PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

La Crosse County; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

Health insurance

Vacation and sick time banks

Job summary

La Crosse County seeks a skilled Public Health Nurse to join the Health Department’s Public Health Nursing unit. You will perform nursing duties, apply evidence-based practices, and deliver preventative care to individuals and communities.

The role requires strong communication, cultural competency, and the ability to work independently with supervision during probation. You will collaborate with partners across immunizations, maternal child health, and disease prevention programs.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor's Degree from an accredited nursing program.
• Current Wisconsin Registered Nurse license.
• Experience in maternal child health and immunizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor population health status and needs using data and community indicators.
• Investigate health problems and address hazards affecting the population.
• Communicate health information to community members, policy makers and stakeholders.
• Lead and collaborate with community partners to improve health outcomes and program delivery.
• Provide nursing care in homes and clinics following approved guidelines and supervision.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical thinking

Collaboration

Public health nursing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Wisconsin RN license

Job description

Welcome to La Crosse County — Where Your Work Truly Matters

Every day, our unique teams contribute to our vision of a community that is vibrant, safe, and resilient. Whether you're supporting families, safeguarding natural resources, maintaining infrastructure, or delivering essential services, your work here creates real impact for the people who live, work, and visit our county.

What You’ll Gain By Joining Us

• A Future You Can Count On: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), one of the most respected pension programs in the nation.
• Reliable, Affordable Coverage: Countywide insurance plans plus growing access to local, no-cost care options for everyday health needs.
• Time Off That Works For You: You’ll have two dedicated banks of vacation and sick time, giving you the freedom to plan real downtime when you need it—and the peace of mind to take care of yourself when you’re under the weather.
• Start earning vacation and sick time your very first day
• Bank up to 2× your annual vacation accrual
• Build up to 150 sick days as a full time employee

A Place Where Everyone Belongs

We believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging—because diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Overview

FLSA: Exempt This is a professional nursing position in the Health Department in Public Health Nursing. Employees are appointed by the Public Health Nursing Manager with approval of the County Health Director, and work within medically approved guidelines beginning with close supervision during probation and then general supervision. Employees may work independently to perform assigned tasks in caring for patients and providing preventative nursing care.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions
• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints
• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes
• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results
• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth
• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential
• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals
• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives
• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives
• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment
• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization
• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking
• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community
• Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes
• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks
• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions

Tasks will note Public Health Competencies as follows:

The competency level for this position is Tier 1 – Front Line Staff/Entry Level.

• Analytical/Assessment Skills
• Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
• Communication Skills
• Cultural Competency Skills
• Community of Dimensions of Practice Skills
• Public Health Sciences Skills
• Financial Planning and Management Skills
• Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

Assess and Monitor Population Health Status, Factors that Influence Health, and Community Needs and Assets: Contributes to assessments of community health status and factors influencing health in a community; participates in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining and disseminating community health-related data and information; assesses needs pertinent to the health of individuals, families, populations or communities; makes evidence-based decisions using data; applies ethical principles on the use of data; advocate for the use of evidence. (1)

Investigate, Diagnose, and Address Health Problems and Hazards Affecting the Population: participates in response efforts to identify, prevent, minimize, and contain adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases; food, water and vector-borne outbreaks; chronic diseases; environmental hazards; injuries; and health disparities. (3,4,5,6,8)

Communicate Effectively to Inform and Educate People about Health: makes presentations to community, academic groups or policy makers (ie-HHS Board) on public health related issues. (3,4)

Strengthen, Support, and Mobilize Communities and Partnerships to Improve Health: Collaborates with other community partners in the planning and implementation of evidence-based public health programs; participates in and at times leads local and regional coalition efforts; assists with research, data collection, writing and evaluation of contracts and grants; works effectively within a team structure. (2,3,6,8)

Create, Champion, and Implement Policies, Plans and Laws that Impact Health: Contributes to development and implementation of policies, programs and services, including program goals and objectives; collaborates in the development of evidence-based public health nursing practices and programs in collaboration with community and state partners (ie-universities, businesses); engages with creation and implementation of the organizational Strategic Plan and Community Health Improvement Plan; identifies current trends affecting the health of a community; gathers information that can inform options for policies, programs and services and describes their implications. (1,2,3,8)

