems are in place to prevent vaccine preventable diseases including education, surveillance, reporting and epidemiologic follow-up. - Maintains knowledge and provision of immunization services including planning, organizing, educating, interpreting immunization needs, staffing immunization clinics, administering vaccines to all age groups and responding to adverse reactions as necessary. - Adheres to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routing assignment or assignments during public health crisis or emergency. - Coordinates, implements and documents quality improvements efforts/trainings including blood borne pathogens, respiratory fit testing and other training. - Participates in departmental/community response trainings/drills to prepare for and respond to public health threats in accordance with county and departmental emergency response plans in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness. - Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned in response to threats to the public health including mass/care/sheltering. *Other* - Provides client services on an as needed basis in line with current Public Health programming, goals, and objectives - Leads generalized public health nursing programs and initiatives with oversight by the Public Health Officer and Public Health Manager. - Acts as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for various public health initiatives both internal and external to the Departmen…