JOB TITLE: NURSING DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, DOH

JOB CODE: 30845

DEFINITION: This is professional administrative and managerial work directing the Bureau of Community Health Systems’ (BCHS) public health and nursing operations in the Department of Health (DOH).

The employee in this job directs mandated public health and clinical nursing services provided by state health centers. Work involves planning, monitoring, implementing, and evaluating statewide public health and nursing services to ensure compliance with state and federal public health regulations and professional nursing and clinical guidelines; developing or revising, implementing, and advising on the use of standing nursing orders and other public health policies and procedures; and coordinating with other departmental organizations to ensure consistency in standards of care in nursing services, and in meeting public health objectives and goals. Work also involves serving on committees to review and revise public health nursing protocols; providing nursing consultation and technical direction to other departmental and state entities, local health departments, state and national boards, advisory committees, and professional organizations; and providing training on nursing practices and public health outreach. An important aspect of the work is functioning as the assistant bureau director and serving as the principal advisor to the bureau director in establishing direction for all bureau program and clinical nursing operations, and ensuring the integration of community health program goals, needs, and priorities with the overall strategic goals of the department. Supervision is exercised over community health nurse administrators who oversee the provision of public health and clinical nursing services in the state health centers. Work is reviewed by the Director, Bureau of Community Health Systems for compliance with established departmental policies.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Interprets and provides guidance on public health regulations and policies to departmental and local public health officials.

• Identifies community health needs and determines community health priorities through analysis of public health data, trends, and emerging health concerns.

• Applies best practices in public health to state health center clinical or nursing programs and policies.

• Coordinates revisions of standing nursing orders, manuals, and other procedures between department organizations to ensure consistent interpretation and application.

• Assesses nursing staff capacity and ensures adequate field staff coverage for emergency preparedness drills and response.

• Evaluates state health center activities to determine effectiveness and attainment of program goals.

• Develops and monitors public health data collection tools for activity tracking, program planning, and evaluation and management of public health information.

• Serves on intra-departmental task forces and special committees.

• Manages bureau grant funding, develops mechanisms for reporting program activities, and directs the preparation of reports.

• Directs state health center administrative functions.

• Coordinates external communications regarding state health center program activities with the Communications Office.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of public health nursing theories and practices.

• Knowledge of public health programs and services.

• Knowledge of public health demographics.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemic and endemic disease treatment and control.

• Knowledge of health promotion principles.

• Knowledge of health data collection and analysis techniques.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• One year of experience as a Community Health Nurse Administrator (commonwealth title);

or

• Five years of professional community or public health nursing experience supplemented by three years of experience supervising registered nurses.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.

• An employee possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.