Public Health Nurse at Waukesha County

Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a talented Nurse to join its Public Health Division.

Do you want to serve your community in a way that's meaningful?

At Waukesha County Public Health, we are looking for customer focused individuals like you who take pride in their work, demonstrate a positive attitude, and are passionate about promoting the health of the community. Whether you're coming from a job that doesn't connect with your sense of purpose, or leaving an organization with an overwhelming work schedule, you can find a better work life balance at Waukesha County. We offer exciting benefits such as flexible start times, generous holiday schedules, and regular daytime business hours so you can spend time on what's important to you outside of work.

The Public Health Nurse (PHN) is responsible for nursing work that promotes and protects the health of individuals, families and populations using knowledge from nursing, social and public health sciences. Work includes:

• communicable disease investigation and case management,
• maternal and child health home visiting,
• community health education, and,
• clinical based work including but not limited to immunizations, sexually transmitted disease screening, tuberculosis case management, and chronic disease screenings.

Our PHNs facilitate client access to the health care system, including referrals to community resources and support. They lead, participate, or facilitate developing various community-based partnerships that promote the health of the community and incorporate the use of systems thinking to impact population health.

The ideal candidate is passionate about health equity and the wellbeing of the community. The position requires a self-motivated professional who provides exceptional client centered care, modeling a high level of emotional intelligence and compassion while being detail oriented. This individual will excel at developing relationships and trust with clients and is able to effectively engage with both internal and external partners within the public health system.

The 2025 salary range for our PHN is $70,865 to $93,787 and is coupled with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package including excellent health/dental/vision, life insurance, generous paid time off (vacation, 10 holidays, 3 floating holidays, ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year), an exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. Employee well-being is promoted through a balanced work-life culture and through an exceptional employee wellness program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote an employee's wellness and health, including an on-site health & wellness clinic.

Prior to hiring, the successful candidate will be subject to work/education/certification reference(s) verification, a criminal background, driver's license check, and a Physical Exam.

Under supervision to perform assessments, planning, implementation, and evaluation through a broad range of community public health nursing services and to perform other duties as required.

1. Conducts and participates in epidemiological investigations and implements control measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases according to prescribed protocols.

2. Provides case management services to individuals and families by assessing specific individual and family physical, mental, and environmental needs, identifying appropriate resources and coordinate services with other community providers as well as providing individual treatment and care. 

3. Provides public health nursing services at clinic such as vaccinations, health screenings, and physical assessments and within established medical orders and agency protocols identifies abnormal findings and makes referrals as appropriate. 

4. Meets with clients in a home or community settings to provide health assessments, health screenings, and health education to community resources, and the monitoring of medication compliance. 

5. Assesses community physical and mental health needs and identifies resources to remediate those needs.

6. Functions as a public health resource on various public health issues and programs by providing information and guidance to health care providers, schools, community groups, and other health and human service-related agencies.

7.  Interprets Health & Human Services programs and other County services to clients, families, and community organizations.

8. Teaches and supervises the family in giving health care to clients.

9.  Identifies present and potential health needs and resources related to the total health of individuals, families, and the community.

10. Provides information to management for the development and operation of public health programs.

11. Participates in surveys, studies, surveillance, and data collection on various public health issues.

12. Performs data entry into electronic records and other databases, data searches, reporting, and other functions using various computer systems.

13. Participates as assigned in County disaster plans.

14. Assist with the orientation and guidance of new staff.

15. May be assigned to function as a lead worker, mentor or clinic charge nurse for department professional and paraprofessional staff, programs, or clinics.

16. Keeps accurate comprehensive records and makes comprehensive reports.

17. Establishes and maintains effective working relations with the recipients of services, other employees, and the general public.

18. Act as a first responder in a natural disaster or any public health, chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological event.

19. Performs other duties as required.

Essential Knowledge and Abilities

1.  Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing, including public health nursing, and core functions of public health.

2. Considerable knowledge of preventive health care, including the prevention and control of communicable diseases.

3. Considerable knowledge of the laws regulating the confidentiality of client information.

4. Working knowledge of computerized department program software including electronic health record, internet access and database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.

5. Ability to make a comprehensive assessment of the health status of clients and families.

6. Ability to demonstrate clinical nursing skills such as venous and capillary blood draws, specimen collection, place and read TB skin tests, immunization administration, pelvic exams, all system physical assessment, fluoride varnishing, proficiency testing, and interpretation of lab results. 

7.  Ability to use critical thinking skills.

8. Ability to recognize and respond to life threatening emergencies.

9. Ability to explain and interpret laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to public health nursing.

10. Ability to detect and identify symptoms of communicable diseases.

11. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the recipients of services, other employees, and the general public.

12. Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyles.

13. Ability to communicate with non-English speaking individuals utilizing a translator or other contracted translation services.

14. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

15. Ability to keep accurate and comprehensive records and make reports.

16. Ability to respond to a public health outbreak or an emergency government public health disaster situation.

17. Ability to work in an enclosed environment wearing personal protective equipment.

You must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
2. Current State of Wisconsin licensure as a registered nurse.
3. Valid driver's license.

In addition to the above, candidates must possess the physical and mental abilities to perform the essential job functions as

listed in the PHN ADA Essential Functions Worksheet (Download PDF reader). Reasonable accommodations may be made

to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About Us: Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

WCDHHS Mission/Vision/Values: We enhance quality of life while assuring critical needs are met. The vision of Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services is a connected, resilient community where everyone thrives. We achieve this though values that include: Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Engaged Workforce, Innovation, and Self-Determination. 

Location: Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site caf and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO/AA: Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County. 

For further information visit:  https://www.waukeshacounty.gov  

The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

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