All face-to-face visits with patients have temporarily been placed on hold due to COVID-19 for the safety of our staff, providers, and patients.

GENERAL DUTIES
The Nurse Specialist provides intermediate level professional nursing work in providing primary, preventive and rehabilitative care to individuals in a public health clinical or community setting. Work is performed under the direction of a Nurse Services Supervisor.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
The Nurse Specialist I independently assesses patient needs for nursing care or medical intervention. Work is performed in a clinical setting, in homes, schools, day care centers and business and industry. Employee assesses needs, develops basic nursing care plans and patient goals, explains physician findings and ascertains that instructions are being followed. Employees must differentiate levels of patient criticality to identify crisis situations requiring physician or agency intervention. Nurse may be assigned as a lead worker from time to time.

All face-to-face responsibilities with patients have temporarily been placed on hold due to COVID-19 for the safety of our staff, providers, and patients but will resume when it safe to do so.

This position works 100% in the Care Management for High Risk Pregnancy (CMHRP) program. In the CMHRP program the Care Manager (CM) is responsible for coordinating specialized multi-disciplinary services to an assigned caseload of high-risk Medicaid pregnant patients by utilizing nursing assessment skills and knowledge of prenatal, postpartum/newborn care and community resources. The CM receives referrals from supervisor and/or team lead, assesses patient needs, develops and implements a care plan based on needs and coordinates provision of multiple community services to ensure optimal birth outcomes and well-being of the patient and family. Priority patients require a face to face visit every 30 days until service closure. This position serves primarily Medicaid patients receiving care through either a public or private provider. The CM will follow up on referrals in a timely manner and keep providers abreast of changes in the patient's status. All contacts with patients, providers and referral agencies will be thoroughly documented in the electronic documentation system (Virtual Health) within 24 hours.

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor's degree (BSN), which includes 0-6 months of professional nursing experience in a public health setting or related environment; OR an Associate's degree (ADN) with two years experience in a public health setting or related environment. Additional training in specialty area may be required.

Necessary Special Qualifications
Possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse issued by the North Carolina Board of Nursing or another Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact State (eNLC) and such other qualifications which may be prescribed by the State Department of Public Health.

Individuals, employed in a local health department, without a BS Degree which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation will be required to complete a Public Health Nurse training program as a condition of continued employment in accordance with Health Services Commission Rule.

Documentation of immunity to: measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, per CDC recommendations. Screening/proof of Hepatitis B immunity, as recommended by the CDC.

All Public Health staff are required to have annual Flu immunization (shots) each Flu season.

Driving is Essential
Driving is an essential requirement of this position whether driving a County owned or personal

Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in nursing with current Nursing License required and experience working with pregnant women and their families is recommended; OR Registered Nurse in NC with 2 years' experience working with pregnant women and their families and completing home visits.

Physical Demands And Work Condition
Sits, walks and stands during a workday.
Must be able to physically perform the basic life support functions of walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
Must be able to lift patients (children) and objects up to 30 pounds as required for some positions.
Must have the visual acuity to record observations and physical assessments of clients, to read and interpret test results, administer immunizations/prescription dosages, and record medical findings.
Nurse may occasionally be in contact with difficult patients.
Nurses may be exposed to infection from disease-bearing patients, and specimens.
Employees will have periodic exposure to hazards in the field (driving, rural or inner-city settings, inclement weather, clients).
Work conditions may be mildly disagreeable if working in poor home environments or with difficult patients.

Special Note
This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job description with a physical abilities checklist which can give further details about that one specific position. These documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal defensible personnel decisions.