PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

County of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Los Angeles is seeking a Public Health Nurse under an emergency order with an initial period of up to 90 days and a clear path to permanent County employment for successful candidates.

You will assess health needs in clinics, homes, and communities, coordinate services, and conduct epidemiological inquiries while documenting findings in accordance with policies.

Qualifications

• Valid RN license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• California Public Health Nurse Certificate required.
• Current BLS for Healthcare Providers CPR & AED certification.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver license where required.

Responsibilities

• Identifies health problems in a geographic area or population and provides nursing services or referrals.
• Document assessments and manage caseloads per policies and procedures.
• Perform diagnostic procedures, administer treatments, and coordinate follow-up care.

Skills

Public health nursing

Epidemiology awareness

Community outreach

Education

RN license (CA BRN)

California Public Health Nurse Certificate

BLS/CPR AED certification

Driver license (California Class C)

Job description

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Public Health Nurse.

Essential Job Functions

• Identifies the health problems of an assigned geographical area or target population by monitoring the health problems of patients in clinics, homes, and the community; evaluates identified problems; and provides nursing services or recommends the provision of appropriate health services such as primary care or environmental health or social services involvement.
• Identifies adverse findings during initial assessments and takes appropriate actions in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Documents information during initial and ongoing assessments in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Prioritizes assignments in accordance with program manual guidelines and standards and community public health needs.
• Manages a caseload of patients or consults on patients within an assigned geographical area by determining priorities for the follow-up of patients' physical and mental health problems and patient and family health needs that may require home evaluations, nursing care, and other services.
• Performs and interprets diagnostic procedures and administers therapeutic treatments and preventive measures in accordance with medical orders or standardized procedures.
• As directed by supervisor, conducts investigations, makes nursing diagnoses, and makes responses in connection with the health problems of a geographic area or target population; assists in setting priorities for public health nursing action based on public health program goals and improvement objectives related to community and system-level interventions.
• Collaborates with patients and providers to identify needs and desired outcomes based on patients' value and belief systems and documents these findings in accordance with applicable policies and guidelines.
• Researches and reviews current trends and practices in the field of public health in order to identify appropriate nursing interventions.
• Identifies, interprets, and implements public health laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Leads and participates in group discussions with patients and stakeholders on matters concerned with the health status of the population.
• Participates in epidemiological investigations to identify and locate persons who have, or are suspected of having, infectious diseases in order to encourage and ensure their treatment; counsels involved persons on examination and treatment needed to prevent further spread of the disease and treat the existing condition.
• Provides public health education and training to various groups through public speaking, multimedia presentations, and written materials to explain the function of public health and its roles and services in order to improve individual, family, and community health outcomes and encourage community members to become more responsible for the community's health.
• Promotes collaboration and dialogue between the agency and community-based organizations in order to identify public health needs within the community.
• Involves the population of interest and other health professionals, organizations, and stakeholders in formulating expected public health outcomes.
• Integrates and applies current standards and emerging trends, statutes, regulations, policies, and research in nursing and public health-related fields during the planning process.
• Leads and participants in group discussions with other health professionals and community members in order to provide guidance and support toward improving the health status of the community.
• Participates in systematic and ongoing criterion-based evaluations of expected goals and outcomes concerning the population of interest.
• Participates in public health emergency response as needed.
• Orients and instructs new staff concerning agency policies, procedures, and practices.
• Collaborates with community groups to implement new policies and changes to existing policies designed to improve public health outcomes.
• Provides technical supervision to lower-level nursing employees and ancillary staff, as assigned.
• Travels to various destinations within an assigned service planning area to investigate healthcare crises to contain and mitigate; conducts field based evaluations; visits homeless encampments, various facilities or establishes mobile clinics supporting homeless population.

Requirements

Meet the following license and certificate requirements at the time of filing in order to move forward in the exam process.

• A license to practice as a Registered Nurse* issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
• A California Public Health Nurse Certificate**

Licenses

• Some positions in this classification, depending upon assignment, require possession of a valid California Class "C" Driver License to perform job-related essential functions. Candidates offered these positions will be required to show proof of a driver license before appointment.
• A current certification in accordance with the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) program. All positions in this classification require possession of a current certification in accordance with the American Heart Association's BLS for CPR & AED program to perform job-related essential functions. Candidates offered these positions would be required to show proof of a current certification at the time of filing.

Physical Class

3 - Moderate

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience handling cases and outbreaks for People Experiencing Homelessness (PEH).
• Experience providing direct services to vulnerable populations at encampments and skid row.
• Experience working with community stakeholders focused on supporting vulnerable populations.

Special Requirement Information

• A license to practice as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing. To qualify, applicants must have a current and valid license as a Professional Registered Nurse, issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing, without limitations or restrictions.
• A California State Public Health Nurse Certificate. To qualify, applicants must have a California State Public Health Nurse Certificate. For information on how to obtain a California State Public Health Nurse Certificate, click on the link: http://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/ad-pract.shtml

Applicants must attach a legible photocopy of their BLS certification to their application.

All documents must be attached to your application at the time of filing or e-mailed to [e-mail] within seven (7) calendar days from application submission or your application may be rejected as incomplete.

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: [phone]

Department Contact E-mail: [e-mail]

Exam Number: PH5230F-EA

California Relay Services Phone: [phone]

ADA Coordinator Phone: [phone]

Teletype Phone: [phone]

Alternate Teletype Phone: [phone]

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.

Revised September 2025