This position is open until filled with an anticipated start date no earlier than July 5th, 2023.

A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position.

This position is represented by a bargaining unit.

Under the direction of the Tuberculosis Control and Refugee Health supervisor, the incumbent will perform a variety of public health nursing activities related to the control of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, including surveillance and response. Activities include client interviews, implementation of disease control measures, case management, policy development, partnerships, communication, education, and problem solving.

Incumbent will work collaboratively with clients and various disciplines and agencies in the county, region, and state to control and prevent tuberculosis and other communicable diseases in Snohomish County. The public health nurse serves as an expert on tuberculosis and applies a working knowledge of public health nursing practices and concepts of disease epidemiology, prevention and health promotion to situations involving individuals, families and targeted populations. The public health nurse demonstrates cultural competency in the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic circumstances to influence effective change at multi-levels of communicable disease control and prevention.

Work is performed under general supervision. The supervisor defines objectives, priorities, and deadlines; and assists incumbent with unusual situations which do not have clear objectives or precedents. Incumbent plans and carries out assignments and handles problems and deviations in accordance with experienced judgment, instructions, policies, procedures and/or accepted practices. Work is evaluated for competency of professional judgment and achievement of goals and objectives.

This individual is expected to operate with considerable latitude and apply sound judgment to make recommendations, decisions and solve problems consistent with public health nursing experience and science; and participate as a member of cross-functional teams. Specific examples of work will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Provide TB case management services to clients to assure successful individual and community outcomes.
• Receive, screen and investigate reports of Tuberculosis in the county.
• Make home visits to individuals for the purpose of contact investigations, supervision of medications and case management.
• Make clinic or home visits with highly infectious TB patients including those infected with Drug Resistant TB strains; evaluate their general health and medical conditions; collect sputum samples; draw blood and check for adverse effects of anti-TB drugs; and make specific medical assessments based on the TB physician orders.
• Comply with patient care and assessment directions from the TB physician.
• Wear a fit-tested N95 or above respirator when in contact with infectious TB patients.
• Make referrals, utilize community resources appropriately and act as client advocate as needed.
• Participates in or conducts educational programs for co-workers and in the community as indicated.
• Inform the Division Director and the Health Officer of any significant occurrences in the Tuberculosis Program in the absence of the Program supervisor.

• Establishes and maintains electronic medical records
• Assures reporting to appropriate local and state health departments
• Act as a liaison, serve as a resource person, and interpret Tuberculosis services to groups, agencies and other professional disciplines.
• Be able to prepare and present TB Control issues such as TST Administration and/or discuss TB Control with nurses and physicians from other health agencies.
• Complete charting in accordance with charting guidelines and legal requirements; assure client confidentiality.
• Consult with State Tuberculosis staff as needed and appropriate.
• Provides surge support to other Communicable Disease programs in the Prevention Services Division.
• Participates in local and regional Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response activities, including disease surveillance and outbreak response; PHN may be assigned to travel to other areas within Region 1 and throughout the State of Washington to provide surge capacity

• Assures practice is in compliance with ANA code and WA State Nurse Practice Act
• Participates in the development of disease response policies and protocols
• Assist the Program Supervisor in planning and program development and the development and updating of policies and procedures for the Tuberculosis Program
• Prepare reports and/or statistical data as requested; record and report activities and encounters with individuals and groups

• Collaborates with community partners to develop and implement Tuberculosis control measures and prevention resources in Snohomish County
• Acts as a liaison, serves as a resource person and interprets public health nursing and other Health District services to individuals, groups, agencies and other professional disciplines
• Refers, consults and conferences with program manager and team/community members on a regular basis
• Assists in orientation of new team members and may act as a preceptor to students

• Serves as a resource and assists in the development of selected educational materials
• Contributes to the development and implementation of media campaigns to promote disease prevention and to specifically address Tuberculosis control issues
• Develops written communications for community agencies when illness is confirmed in these settings
• Presents information sensitively, effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds and persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences

• Perform and document Medicaid Administrative Match activities
• Attend continuing education programs appropriate to meet learning needs and requirements for licensure
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Knowledge of health care terminology and good understanding of clinical syndromes, practices, and concepts of disease epidemiology and prevention
• Knowledge in understanding and applying standard data collection and data interpretation.
• Skilled in data collection and documentation into databases
• Requires computer skills for electronic medical records, web-based record management, and Office programs
• Skilled in effective interviewing skills to perform tuberculosis and other communicable disease investigations and case management with patients (or families)
• Skilled in oral and written communication.
• Skilled in, or able to become skilled at blood draws and nursing assessments of clients
• Ability to effectively manage and prioritize client caseloads
• Ability to develop written documents for community partners and the public
• Ability to prepare and deliver educational programs using a variety of audiovisual aids
• Ability to speak with medical providers, school nurses and administrative personnel, and other SHD program staff
• Ability to maintain respiratory and blood borne pathogen precautions
• Ability to travel within Region 1 and throughout the State of Washington when needed to provide PHN surge capacity to other LHJ’s. May require overnight stays. Requires ability to work occasional evenings or weekends if urgent disease response is necessary
• Ability to effectively manage and report on individual disease caseload.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the TB Control and Refugee Health team, District officials, colleagues, other professionals and the public

Work is performed in a variety of community settings such as in an office, school, clinic or home, utilizing vehicle, telephones and other standard office equipment including a personal computer and other IT Equipment. Equipment utilized includes medical equipment used to provide Tuberculosis screening and treatment including vision charts, phlebotomy tools, sputum collection materials and pulse oximeter. The incumbent may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work may include traveling to visit community members in places such as homes, hospitals, clinics, secured facilities, outdoors; other travel may include local or statewide for meetings and other forums. The incumbent will also work in an office setting. Requires flexible time schedule; occasional early morning and evening meetings.

• Requires manual and finger dexterity and hand-eye-arm coordination to write and to operate computers and a variety of general office equipment. Requires mobility to accomplish other desktop work, retrieve files, and to move to various District locations.
• Requires visual acuity to read computer screens, printed materials, and detailed information; specific vision abilities required by this classification include close vision, distance vision and color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Required to use hand to eye coordination, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls.
• May involve occasional kneeling, squatting, crouching, stooping, crawling, standing, bending, climbing (to stack, store or retrieve supplies or various office equipment or files).
• The incumbent is frequently required to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time; walk on uneven surfaces; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel crouch, or crawl in the performance of field and office duties.
• Duties require the incumbent to carry supplies and/or equipment up and down stairs as well as into and out of a vehicle on a daily basis.
• Lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds is required continuously, and up to 50 pounds occasionally with or without assistance (example: a box of copy paper).
• Requires the ability to communicate with others orally, face to face and by telephone.

Education: A Registered Nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing

Experience: One year of recent, relevant experience in communicable disease control or public/community health nursing

OR In place of the above experience, the incumbent may possess relevant experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above

• A valid Washington State Registered Nurse license or ability to obtain one by date of hire
• Experience in community-based services or public/community health nursing, Preferred

• Two or more years of experience with a public health agency, Preferred
• Two or more years of experience in communicable disease control, Preferred
• Acute nursing care experience within last 10 years, Preferred

• Experience with emergency preparedness response, Preferred
• Fluency in a foreign language/culture, Preferred

• Valid Washington State Driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire and a driving record which meets the requirements of Snohomish County's insurance carrier
• Background check pursuant to RCW 43.43.830