Requisition No: 797815

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: NURSING PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 64084144

Position Number: 64084144

Salary: $52,000.00 -$54,000.00 Annually

Posting Closing Date: 03/29/2023

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position works under the direction of the Senior Community Health Nursing Director. This position plans, coordinates, maintains and monitors all aspects of the Epidemiology program, and the epidemiology component of public health preparedness and bioterrorism surveillance programs, as well as TB Program.

This position conducts reportable disease surveillance for naturally occurring illnesses and conditions mimicking a terrorist attack. This includes verifying diagnoses of reportable diseases, determining whether an outbreak exists, taking measures to control any communicable diseases, and reporting to various authorities. Reports epidemiological data through the appropriate reporting channels such as Merlin, Epi Com, ESSENCE, SERVFL and Epi Gateway, and monitors sentinel events on a daily basis. Carries the Epi On-Call cell phone responding to all calls from the community and Medical Providers. Serves as the Influenza, Hepatitis, and Perinatal Hepatitis B Coordinator.

Communicates and coordinates with local area hospitals, medical providers and community partners to educate and inform them on reportable disease conditions. Disseminates current epidemiology and preparedness information through face to face communications, or through various media outlets. Serves as the Public Information Officer for Epidemiology-related concerns.

Performs Rabies Surveillance, working with Environmental Health, Animal Services, and community health care providers (as indicated) staff to ensure that Rabies PEP treatment is appropriately offered and administered. Completes follow-up as needed to ensure that treatment is completed. Works with Executive Medical Director and the State Veterinarian as needed. Monitors inventory for accuracy.

Coordinates employee health related activities. Maintains both paper and electronic data bases to track employee health data. Leads the activities to ensure employees receive the appropriate health screening and vaccinations, including influenza vaccine. Provides Fit Testing and ensures that employees participate, as indicated, in Fit Testing.

In conjunction with the CHD Preparedness Planner, assists in disaster preparedness exercises using hypothetical situations, or opportunities that naturally present, such as annual mass influenza vaccinations. Develops, along with the public health preparedness staff, protocols and response procedures for disaster response.

Serves as an active member of the HCHD Incident Command structure; is responsible for coordinating post disaster epidemiological responses.

Active member of the HCHD Quality Improvement Team. Responsible for all aspects of improving and maintaining the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement activities for the Epidemiology and Preparedness Programs. Ensures the timeliness of responses to communicable and public health events and the quality of the data collected and reported. Responsible for participating in activities conducted by the Bureau of Epidemiology, such as conference calls, meetings, seminars, and drills. Develops or enhances case investigation protocols and response procedures, such as Standard Operating Procedures. Ensures that HCHD staff have needed education and information related to Epidemiology and Disaster Preparedness and Response by facilitating training sessions or providing training.

Maintains active membership on teams responsible for Epidemiology and Preparedness.

Serves as primary nurse for the TB program and back-up for the HIV program. Performs other related duties as requested or required by the supervisor.

Provides assessment for TB Program. Provides case management via the computerized module for any active TB cases and all preventative therapy clients. Works with staff from TB Control to dispense medications for Directly Observed Therapy (001) Program or Virtual Directly Observed Therapy. Coordinates and consults with TB Specialist. Provides TB education to all new employees. Provides the yearly TB update to all staff. Responsible for any program reports as required or requested. Interviews clients for evaluation and assessment of patient's condition, counseling and providing treatment for conditions covered under Registered Nurse Standard of Care Protocols and HCHD Nurses Standing Orders. Provides nursing assessments: may make a nursing diagnosis and provide treatment per Nurses Standing Orders for HCHD clients with TB, explaining the disease, Its complications, and Its prevention. Provides nondirective counseling. Assists the physician and/or ARNP with medical procedures per county health department procedures.

Maintains Inventory logs for medications issued.

Works with local case managers to obtain services from multiple community resources.

Responsible as a “need to know” employee for security sets relating to active medical records as it relates to performance of assigned duties and responsibilities for security and confidentiality of same.

Responsible for securing the designated information set for the purpose of protecting confidentiality, data integrity and appropriate access, for all information, both confidential and public record, which is stored in hard copy and/or electronic format.

Assigned SOPs will be reviewed, updated and maintained according to predetermined schedule.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the theories and concepts of preventive health care.
• Knowledge of nursing principles, practices and techniques in specialized areas.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of community resources and organizations.
• Knowledge of the principles of adult learning.
• Skill in the application of nursing theory in specialized areas.
• Ability to teach professional nurses.
• Ability to assess and prioritize service and personnel needs in a specialized area.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to coordinate and evaluate a specialized or educational nursing program.

Qualifications:

Hold a current, active Florida Registered Nursing license or a multistate license from another Compact State.

At least one year of experience with infectious/communicable disease in a medical clinic setting.

At least one year of case management experience.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

7551 Forest Oaks Boulevard Spring Hill, FL 34606

300 South Main Street Brooksville, FL 34601

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.