Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
The salary for this position is: $6,074 - $8,079, monthly.
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for a Community Health Nurse II for our Disease Control & Prevention Division (DCP). The mission of the DCP team is to protect and promote the health of Thurston County through surveillance, investigation, prevention, and control of communicable diseases of public health significance, including general communicable disease, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.
As a Community Health Nurse II, you are part of a team that coordinates and provides disease control and prevention services to patients, case contacts, health care providers, institutions, organizations, public health partners, and the community. You will primarily be working on case management and investigations of communicable disease through the sexually transmitted infection (STI), general communicable disease (GCD) and tuberculosis (TB) control and prevention programs.
Some of the essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Identify most up-to-date evidence-based practice based on identified health issues
• Create action plans with alternatives to attain desired outcomes
• Enter investigation data into web-based electronic database
• Respond to phone and email inquiries from the public and health care providers
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations
The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Experience independently conducting field investigations in a wide range of settings with individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Experience applying tools and strategies to control the spread of infectious diseases
• Experience conducting case and outbreak investigations
• Experience presenting public health messages to the public and community stakeholders
• Experience interpreting and communicating laws, rules, and regulations as they apply to the problems of disease control
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with governmental, voluntary and private organizations, and groups concerned with public health services
• Knowledge of epidemiological principles and practices, microbiology and pathophysiology
What we offer our employees:
Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual’s lifestyle.
Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans website for more information.
Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
Flexible Work Schedules: Some employees may take advantage of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing with coursework in community or public nursing. Completion of a BSN program within six (6) months of hire may be considered.
• Two (2) years of experience as a community health nurse or relevant experience in a hospital, medical clinic, public health, or related service. Any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the desired knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work will be considered.
• Currently licensed as a Washington State Registered Nurse.
• A valid Washington State driver’s license or an appropriate accommodation is required.