Dept/Div: Public Health/N/A FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

General Definition of Work

Performs intermediate human support work in nursing services necessary to support maintain, and implement public health service programs within assigned areas and programs. Provides nursing care to clients and families following prescribed rules, regulations and professional services, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Public Health Supervisor, Public Health Nurse and Registered Nurse.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Provides safe in-home nursing care to individuals and families to allow them to remain at or return to home safely.
• Provides personal hygiene and health care services to patients according to physician and supervising nurses plan including bathing, toileting, dressing, shaving, exercises and moving from bed to chair or to another room.
• Performs simple medical functions as assigned by the supervising nurse including dressing wounds, reminding patient to take medication and checking physical condition of the patient; reports any abnormalities.
• Fills medication boxes/electronic dispensing devices for clients, assuring accuracy. Checks compliance with taking medications.
• Monitor client’s health status using a variety of technology tools including pacemaker checks, Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR), blood glucose monitor, pulse oximeter, etc.
• Observes patients and report unusual conditions or behaviors to the primary nurse or doctor.
• Assists primary nurse in keeping assignment sheets and medication sheets current and accurate.
• Performs blood sugars and monitors diabetic reactions.
• Monitors cardiac/circulatory problems: edema, shortness of breath, lung sounds, angina, physical limitations, etc.
• Monitors medication compliance and observes for side effects and drug efficacy.
• Monitors client’s behaviors and mental health status.
• Documents care given to clients and families to ensure all time, costs, and services provided are recorded accurately.
• Documents all care and treatments given and records changes in client’s condition.
• Documents all contacts and correspondence dealing with clients and families.
• Participates in care conferences with primary nurse to ensure client quality care is given as outlined in the care plan.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

General knowledge of nursing practice and theory, and basic personal health care methods; general knowledge of state, federal and local health-related laws and regulations; skill in use of medical equipment, general skill using standard patient care equipment; general skill maintaining records and reports of services provided; general skill communicating with others; ability to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to read and carry out detailed instructions; ability to work with older adults; ability to work with people from all socio-economic levels; ability to move and/or assist clients in movement; ability to maintain strict confidentiality related to clients; ability to practice sound hygiene and sanitation techniques; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and associates.

Education and Experience

Current Minnesota Board of Nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse, or related field and minimal experience working in a professional nursing role, or equivalent combination of education and experience working with the assigned client group, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms and lifting and occasionally requires sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling and repetitive motions; work requires color perception; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and occasionally requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment, exposure to untamed animals and exposure to communicable diseases; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements

• Minnesota licensure as a practical nurse.
• CPR certification.
• Applicable training to obtain and maintain certifications will be provided.
• Ability to maintain certifications through ongoing education.
• Valid driver's license in the State of Minnesota.

Other Requirements

The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions Ch. 13. If a new work assignment requires access to not public data, the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed, the employee’s work assignment no longer requires access.

Last Revised: 05/11/2022