Public Health Nurse (Immunizations)

Job Summary

Reporting to the Supervisor, Immunization Services, the Public Health Nurse position will be responsible for the delivery of vaccination services within the Healthy Schools and Communities Division.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Uses standards of promoting health, building individual/community capacity, building relationships, facilitating access and equity, and professional responsibility and accountability.
• Works in a specialized program to provide counseling, education, and provision of publicly funded vaccines to all age groups.
• Plans, organizes, and provides immunization in school and community-based clinics.
• Plans, organizes, and implements activities related to enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
• Develops and implements educational initiatives on a variety of immunization-related topics for physicians, agencies, institutions, and the community at large.
• Collaborates with community stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of immunization.
• Develops and reviews, on an ongoing basis, educational resources on immunization.
• Participates in project and program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Utilizes an electronic database (Panorama) as part of record assessment and providing immunization services.
• Provides education and support to internal and external stakeholders regarding appropriate vaccine storage and handling and cold chain maintenance.
• Develops, reviews, and implements program-level policies, procedures, and medical directives.
• Assists with the collection and reporting of program statistics and data.
• Participates in activities related to the management of emergencies of public health importance including, but not limited to the management of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree which includes preparation in Public Health Nursing from a recognized University.
• Current Certificate of Annual Registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Knowledge and demonstrated skill in the areas of clinical practice, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving
• Broad knowledge and experience in health promotion strategies, project management, evaluation, healthy public policy, and community development in a public health or community health setting.
• Ability to build stakeholder relationships, and provide consultation specific to vaccination services.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and strong computer skills.
• Current CPR certification

Preferred:

• Two years of recent experience in counseling, educating, program planning, and project management.
• Thorough knowledge related to the provision of immunization services in various settings including schools and the community.
• Experience using the Panorama database and knowledge of immunization record assessment and the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other databases and software.

Working/ Employment Conditions

Working Conditions

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

Employment Conditions

• 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 Criminal Records Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening by the first day of employment.
• In support of the Region’s commitment to a healthy and safe workplace and community, the Region has a vaccination requirement for all employees. The successful candidate will be made an offer of employment on the condition of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and able to provide proof of vaccination. The candidate will be asked to provide the Region with proof of full vaccination, prior to their employment start date. The requirement to be fully vaccinated is subject to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If the candidate is unable to vaccinate for a reason protected by the Code, a request for accommodation can be requested and written proof satisfactory to the Region will be required.