SENIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE - 64002587

Requisition No: 878666 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: SENIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE - 64002587

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64002587 

Salary:  $55,000.00 - $57,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 07/26/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This Senior Community Health Nurse will supervise the Healthy Start/Pediatrics programs and the School Health Program for the Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County. The incumbent is part of the organization and is expected to promote cooperation, courtesy and teamwork in a diverse environment.  Employee abides by State/Federal laws governing confidential and public information. Strict adherence to confidentiality and HIPAA privacy policies is expected at all times.  This is a 12-month position that will have various work locations including but not limited to the Primary Care Clinic site and any location within the DeSoto County School district. Responsible for the supervision of staff including appraisals, planning and directing work, approving leave, and having the authority for hiring and taking disciplinary action or effectively recommending such actions.

School Health Program:   

The nurse in this position will provide on-site school health services during the school calendar to include; but are not limited to the following;  collecting student health histories, provide nursing assessment, manage acute and chronic health problems, monitor, update and evaluate the cumulative health records, perform designated screenings, administer medications and monitor medications after receiving signed physicians orders and parent permission forms, document accurately on student cumulative health records and treatment records, and enforce the immunization requirements for school entry.  The activities are documented in the electronic records including Health Master and Skyward (District).  Universal precautions will be utilized at all times in the school clinic.  The nurse will be certified in American Red Cross Community CPR and basic First Aid.  The nurse will be a resource person to administrator, classroom teachers, parents and students.  Trains and monitors performance of identified school delegate staff in partnership with Principal. The nurse will follow-up on referrals by the school staff within five days.  The nurse will assess the families, provide interventions and health counseling, consult with medical providers and refer to appropriate agencies when necessary.  Fills out appropriate paperwork for Medicaid Reimbursement for services provided when applicable.

Coordinates with Principal and presents programs according to Supplemental School Health Plan guidelines.  Work to advance School Health Education by taking part in Education and In-Service Programs.  Initiates Health Educational Programs and exchanges information with affiliated agencies and institutions.  Provide trainings and in-service for school staff as needed.  This may include medication administration in schools and CPR and Basic First Aid along with student specific procedures and needs.  Teach health classes or provide resources for teachers as requested.  This may include puberty, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco and drug use prevention, abstinence, and communicable disease prevention.

Initial school clinic visits will include nursing assessment, history, educational session, and counseling.  As part of the multidisciplinary team, students identified for case work which may involve additional follow-up counseling, nursing assessments and referrals will be follow 100% of the time.  Confers with teachers weekly regarding health needs in high risk students.  Help develop care plans for students with chronic illnesses or problems.  Keeps immediate supervisor advised of Nursing Programs when appropriate remaining available to consult with during normal duty hours. 

Plans and conducts orientation sessions for all new personnel on policies, procedures and programs of agency.  Leads the school health advisory committee (SHAC) and other school meetings and functions required by the School Health Plan.  CPR and First Aid training will be kept up to date as per school health plan.  Attends professional and/or training workshops to obtain required CEU's to keep license current; thus, updating knowledge and skills.

 Healthy Start and Pediatrics Programs: 

This position works with health care providers in a variety of settings including in the home with some school- or clinic-based activities as needed to deliver Healthy Start and pediatric services to the DeSoto community.  Maintains records, instructs patients and families on how to carry out physicians’ orders. 

Understand and implement the requirements of the Healthy Start program including documentation requirements, coding, services and reporting requirements as described in the Scope of Work.  

Recognizing and assessing health needs of participants; stressing importance of periodic examinations, continued treatment, early prenatal care, family planning, well baby and children’s health visits, immunizations and the prevention of illness, including giving anticipatory guidance in growth and development.  

Assisting participants in following prescribed health care procedures and in securing medical and related services as needed.

Working with community groups/organizations on public health aspects and programs.

Evaluating health histories; attaining and maintaining special skills in performing basic physical assessments.

Making referrals to appropriate agencies based on participant needs and for additional testing and/or further medical care when appropriate.

Providing participant education on health-related topics in the home, community settings and conducting educational programs for staff, students, observers, etc.

Home visitations and clinical assessments and performing necessary record keeping and charting documentation.

Performing other duties relevant to the agency, as assigned

Collaborates with all DOH DeSoto programs to assure healthy client outcomes.

As a Registered Nurse performs within scope of practice and works with physician(s) and/or orders regarding client symptoms/standing orders/protocol.

Primary Clinic RN Coverage:

Collaborates with providers across Primary Care and Pediatrics to support clinical services for the DeSoto community. Complete patient assessments, care and coordination of treatment. Advise patients and families on proper health care, interpret medication directions and factors related to patient’s condition for maintenance of good health status.  Provide nursing care as well as education for patients. Participate as a team member in obtaining and recording patient’s health and social histories and assessing patient needs. Assist Providers as needed for the total care of all patients, assist with discharge plans for clinic patients, receive and review lab recording correct results in patient medical record. Performs immunization assessment and gives vaccines as needed. Assists with maintaining  orderliness of Medication Room and medication inventory to include: Verifying inventory of medications weekly; ordering medications from Central Pharmacy or other designated vendors, verifying shipment for accuracy; Logging inventory into Med Room inventory application, removing outdated and short-dated medications from shelves and returning them to Central Pharmacy, accurately removing from inventory; restocking shelves as needed and maintaining necessary documents/logs/licenses as required for inspection. Keeps Community Health Nursing Director informed of any discrepancies, problems or concerns.

All timesheets, EARs, mandatory trainings, travel documents and performance evaluations are completed and submitted accurately and by the established deadline without supervision.

Other duties assigned by supervisor.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
• Knowledge of principles and processes involved in business and organizational planning, coordination, and execution. This may include strategic planning, resource allocation, manpower modeling, leadership techniques, and production methods
• Knowledge of plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment
• Knowledge of the composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods
• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media
• Knowledge of computer software including applications
• Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
• Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, alternative delivery systems, and customer satisfaction evaluation techniques
• Knowledge of instructional methods and training techniques including curriculum design principles, learning theory, group and individual teaching techniques, design of individual development plans, and test design principles
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Weighing the relative costs and benefits of a potential action
• Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job
• Knowledge of numbers, their operations, and interrelationships including one or more of the following: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
• Using mathematics to solve problems
• Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures
• Identifying the nature of problems
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance, mental processes, psychological research methods, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
• Actively looking for ways to help people
• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react the way they do
• Talking to others to effectively convey information
• Knowledge of information and techniques needed to rehabilitate physical and mental ailments and to provide career guidance including alternative treatments, rehabilitation equipment and its proper use, and methods to evaluate treatment effects
• Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience

Qualifications:

Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver License and have a motor vehicle to carry out these duties. Basic Microsoft applications computer skills, experience using electronic health records, and accessing data to compile reports. Incumbent must have CPR Certification. Licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.27 or possess a nursing multi-state license through the Nurse Licensure Compact.  A bachelor’s degree is preferred but an associate degree is required for this position  Incumbent must have experience supervising staff.  

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:

Arcadia – FL

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.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

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.    

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.