Public Health Nurse

Job Summary

Reporting to the Supervisor, Respiratory Outbreak Management, the successful candidate will work within a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who investigate and manage respiratory illness outbreaks in settings such as Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH), Rest and Retirement Homes (RR) and Congregate Living Settings (CLS) to prevent and minimize morbidity and mortality within these vulnerable communities in Halton Region.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide consultation to LTCH/RR/CLS regarding the parameters for early identification of outbreaks.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to LTCH/RR/CLS staff to investigate and manage outbreaks of respiratory infection.
• Investigate reports of infectious diseases to form a case definition for the specific outbreak.
• Investigate, confirm and manage outbreaks, when notified of a suspect or confirmed respiratory outbreak.
• Advise on the testing strategy and assign outbreak numbers as required.
• Provide specimen collection kits, and transport of the same to the laboratory to verify diagnosis.
• Participate or coordinates outbreak meetings with the facility and community partners.
• Provide consultations for outbreak control measures.
• Address the use of antiviral medications for prevention and treatment of influenza.
• Consult with (LTCH/RR/CLS) on admissions, readmissions and transfers during outbreaks.
• Determine when to declare the outbreaks over.
• Perform all required documentation following nursing documentation standards in an electronic database.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which includes preparation in Public Health Nursing from a recognized University.
• Current Certificate of Registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Recent experience managing respiratory outbreaks in long term care homes, retirement homes and congregate living settings.
• Recent experience and proficiency using the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS).
• Recent experience and proficiency using the Halton Salesforce Outbreak Module for intake and outbreak documentation.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario Public Health Standards, the standards of practice for Registered Nurses, legislation and mandates governing public health issues (e.g. Health Protection and Promotion Act, Infectious Disease Protocol).
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse community partners and organizations and provide excellent customer service.
• Strong knowledge of public health competencies and effective public health practice to determine interventions that improve the health of residents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with key guiding documents such as Control of Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Long Term Care Homes.

Working/ Employment Conditions

Working Conditions

• Flexibility to work outside of core business hours including evenings, weekends and holidays is required.
• Travel will be required, incumbent must provide their own transportation. 
• The incumbent is encouraged to provide a current complete record of immunization according to the Ontario provincial immunization schedule.

Employment Conditions

• Valid Ontario G class driver’s license.  
• The successful candidate will be made an offer of employment on condition that the Regional Municipality of Halton receives a current (obtained within the past six (6) months), original and acceptable Vulnerable Sector Check by the first day of employment.