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Scotland County Health Department functions as a Public Health agency for the prevention of communicable and infectious disease, and for the promotion of wellness and good health practices. Priority is placed on serving county residents and providing quality nursing and medical care.

Position performs duties in the clinics, makes home visits and performs follow-up as needed. The nurse in this position also works in the STD/Communicable Disease clinic to screen and treat patients following program guidelines and standing orders. Provides patient education, counseling and follow-up care as required. Functions to provide community outreach and education (i.e., schools, hospital, private organizations, local senior citizens' sites) and other areas as may be assigned. Employee is also required to work in the Family Planning, Maternity, General Services and the Early Intervention Clinic (EIC) as assigned.

*Salary is based on direct work related experience, education and qualifications

"Scotland County Health Department is a qualified employer under thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness(PSLF) program".

Examples of Duties

STD Clinic

• Works STD Clinic under the direct supervision of the PHN Nursing Supervisor and/or Communicable Disease Supervisor when immediate supervisor is absent or for special projects and outbreaks.
• Obtains health history and range of symptoms for current problems.
• Performs vital signs as per clinic policy and procedure.
• Performs venipuncture or labs using appropriate equipment as per clinic policy and procedure.
• Performs physical exams on male clients to assess complaints and/or problems.
• Collects urethral specimens as needed for diagnostic purposes per STD Clinic policy and procedure.
• Performs physical exam on female clients to include a pelvic exam to assess for complaints and/or problems.
• Collects specimens for GC, Chlamydia and Wet mounts using appropriate equipment as per STD Clinic policy and procedure.
• Reviews collected specimen results to determine presence or absence of disease using microscope and other diagnostic procedures as per protocol.
• Collects cultures and/or serum on both male and female clients for Herpes as needed to evaluate complaints or problems identified through physical exam and other diagnostic procedures.
• Responsible for dispensing appropriate medication to treat existing disease processes determined by physical exam, culture reports and lab results as per standing orders and STD treatment guidelines.
• Provides HIV Prevention Counseling and testing for clients coming to clinics requesting HIV Testing. Provide counseling to assist clients with determining risk factors for becoming infected with the HIV virus.
• Provides HIV Post-Test Counseling for non-reactive and reactive results to clients who received HIV Testing.
• Responsible for follow-up of all positive STD test results via telephone or home visit as needed to comply with health department and State Public Health requirements.
• Works closely with the State Public Health Disease Intervention Specialist for recommendations related to positive Syphilis and HIV cases in all health department clinics.
• Responsible for monitoring all positive Syphilis serology reports.
• Responsible for the follow-up on infants born to mothers with positive Syphilis in collaboration with primary medical doctors and /or OB/GYN providers.
• Responsible for follow-up of communicable disease reports from other facilities to determine whether clients have been treated appropriately per CDC recommendations for positive STD results through review of records and telephone calls to health care providers or clients.
• Performs follow-up with those clients who have not been treated per CDC recommendations through phone call, letter or home visit, and assures that clients are appropriately treated.
• Responsible for coordinating education se sions/presentations per request by community organizations, public schools, college and residents related to STD, HIV and Communicable Diseases.
• Maintains general nursing knowledge and professional competency related to STD/HIV/Communicable Disease through attendance at required and elective workshops, in-services and continuing education.
• Participates in committees and staff meetings as required.
• Assists as needed with the updating of Policies and Procedures for STD/Communicable Disease.
• Makes recommendations through Director of Nursing, PHN Nursing Supervisor and County Attorney to the Health Director in the solicitations of Isolation Orders for clients not adhering to plan of care for individuals with known Communicable Diseases, STDs or HIV positive status.

Family Planning Clinic and Maternity Clinic

• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor.

Communicable Disease

• Responsible for follow-up for Shigellosis, Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter, and /or any other reportable disease.
• Responsible for the provision of patient/parent teaching, telephone management, letters or home visits.
• Responsible for completion of Communicable Disease Report and/or surveillance report as required by NC State Guidelines.
• Provides and coordinates educational sessions/presentations as requested by community, organizations, and Scotland County residents related to Communicable Disease.
• Responsible for follow-up for Hepatitis A, B, and C.
• Consults with NC State Communicable Disease Branch as needed. Educates patients and family through home visits or scheduled health department visits on Hepatitis, including discussion of disease control measures.
• Serves as a member of the Scotland County EPI Team to assist with any disease outbreaks that may occur in Scotland County.

Infectious Disease Clinic

Serves as Lead Registered Nurse.

Obtains health history, IDclinic client agreement, Release of Information, Nutrition, mental health, substance abuse and any other assessment necessary at patients initial nurse visit.

Orders lab work as per standing orders at initial visit and periodically every three to four months.

Performs Blood pressure, temperature, height and weight as per clinic policy and procedure.

Screen patient for Provider for physical assessment in IDclinic, documenting on IDform chief complaint, history of illnesses, review of system, medication list and medication compliance.

Assist Provider in assessing the patient during physical exam and complete Provider orders.

Provide education on informed consents, medication, nutrition, safe sex and medication compliance.

Responsible for scheduling appointments and follow-up on all external referrals through telephone calls and letters.

Responsible for coordinating patient care with the patient's case manager at Scotland County Health Department.

Administer immunizations and TB skin test per standing orders.

Responsible for input in the computer software, Care Ware Management for IDpatients, which includes entering each clinic visit, vital signs, medications, referrals appointments, labs, notes, immunizations, test results, x-ray results and any other pertinent information that is essential to the care of IDpatients.

IDclinics are usually held every 3rdTuesday of the month, but patients may be placed on the Provider schedule at any time for a problem visit.

Follow-up work usually requires about 4-6 hours per week on off clinic week, butusually requires an additional 8-10 hours of follow- up the week the I