Registered Nurse III (PHN)

Job Description:

Registered Nurse III (PHN)

Description

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.This examination may be reopened as necessary and the names of additional candidates merged onto the existing list according to examination score.APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line .

Supplemental Questionnaire : A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

DESCRIPTION

ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH

Alameda County Health is the local government agency that promotes and protects the health and well-being of all who live, work, learn, and play in Alameda County. We coordinate services and cultivate partnerships with community organizations and providers to help ensure access, organize, and deliver health care and services to people with Medi-Cal and without insurance, support resilient communities, and improve health for all. We focus on health equity by developing programs and systemic solutions that reduce disparities for the people and communities we serve.

Alameda County Health’s departments and programs focus on services and support that provide care for the whole person.

• The Behavioral Health Department provides mental health and substance use services for people with Medi-Cal and without insurance and supports people along their path to wellness, recovery, and resilience.

• The Environmental Health Department works to keep our air, water, and food safe; it regulates, protects, and promotes the health of everyone in Alameda County by enforcing environmental health codes to reduce exposure to toxins and diseases.

• The Public Health Department focuses on community and population-level health, preventing and addressing root causes of health inequity across a range of communicable and chronic diseases.

• Alameda County Health also provides services through Housing and Homelessness Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, HealthPAC, and Healthy Schools and Communities.

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

As part of Alameda County Health, the Public Health Department works in partnership with our local communities to ensure the optimal health and well-being of all people. We monitor health status and service delivery, prevent disease, mobilize communities, conduct outreach, and promote health policy and education. We actively seek partnerships and engage with the community to improve community health through a dynamic and responsive process that respects diversity, addresses health equity, and challenges us to provide for present and future generations.

We are nurses, doctors, community psychologists, epidemiologists, dentists, medical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, outreach workers, health educators, program managers, and pre-hospital care coordinators.

THE POSITION
Registered Nurse IIIs act as lead nurses, assist in providing direction, consultation, coordination and review of the work of professional nursing, and para-professional staff on an assigned team; precept nursing students; plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the delivery of nursing care services to individuals and communities; assist in the management of a program/project; and perform related duties as required.

THE VACANCIES
The current vacancies for this position are located in the Social Services Agency and in thefollowing programs of the Public Health Department; Adult Protective Services, Nurse Family Partnership, Nursing Administration, and Tuberculosis Control (TB). However, the eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in other program areas.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications below, these positions require possession of a current and valid California Public Health Nursing (PHN) certificate issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

ALAMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Public Health Nurses (PHNs) work as part of multidisciplinary teams and are embedded inside well-funded comprehensive programs to ensure that our diverse, low-income, multi-stressed individuals, families, and communities are served in holistic ways. PHNs work in multiple programs/units as case managers, community engagement specialists, consultants, coordinators, educators, health screeners, inspectors, investigators, and vaccinators, in the areas of Children’s Medical Services, Central Referral and Intake, Chronic Disease, Communicable Disease, Community Engagement, Immunization Assistance, Correctional Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Nurse Education, Nurse Recruitment, Occupational Health, Older Adults and Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. The Public Health Department maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda County Social Services Agency for the provision of PH Nursing services to clients in the Departments of Adult and Aging Services (Adult Protective Services, Public Conservator, Public Guardian, and In-Home Supportive Services) and Children and Family Services (Foster Care Assessment Center and the Medically Fragile and Services to Enhance Early Development Units). Descriptions of some of these program/units are specifically highlighted below:

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Adult Protective Services (APS) and Foster Care
PHNs provide nursing case management services to clients with complicated chronic medical conditions. These conditions often render the client vulnerable to ongoing abuse and neglect and at risk for additional medical emergencies, further traumatizing clients and creating cycles of recidivism. Casework may include home visits (to client's residence, hospital, board & care home, health clinic, day program or skilled nursing facility) to conduct an assessment, engagement of the client and client's informal and formal support system in accordance with the service plan of the APS Social Worker, which is designed to reduce or eliminate risk for the client. PHNs will provide health education to clients and their caregivers and/or family and will advocate on behalf of clients for access to required medical services. PHN Case Managers may recognize and coordinate care for varying stages of dementia and cognition; identifying and facilitating appropriate level of care, which could lead to out-of-home placement (such as skilled-nursing facilities, board and cares etc.); facilitating the enrollment process and care provider selection for In-Home Support Services (IHSS) or the selection of other care appropriate providers; and coordinating services, such as Meals-on-Wheels, Friendly Visitors, transportation services (i.e. Paratransit).

