Public Health Nurse

Full Job Description

SALARY
$50.97 - $61.40 Hourly
$106,015.52 - $127,714.08 Annually
Bilingual allowance, when applicable

____________________________________________

We are seeking Public Health Nurses with a passion for promoting community health and wellness to fill vacancies on our County Health team in the Public Health Services division.

The County of Santa Barbara Health department is accepting applications to fill one (1) Full-Time Public Health Nurse position and one (1) Full-Time, CSR 1414* Public Health Nurse in our Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) program based at either Santa Barbara or Santa Maria but will travel countywide.

NOTE: We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list that will be used to fill current and future Full-Time, Part-Time, Extra Help and 1414* vacancies in multiple locations including Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.

This job classification is also utilized by the Department of Social Services within the County of Santa Barbara.

Please select ALL departments and locations you would like to be considered for initial employment.

*CSR 1414 (Leave of Absence): This recruitment is to fill a position vacated as a result of a leave of absence (CSR 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave.

A person who is appointed to a position under CSR 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without reapplication or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.

Visa Sponsorship: Please note this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or CLICK HERE to view more information.

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rate

POSITION:

Under general direction, the Public Health Nurse (PHN) promotes community health through detection, prevention, and control of disease; provides assessment, education, and counseling in the care and prevention of illness and injury and in wellness promotion; performs related duties as required.

THE PROGRAMS:

The Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) ensures that children and youth in foster care receive coordinated, comprehensive health services.

As a public health nursing program, HCPCFC partners with child welfare and probation teams to address medical, dental, mental, and developmental needs.

Our team promotes access to health care, supports timely exams and referrals, and helps maintain each child’s Health and Education Passport.

By working closely with caregivers, social workers, and health providers, HCPCFC improves health outcomes and continuity of care for one of our community’s most vulnerable populations.

To learn more about this program, please visit their website: https://www.countyofsb.org/2414/HCPCFC

The California Children's Services (CCS) program determines medical eligibility,?provides authorizations for medical care, case management, financial assistance, and medically necessary physical and occupational therapy services to children who meet the CCS eligibility criteria.

The program is managed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and is administered by the local county health care departments.

To learn more about this program, please visit their website: https://www.countyofsb.org/2372/California-Children-Services-CCS

The Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program works to improve the health and well-being of women, infants, children and adolescents.

Public Health Nurses (PHNs) provide in-home assessment, education, linkage/referral, and comprehensive case management for pregnant or postpartum individuals, infants, children, and adolescents at high risk for adverse prenatal outcomes, maltreatment of children, substance abuse, postpartum depression, medical fragility, and childhood obesity.

To learn more about this program, please visit their website: https://www.countyofsb.org/1680/Maternal-Child-Adolescent-Health

The Disease Control and Prevention (DCP) program works to prevent and control communicable disease outbreaks, promote health, and monitor the health status of our communities.

Preventing epidemics and controlling communicable disease is one of the core functions of public health.

Disease Control staff respond to single cases, clusters and outbreaks of reportable communicable diseases in order to prevent spread within the community.

PHNs work with an interdisciplinary team to identify social determinants of health impacting health equity and strategize on ways to decrease barriers among vulnerable populations.

The DCP Program of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is comprised of the Tuberculosis, Communicable Disease, Sexually Transmitted Disease, HIV/AIDS, and Immunization Programs.

To learn more about this program, please visit their website: https://www.countyofsb.org/1554/Disease-Prevention

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Community or Public Health experience;
• Case Management experience;
• Knowledge of community resources;
• Strong planning & organizational skills;
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred, but not required.

Click Here to find out why our nurses love their jobs
and how their work contributes to the success
of the Public Health Department.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This class is characterized by the responsibility to work with individuals and/or families in an assigned geographic area within the County, categorical program, or clinic operated by the Health Care Services Department.

Duties involve the full scope of public health nursing activities. Clients often have limited knowledge of health principles, nutrition, disease process, appropriate care, or available resources.

Incumbents work in the community making home visits, performing field outreach, as well as conducting specialty clinics and health education activities.

This class is distinguished from the higher level of Public Health Nurse, Supervising, in that the latter is responsible for supervising the public health nursing services of an assigned program or clinic.

