Public Health Nurse (Limited Term) at City of Pasadena, CA

About the Department

The City of Pasadena Public Health Department seek an energetic, detailed oriented, and compassionate Public Health Nurse to provide our community professional nursing care and public health services on behalf of the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) population. Our public health team of professionals are the unsung heroes in our communities. We have rewarding career opportunities for public health nurses to contribute their talents and expertise to our community.

For over 130 years, the Pasadena Public Health Department has been responsible for helping protect, maintain and improve the health of the Pasadena community. The City of Pasadena is one of only three cities in the State of California that maintains its own independent local health jurisdiction with responsibility for a wide variety of services that support the three core public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance.

Please note:  This is a limited-term grant-funded position with current funding through June 30, 2028. Many public health positions are funded through external grants with various time durations. We are excited about serving our community and we hope you are too. Come join our team and grow with us!

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal Public Health Nurse will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating innovative, patient-centered prenatal programs while promoting maternal and child health in the greater Pasadena community. The position leads group prenatal care through the Centering Pregnancy model, including provider recruitment, patient enrollment, session facilitation, and individualized support for expectant mothers with a focus to improve health outcomes for African American and Native American pregnant individuals. This role also advances perinatal health equity by developing programs like the Baby Passport, providing technical assistance to healthcare providers, and collaborating with local and state partners to improve perinatal health outcomes. Additionally, the Public Health Nurse serves as the Perinatal Services Coordinator and SIDS program liaison, conducting developmental screenings, promoting mental health and breastfeeding, distributing safe sleep materials, delivering SIDS education, and providing compassionate support to grieving families. Regular attendance is an essential function of this classification. The ideal candidate is passionate, energetic, and possesses excellent communication skills with a high degree of compassion. 

Please submit copies of the required certifications at the time of application.

Position Duties

The major responsibilities of this position are listed below.  For more detailed information, please review the Public Health Nurse job description.  This position will have a primary focus on:

Los Angeles Population Health Collaborative Initiative:

• Complete Centering Pregnancy Facilitator training and certification. Support equity, inclusion and belonging with staff and patients. Meet with group prenatal care partners and providers to introduce the program and recruit providers to participate. Complete MOU agreements with providers. Meet with clinic representatives (Centering Leader) to support procurement of necessary furniture and supplies for group classroom and curriculum. Assist in the recruitment and enrollment of pregnant women into the group prenatal care program.
• Together with medical provider, coordinate and facilitate group prenatal care sessions for expectant mothers, including scheduling and organizing group meetings, preparing educational materials, and ensuring a safe and comfortable environment. Provide individualized support and counseling to pregnant women, including addressing any concerns or questions they may have about their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible care for expectant mothers and their families. Act as a liaison between patients and healthcare providers to ensure seamless coordination of care. Maintain accurate and confidential records of patient information and ensure compliance with all legal and ethical standards. Communicate effectively with expectant mothers and their families to provide information and guidance on prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care.
• Participate in team meetings and trainings to continuously improve the group prenatal care program and ensure high-quality care for patients. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the group prenatal care program and make recommendations for improvement. Represent PPHD and the group prenatal care program at community events and meetings to raise awareness and promote services.
• Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures, including safety and infection control protocols. Maintain a positive and professional attitude and contribute to a supportive and collaborative work environment. Continuously seek opportunities for personal and professional growth to enhance job performance and contribute to the overall success of the organization.
• Lead development and implementation of the Baby Passport program. Provide Technical Assistance to perinatal providers, CHDP providers, hospitals & maternity wards. Visit providers quarterly. Partner with CDPH/MCAH on dissemination and translation of recommendations to improve maternal health and perinatal clinical practices, including quality improvement toolkits to reduce disparities.
• Provide education and information to perinatal providers, pediatricians and other health care providers to support children’s healthy growth and development. Conduct developmental assessments for children ages 0-5 (Height, Weight, Vision, Hearing, BP).
• Implement referrals to preventive care, mental health care, and sexual and reproductive health care, including the California’s Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment program.
• Provide programmatic consultations for MCAH programs including workshops and presentations for BIH, HIPPY, Cal-InSPIRE, WIC, Early Childhood Education (ECE) sites, and Library programs. Disseminate culturally responsive materials to inform Black women about chronic health conditions. Collaborate with MCAH, WIC, RPPC, Medi-Cal, and other key partners to ensure integration of resources and a coordinated delivery system for women during and after pregnancy. (i.e. Strong Start & DHCS Birthing Care Pathway)
• Work with Community Health Worker (CHW) to conduct services eligibility assessments with patients & complete referrals for PPHD CHW services in alignment with Cal-AIM objectives.
• Complete semi-annual reports for MCPs.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

In addition to the primary duties, additional duties may also include:

Perinatal Services

• Attend Annual Perinatal Services Coordinator Meeting
• Partner to develop and disseminate information and resources about policies and best practices to promote extending breastfeeding duration, including lactation accommodation.
• Partner with local programs responsible for the provision of mental health services and early intervention programs to promote mental health services in the perinatal period. Implement and utilize standardized and validated mental health screening tools for pregnant and parenting women in MCAH programs.
• Partner with MCAH programs to assess current policies and practices on developmental screening and monitoring developmental milestones. Provide training to programs to incorporate developmental screening.
• Track County Medi-Cal managed care health plan developmental screening data (MOU).
• Partner with Women Infant Children (WIC) program to disseminate developmental milestone information, educational resources, and tools.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

• Attend Southern CA SIDS Advisory Council Meetings
• Attend CA SIDS Council Meetings
• Attend Annual SIDS Conference
• Distribute Safe Sleep materials to families in need.
• Distribute safe sleep education information to clinics, childcare providers, and parents.
• Conduct Safe Sleep Assessments & provide pack ‘n plays to eligible families.
• Provide SIDS education to hospitals, childcare providers and parents. Provide emotional support and guidance to families grieving the loss of an infant from SIDS. Conduct home visits or follow-up calls to assess the family's needs and provide ongoing support. Complete relevant reports including annual SIDS/safe sleep reporting, and the Public Health Services Report for SIDS, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

COMPETENCIES

The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Self-Management – Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Presentation Skill – Formally delivering information to groups
• Relationship Building – Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Professional & Technical Expertise in Maternal & Child Health - Applying technical subject matter to the job

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• A valid Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing is required.
• A valid Public Health Nurse (PHN) certificate issued by the State of California Department of is required.

Desirable Qualifications:

• One year of responsible, professional experience working as a PHN that included maternal, infant and/or child health
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification  
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is highly desirable

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who appear best qualified based on their application and supplemental application may be invited to participate in any combination of written, oral, or performance examination, and a department level interview.

VACANCIES

There is currently one full time and one part time vacant positions with limited-term grant-funded vacancy in the Community Health Division of the Public Health Department. The resulting eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in the future.

Candidates selected for this position are subject to a one-year probationary work period.

Other Qualifications

Must have possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver's license, access to a car and proof of automobile insurance at time of appointment and as a condition of continued employment in addition to the above-mentioned required licensing.

Must have a valid certificate as a Public Health Nurse issued by the State of California, Department of Health and a valid Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.