Nurse Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership is a home visiting program that partners nurses with low income first-time moms residing primarily in Oakland, in order to improve birth outcomes, increase self-sufficiency and improve child development. Case management services begin in pregnancy and continue until the child reaches two years old. During that time, families receive health education and assessments, child development information and screenings and help with goal setting so that they can create better lives for their child and themselves.

Nursing Administration
The Nursing Administration Office sits inside of the Public Health Nursing Division and is comprised of the Central Intake and Referral Unit, Education and Professional Development Unit, Public Health Nurse Recruitment and Retention Unit, Quality Improvement and Nurse Informatics Units, and Occupational Health Unit. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) as analysts, consultants, coordinators, educators, improvement specialists, and recruiters work as part of multi-disciplinary teams in the Nursing Administration Office to advance and strengthen the role, function, and development of PH Nursing services. Staff in the Nursing Administration Office collaborate with internal and external partners in the development of policy and professional nursing standards of care that support the health of Alameda County residents.

Tuberculosis Control (TB)
The Tuberculosis Control program staff includes public health nurses, community health outreach workers, physicians and clerical support staff working collectively toward the program's priorities and objectives to:

• Ensure early identification and reporting of all persons with TB and ensure timely completion of appropriate therapy;
• Ensure contacts to persons with infectious TB are promptly identified, examined, and if appropriate, complete treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI);
• Reduce occurrence of sentinel events (pediatric TB cases and TB deaths); and
• Identify persons (other than contacts) with LTBI at risk for progression to TB disease, and treatment of those persons with an effective drug regimen.

TB staff also consults with physicians, schools, hospital nurses and others in the community on Tuberculosis. Additionally, they monitor the number of TB cases yearly and determine other steps that need to be taken to control Tuberculosis in Alameda County.

IHSS Program

The IHSS Program is a home visiting program across all 58 counties in California. The Alameda County Public Health Nurse primary role is to conduct an assessment/reassessment of clients that are at risk for out of home placement and to prevent premature institutionalization and/or nursing home placement. The program serves eligible individual across the lifespan who are aged, blind, and disabled to remain safely in their own homes. The public health nurse carries a caseload focused exclusively on IHSS recipients identified as having paramedical service needs for example GT feedings/Tracheostomy/diabetes management/home dialysis. The PHN conducts comprehensive in-home assessment and reassessment to address the medical, nursing, and psychosocial aspects of the client’s health. In addition, the PHN provides health education and management of chronic medical conditions. The PHN is expected to have knowledge of the health delivery system, applying the nursing process, comfortable conducting a thorough assessment, and communicate effectively with clients.

Under the supervision of the Supervising Public Health Nurse (RN IV); the RN II/PHN serves as part of a multidisciplinary team who are responsible for assessing clients’ ability to live safely in their home by evaluating the risk for institutionalization, monitoring client’s progress through any prescribed rehabilitative, and providing case management in coordination with other departments, agencies, and health providers.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is an experienced public health nurse with solid clinical skills, who is a proven problem solver and effective team leader with the ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, collaborate with community partners, and is dedicated to providing timely, courteous and knowledgeable consultation and education to clients, external community, health care partners, internal staff and team members.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the following competencies:

• Detail-oriented and able to review documentation of case management activities for accuracy and completeness
• Provide oversight to public health nurses who conduct case assessment/investigation, case management and care coordination services to high risk, low income Alameda County residents in their own homes, clinics, schools, or other community settings.
• Thrives in a rapidly-changing work environment.
• Able to shift direction and priorities as needed.
• Is proficient with entering, managing andanalyzing information from web-based information systems.
• Must have a commitment to providing the highest quality of services.
• Must be able to maintain focus and composure while responding to urgent situations requiring rapid response.
• Possess the ability to work with and embrace individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Be an exceptional listener and analytical thinker/investigator who possesses strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates competence in the following areas; analysis and assessment, interpreting and implementing policies, procedures and regulations as they relate to nursing,cultural competence, public health sciences, training, mentoring, leadership and systems thinking.

