Careers at DHEC: Work that makes a difference!

Pursuing Excellence, Inspiring Innovation, Promoting Teamwork and Embracing Service

Under general supervision, provides culturally competent nursing care for individuals, families, and the community. Provides nursing care per agency policies/procedures, standing medical orders, and patient specific medical orders. Splits nursing care among the Preventive Health (60%) and Immunizations (40%) programs. Promotes quality customer service and maintains strict confidentiality.

• Utilizes the nursing process to assess the health of clients per program policy to include obtaining appropriate history and risk assessment; performing physical exams on males and females; obtaining appropriate stat lab, including pregnancy test and referred lab; determining vaccine eligibility; and maintains confidentiality and documents care/services per agency policies/procedures.

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  Develops and implements individual plan of care per program policy based on subjective and objective findings to include: provision of BCM; provision of emergency contraception to appropriate clients; distribution of condoms with instructions on proper use; counsel regarding risk reduction; treatment of sexually transmitted infections; provision of counseling for required and recommended vaccines including needed appointments; provision of pregnancy options counseling; provision of risk-based education to include STI's, reproductive health planning and methods of birth control benefits; referrals for abnormal findings (mental health, smoking cessation, substance abuse, etc.); refer for precautions and/or contraindications; maintaining confidentiality and document care/services per policy.

• Provides follow-up per program guidelines to include teens, abnormal pap smear, positive laboratory tests, referrals, VAERS, vaccine management including Disaster Recovery Plan, storage, and handling of vaccines.

• Participates in Emergency Preparedness and Response to include: maintaining personal and family emergency plans; actively participates in preparedness training, exercises and drills; participates in routine shelter, PPE, packaging and shipping, disease investigation/containment, and mass prophylaxis training; in an emergency, is subject to 24 hour duty on call and deployment to other areas of the state; assignment may or may not be limited to sheltering, outbreak investigation, mass prophylaxis or other needed activities.

• Maintains professional licensed nursing accountability by application of scope/standards of PHN practice, the SC Nurse Practice Act, and agency policies/procedures.

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  Other duties as assigned.

State Minimum Requirements: Licensure as a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. Some positions require a valid driver's license. Also, some positions require certification in Basic Life Support and/or Basic/Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation .
Knowledge and skill in the techniques and practices of the nursing profession. Knowledge and skill in public health nursing theory and practice including social and public health sciences. Ability to plan, implement and evaluate care. Ability to prepare and provide health teaching and counseling. Ability to apply Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) concepts to practice. Ability to apply judgement while adhering to standing orders, policies/procedures and the Laws Governing Nursing. Ability to interact in a culturally competent, professional manner. Knowledge of community resources
Must have current driver's license or ability to obtain transportation. May be required to use personal vehicle. CPR certification within first 6 months and then as required. Must be able to lift 30 pounds and stand for long periods. May be required to work evenings (after 5pm) and/or Saturday clinics. May have to travel to other sites.

Participates in an emergency or disaster as outlined in the DHEC Emergency Plans. During such times, the incumbent should regard himself/herself as being on 24-hour call and subject to duty when such events occur and/or are anticipated to occur.

Immunization: All new employees who are healthcare providers are required to provide documentation of immunity or be immunized against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, Varicella, and Hepatitis B prior to beginning employment.

Public Health staff with job-specific risk of COVID-19 exposure who choose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or provide documentation of prior vaccination, or who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical contraindications or religious exemption, will be required to receive routine periodic COVID-19 testing by DHEC on a weekly basis. Vaccinated employees will not be required to receive periodic testing but may elect to be tested to monitor their health status.

State Disaster Plan: In accordance with the State's Disaster Plan, which includes hazardous weather, DHEC employees may be required to work in times of an emergency or disaster.

College Transcripts: Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application may upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency will require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

Driving Record: If this position requires the applicant to possess a valid driver's license to operate a state vehicle or personal vehicle, any applicant being considered in the final stages of selection for the position will be required to provide a certified copy of a 10-year driving record.

Applicants needing an accommodation for medical reasons or a sincerely held religious belief may submit a request for an accommodation. A reasonable accommodation may be granted if it doesn't impose an undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

SC DHEC is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employing agency. We are committed to a diverse workforce. SC DHEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.