07/01/91 B

This is the second class in the Public Health Nurse series. These positions provide leadership to Public Health Nurses and support staff or technical advisory guidance for one or more nursing programs district-wide. This class is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse class by its focus on permanent charge nurse duties for all clinics in a district sub-unit or district-wide charge and\or administrative duties for one or more nursing programs. It is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse Supervisor by the absence of formal supervisory authority over Public Health Nurses.

Complexity of Work: Positions in this class perform work of considerable difficulty by coordinating administrative programs and providing leadership to other Public Health Nurses for one or more nursing programs district-wide; or by being permanently assigned charge duties for all clinics in a district sub-unit where the duties include making nursing staff assignments in clinics and reviewing their work; developing, implementing, and updating nursing care plans; monitoring the documentation of ancillary staff using the problem oriented record-keeping format; resolving conflicts regarding staff work activities; providing input to Public Health Nurse Supervisors regarding Public Health Nurse performance; and clarifying policies and procedures. Positions may perform routine nursing duties.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor; however, positions act as lead worker exercising program and administrative authority over professional, Public Health Nurse, Registered Nurse, and Licensed Practical Nurse, and non-professional medical staff in a specialty clinic that provides direct patient care management.

Supervision Received: Positions receive direction from higher level Public Health Nurse Supervisors, Managers or physicians or other agency managers.

Scope: Affects the quality of patient care by primarily serving as a program expert for one or more major district nursing services such as Maternal Child Health, Family Planning, or Home Health where the position is singularly responsible for ensuring all nursing activities follow program criteria, training nursing staff, and responding to questions about program policy and procedures. Positions may serve in a satellite office with charge responsibilities for all public health nurse clinic activities.

Impact of Actions: Facilitates, reviews and evaluates quality control and delivery of nursing services or directly delivers patient care. Improper performance of these duties may result in significant costs in time, money, services and public goodwill.

Personal Contacts: Frequent external contacts are made with citizens within a specified geographic area and with primary care providers and other organized groups to interpret public health programs and promote patient care management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES ~~'

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of public health nursing, community resources organizations, social and economic conditions, program management, and complex medical treatments.

Skills: Considerable skill in administering and monitoring the side effects of complex treatments.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to lead Public Health Nurses, perform administrative work and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in Virginia.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

Level and Type of Experience: Public health nursing experience or experience in a related field.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge, skills and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was revised as a result of a change in the complexity of the work, effective July 1, 1991 .