Utilize Legal and Regulatory Actions Designed to Improve and Protect the Public’s Health: Adheres to applicable guidance from the state and federal health departments relating to environmental health, immunizations and control of communicable diseases, including enforcement of isolation and quarantine measures; adheres to applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, toxic substances, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routine assignments or during public health emergencies; coordinates activities among and between other governmental agencies that enforce laws and regulations that protect the public’s health. (3,4,5,6,8)

Assure an Effective System That Enables Equitable Access to the Individual Services and Care Needed to be Healthy: Promotes and provides population-based health services; sets up and operates public health nursing clinics (ie-foot care, immunizations, cholesterol/diabetes screening, and fluoride varnish application); works with and at times provides program management for programs such as Communicable Disease, Immunizations, Lead, Maternal Child Health, Oral Health, Preparedness, Tuberculosis, and the Wisconsin Well Woman Program; travels to patients' homes to provide nursing care, client evaluation, referral and case management; arranges and participates in multi-disciplinary meetings or medical appointments as indicated for the individual, family or group; advocates on behalf of vulnerable individuals and populations; participates in assessing and evaluating health care services to ensure people are informed of available health department and community programs and services and are assisted in the utilization of those services. (1,2,3,4,6)

Build and Support a Diverse and Skilled Public Health Workforce: Provides leadership in the orientation and guidance of new staff members, volunteers and students; assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education and participating in professional committees and work groups; understands the diversity of La Crosse County residents; recognizes the influence of diversity in policies, programs and services; incorporate ethical standards of practice into all interactions. (4,6,8)

Improve and Innovate Public Health Functions Through Ongoing Evaluation, Research, and Continuous Quality Improvement: Assesses the effects of and evaluates policies, programs, and nursing services and makes recommendations for program enhancements; participates in Quality Improvement projects and uses Performance Management system to improve Department processes and impacts; uses public health sciences for policies, programs, services and research; collaborates in community‑based participatory research. (2,4,5,6,8)

Build and Maintain a Strong Organizational Infrastructure for Public Health: Participates in the identifying and sharing of best practices; collaborates with community partners to identify innovative solutions to health problems. (1,3,6,8)

Customer Service: In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative and respectful with the public and clients; establishes and maintains courteous, cooperative and respectful relationship with other employees/supervisors, community partners and public officials.

Employee is expected to report to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave, to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.

The normal work week's hours may be modified to include evening, weekend and holiday rotations as needed for communicable disease case management, emergency preparedness response activities, or to meet other urgent needs in service of protecting the public.

Related Job Functions

This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.

Physical demands

Uses near and far vision, stands, walks and moves to and around patients' homes and nursing clinics; uses hands for delivering personal care and performing nursing procedures; reads, writes, uses computer and sits at desk up to 75% of time; uses nursing-related equipment such as scales, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, glucometer, syringes; bends and stoops; lifts and carries equipment; kneels or sits on floor or stool (foot care); occasionally pushes and pulls patients weighing up to 200 pounds; tasks may involve exposure to blood/bodily fluids. Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions (ie-snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity). Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Thorough knowledge of professional nursing techniques, current Nurse Practice Act and related WI State Statutes and Administrative Code.

General knowledge of community health nursing: communicable disease, childhood lead, public health preparedness and the ability to provide immunizations.

General knowledge of community resources and their roles and functions.

Ability to work and communicate with patients of a variety of socio-economic levels and to provide culturally competent care.

Ability to follow precise oral and written medical instructions and complete charting paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, effectively prioritizes responsibilities, and makes sound nursing judgments.

Training, Experience And Other Requirements

• Requires Bachelor's Degree from an accredited nursing program.
• Current Wisconsin Registered Nurse license.
• Strong preference for experience in maternal child health, immunizations, communicable disease investigation, coalition building, and program management. Preference for work or internship experience in a community health or governmental public health setting.
• Possess a valid driver's license and access to personal transportation (or access to other reliable means of transportation for county-wide travel) and carry indicated insurance on the automobile.
• Proficient in computer skills for charting, tracking and reporting.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve.

Need an Accommodation?

If you require a disability-related accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, reach out to Human Resources at [e-mail] — we're here to help.