Requirements

1. Educates and counsels clients and their families in health maintenance and promotion and disease prevention in order to enhance the individual's ability to recognize the need for and to seek treatment to meet health care and general social needs; and demonstrates basic nursing techniques for the ill or injured in the field.
2. Assesses the physical, psycho-social and health care status and needs of families and/or individual clients; interviews client and/or family, collecting a health history and data regarding current health status and life situations; observes client and client-family interaction in the home; develops plan of care; detects cases of physical and/or emotional illness; and participates in epidemiological studies and communicable disease control by conducting community investigations.
3. Coordinates client care with other health professionals to improve client's health; refers clients and/or families to appropriate community or public agencies to obtain services or assistance to improve or maintain social functioning and health; and refers clients to physicians when medical intervention is indicated.
4. Manages a caseload of clients requiring prioritization of patient care; records patient data; completes state forms and nursing daily reports; develops care plans; documents client and family-based assessments, interventions; plans and evaluations; provides written referrals to other agencies; plans and organizes caseload to ensure that service is delivered according to program and professional guidelines; ensures caseload is covered during short periods of absence; and acts as client advocate with health care providers.
5. Coordinates and participates in public health clinics or outreach programs targeting specific populations or in response to epidemic outbreaks and disaster operations; interviews and counsels patients; conducts health screenings and assessments; directs the daily work activities of support staff and volunteers; aware of and utilizes community resources and efforts that effect the population serviced; provides health education presentations to schools and other community groups.
6. Coordinates health and related services in categorical programs; determines eligibility according to program guidelines; manages an assigned caseload, including needs assessment, care coordination, and service authorization; interprets and explains program guidelines to beneficiaries, service providers, and community agencies; refers beneficiaries to other appropriate community services; and maintains case records according to program requirements.

Assists in program planning and policy development. Participates in quality assurance activities for services provided and monitors performance measures.

Identifies gaps in services and assists in developing local strategies for improving access. Collaborates with community groups to provide technical consultation, preventive health information.

Serves as a liaison to provider groups and managed care plans and educates the provider community about the population needs.

Provides outreach activities in a variety of settings such as health fairs and other outreach sites.

Qualifications

Possession of a valid Registered Nurse license issued by the California State Board of Registered Nursing AND certification in Public Health Nursing.

Additional Qualifications:

• Independent travel is required. Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.
• Positions allocated to this class may require specialization in target populations, programs, and/or bilingual skills.
• Incumbents must be able to work in an environment which may include exposure to communicable diseases and a variety of field conditions.
• Selectees for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code (relating to child abuse and elder/dependent adult abuse reporting) and Sections 11160 - 11163 (relating to domestic violence reporting).




Knowledge of: the principles and practices of general clinical and public health nursing, including community nursing programs; case management and provisions for continuity in patient care; health promotion techniques; laws and regulations governing public health nursing; causes and means of transmission and methods of control for communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases; maternal and child health; child abuse and neglect detection practices; gerontology and the sociological aspects of aging; environmental, sociological and psychological problems encountered in disease processes; contemporary health management principles; current trends in public health nursing; work of other social and health agencies, as well as functions of other professions related to public health nursing; sociological and emotional problems involved in care of those with special needs and medical conditions; principles of mental health nursing; use and effects of medicines; principles of nutrition and personal hygiene practices; cultural differences affecting health care service delivery and public health; effective counseling and coaching techniques; and principles of clinical health screening including charting histories and system reviews.


Ability to: exercise independent judgment; plan, organize, and carry out public health nursing activities in a local area; apply public health nursing laws and regulations; work effectively with individuals and families to assist them in satisfactory solution of health problems; perform assessments of health status determining the need for and level of nursing and/or medical care; identify problems and develop a plan for follow-up; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; maintain accurate records and document actions taken; prepare clear and concise reports; work with groups; direct work of support staff; make home visits in assigned geographic areas; deal with clients of various socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments; provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services; demonstrate tact, diplomacy and compassion; respond appropriately in emergency high-risk and/or stressful situations; provide nursing assessment and care in a disaster; identify and report domestic violence and child abuse and neglect; refer clients to social service agencies and health care providers; act as patient advocate; collect and analyze data to draw logical conclusions and make appropriate recommendations; interview and counsel clients on health and related matters; and maintain confidentiality of information.




Bilingual – Speaking, Reading, and Writing Preferred: The ability to converse, ready, and write fluently in English and Spanish is preferred.

Note: You must self-certify on your application that you are fluent in English and Spanish. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency.

If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications that require bilingual skills, in accordance to Civil Service Rules.

Additional Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

Supplemental Questionnaire Rating. Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored.

Candidates’ final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the responses to these questions. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Rating to be placed on an employment list.

An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule 6.

Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months.

At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the examination, rank on the employment list, and duration of the employment list.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran’s preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans).

To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.

No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.

To receive veteran’s preference points, you must: (1) select the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 and supporting materials to the Human Resources Department on or before the examination date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.

The preference points will be added to your final test score.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

We require verification of accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

County of Santa Barbara Health (County Health) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the County Health Employee Immunizations policy.

This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations.

A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.

Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks.

The appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance.

The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates.

The County has a longstanding practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 04/06/2026; at 4:59 p.m. PST; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job postings can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Farrah Medrano, County Health Talent Acquisition Lead – PHDRecruiter@sbcphd.org.