Public Health Nurse

Title: Public Health Nurse

State Role Title: Registered Nurse I

Hiring Range: $63,430 - $71,807

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: THREE RIVERS-KING WILLIAM

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of Virginians. The VDH is made up of a statewide Central Office in Richmond and 35 local health districts. These entities work together to promote healthy lifestyle choices that can combat chronic disease, educate the public about emergency preparedness and threats to their health, and track disease outbreaks in Virginia.

Do you have a passion for healthcare and serving the community? If so, join our dynamic nursing team. You will serve a vital role in shaping the Three Rivers Health District healthcare system, serving the ten counties within the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.

What you’ll do:

Program Support
• Uses the nursing process to assess, develop/implement care plans, and evaluate outcomes. Uses the Quad Council’s Core Community/Public Health Nursing Competencies as an evidence-based platform for practice.
• Recognizes the diversity of individuals/populations and applies the appropriate language and communication tools; this may include but not limited to individuals from different cultural, socio-economic, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression
• Adheres to nursing directives, agency protocols and guidelines
• Practices within the realm of the Nurse Practice Act and related Acts governing health professionals and health laws
• Assesses the health status and health literacy of individuals and families, including determinants of health, using multiple sources of data
• Applies ethical, legal and policy guidelines and principles in the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and inform
• Uses information technology effectively to collect, analyze, store and retrieve data related to public health nursing services for individuals, families and groups
• Uses evidence-based strategies or promising practices from across disciplines to promote health in communities and populations
• Applies methods and practices to access public health information for individuals, families and groups
• Uses assessments, develops plans, implements and evaluates interventions for public health services for individuals, families and groups
• May administer routine child and adult immunizations to clients
• Demonstrates ethical standards of practice in all aspects of public health and public health nursing as the basis of all interactions with individuals, communities, and organizations


Workload & Case Administration
• Sets priorities for completing of program responsibilities and work assignments
• Uses data, evidence and information technology to understand the impact of determinants of health on individuals, families, and groups
• Uses information on determinants of health effectively when working with diverse individuals, families, and groups
• Assists individuals, families, and groups to identify and access necessary community resources or services through the referral and follow-up process
• Uses research to inform the practice of public health nursing
• Demonstrates compliance with the requirements of patient confidentiality and human subject protection
• Models public health science skills when working with individuals, families, and groups

Direct Patient Care
• Provides competent, high quality and safe nursing/case management in clinic, community, home and other settings in a confidential, customer-oriented manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for the client
• Uses the nursing process to assess, develop/implement care plans, and evaluate outcomes
• Teaches/counsels clients and families regarding health promotion and disease prevention
• Select variables that measure health and public health conditions
• Identifies opportunities for individuals, families and groups to link with advocacy organizations
• May perform duties to include communicable disease investigation, ability to be fit tested for an N95 or other respirator, ability to don/doff PPE, support emergency shelters, and other duties

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Communicates verbally and in writing, to analyze problems, situations and suggest solutions, leadership, follow directions and establish priorities

• Skills in physical examination, health assessment, and interviewing and counseling technique

• Ability to function independently, prioritize and organize work, solve problems, adapt to change, function as a team member and relate to the public

• Knowledge of public health concepts, principles of public health nursing, principles of epidemiology; immunizations; basic nursing science, medical terminology, case management

• May travel and some weekend and/or evening hours may be required

• Must be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR

Additional Considerations

• Additional study in health promotion/or public health is preferred

• BSN preferred

• Experience in a public health setting or one related to disease prevention and health promotion

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH requires all Health-Care Personnel (HCP) to provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity to the following: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a one-time dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine was administered (Td or Tdap boosters shall be received every 10 years); and the current year's seasonal influenza vaccination.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service's Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, or driving background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) organization, VDH honors the Commonwealth's veteran's hiring preference. VDH employees have a Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

State agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by case-basis.

Contact Information

Name: Carolyn Gibson

Phone: For inquires, please email

Email: carolyn.gibson@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.