This is a continuous filing exam with filing deadlines quarterly on thefourth Friday. The next filing deadlines are on the following date at 5:00 PM:

• February 29, 2024 (10th Cutoff)
• May 24, 2024 (11th Cutoff)
• July 26, 2024 (12th Cutoff)
• October 25, 2024 (13th Cutoff)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of two years of full-time, recent experience within the last 5 years as a Registered Nurse II in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II

The equivalent of three years of full-time, recent nursing experience within the past 5 years, at a level of, or higher than, the Alameda County class of Registered Nurse II in a clinical and/or public health setting.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications below, these positions require possession of a current and valid California Public Health Nursing (PHN) certificate issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

License:

Possession of a current and valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.

Some positions may require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Certificate:

Possession of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certificates issued by the American Heart Association for professional healthcare providers.

Additional Special Requirements:

1. In compliance with the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day on the job.

2. In compliance with Medicare regulations, employees in this classification are required to complete the "Medicare Enrollment Process for Physicians and non-Physician Practitioners" through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prior to their first day on the job. Active enrollment in Medicare is a condition of employment. Failure to attain or maintain active enrollment will result in termination.

NOTE : The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:


Knowledge of:

• Theories, principles, procedures, techniques, standards and practices of nursing and public health nursing.
• Current trends in public health and public nursing.
• Local, State and Federal codes and regulations governing the field of nursing and public health nursing practice.
• Wellness to illness continuum, including major disease processes to evaluate the condition of clients, families, and/or community.
• Disparities in health outcomes for vulnerable populations, including socio-economic and environmental factors affecting health equity.
• Ten Essential Public Health Services. Principles and practices of public health education and teaching, and interviewing, assessment, and counseling techniques.
• Health systems, agencies, community resources and patterns of referral.
• Basic principles and practices of supervision and leadership.
• Cultural, environmental, sociological and psychological differences and problems.
• Safety and infection control principles, practices and methods.
• Quality assurance and quality improvement indicators.
• Control and prevention of communicable and chronic disease.
• Mandated reporting requirements.
• Medical terminology and documentation.
• Basic auditing skills.

Ability to:

• Facilitate and model effective written and oral communications with attention to linguistic preferences and cultural proficiency to influence behavior and improve health.
• Plan, organize, assign and evaluate the work of others.
• Understand, interpret, explain ad apply laws, regulations, policies and written and oral direction.
• Exercise interpersonal sensitivity and group interaction skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Gather and analyze data.
• Problem solve and draw logical conclusions.
• Prioritize work and coordinate several activities to meet critical deadlines.
• Work independently and adapt to change.
• Assess the health status and concerns of clients and communities.
• Assess, monitor, implement and evaluate program services and operations.
• Exercise sound independent judgement within scope of authority and practice.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interactions.
• Provide public health nursing services and case management.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Respond effectively to emergency situations.
• Incorporate departmental core values and ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations and communities.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps:

A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those applicants who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to determine the best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

13th Administration:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00PM, Friday, October 25, 2024

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

October 30, 2024

Screening for Best Qualified:

November 18, 2024

Civil Service Oral Examination:

Week of December 9, 2024

Department Hiring Interviews:

Ongoing

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

14th Administration:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00PM, Friday, January 31, 2025

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

February 7, 2025

Screening for Best Qualified:

February 21, 2025

Civil Service Oral Examination:

To be Determined

Department Hiring Interviews:

Ongoing

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing . Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1 st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add@jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.organd Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email boxes Noreply@jobaps.com and noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to unmonitored mailboxes. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs . You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Angelica Cuevas, HR Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 271-5154 or email Angelica.Cuevas@acgov.org

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$70.41 - $86.69/hour; $146,452.80 - $180,315.20/year