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The primary purpose of this position is to provide nutrition services and breastfeeding support for the Bladen County WIC program. This is achieved by conducting nutrition and/or breastfeeding assessments, reviewing client data, monitoring client's ongoing condition/response to care, providing nutrition education, completing food prescriptions, completing referrals to health care and public assistance programs, and coordinating breastfeeding services. In accordance with the nursing care plan, the employee will use critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision making processes. Furthermore, the employee will be responsible for identifying client's needs, developing a plan of care, evaluating the outcome, recording all communications and aspects of nursing care, and collaborating with medical provider and other services to support client's care.

Work is performed primarily in an office area with a controlled environment.

• Collect and assess information including clinical data, health history, disease status, eco-social information, dietary information, and physical activity behavior. This information may be obtained by the employee or it may be obtained from local health care providers. Data is collected at initial certification, subsequent certification, mid-certification, and nutrition education appointments.
• Use data and assessment of data to establish nutrition risk eligibility for WIC.
• Develop a care plan to include setting goals with input from participants, completing referrals to appropriate health care and public assistance programs, planning appropriate follow-up, and completing summary of nutrition status/nutrition assessment.
• Utilize the WIC Crossroads Computer System to collect and document participant information. In the event that the Crossroads System is unavailable due to internet connectivity issues, Crossroads software issues, or any unforeseen event, the employee will follow the Crossroads Business Continuity Plan as outlined by the Nutrition Services Branch.
• Adhere to confidentiality requirements outlined in the WIC and Bladen County Health Department policies, as well as HIPAA.
• Receives referrals on WIC patients with the above conditions from Maternity Clinic, Child Health Clinic, Maternity Care Coordinators, Child Service Coordination and other health providers. Receives referrals on non-WIC patients as time allows.
• Completes nutrition assessment and examines food preferences.
• Conducts interviews to obtain health and professional information and obtains data from medical records.
• Develops patient care plans specific as they relate to the patient's needs and condition.
• Counsels concerning therapeutic diets, nutrition principles and modification of dietary habits.
• Counsels concerning breastfeeding promotion, education and support.
• Communicates with other local agencies and resources, physicians, and Medical Centers to ensure that all of the patient's needs are met and makes necessary referrals based on needs assessed.
• Plans and implements the WIC Nutrition Education program with other on-going nutrition education programs.
• Evaluates the nutritional status of WIC applicants to determine eligibility for WIC services by: Interpretation of the following anthropometric data: Height, Weight, Length and BMI; assessment of the following biochemical and clinical data: Hematocrit/Hemoglobin/Anemia profile, Blood Pressure, Urine, Blood Sugar/GTT, Sickle Cell, Newborn Screening, Blood Lead, History and Physical Assessment.
• Obtaining and assessing dietary information which may consist of any of the following: 24 Hour Recall, Food Frequency, 1 - 7 Day Food Record
• Provides initial counseling at certification to participants in nutrition appropriate to the needs determined by evaluation.
• Provides follow-up assessment and counseling to participants between certifications and at re-certifications.
• Prescribes appropriate food packages to WIC participants tailored to individual needs.
• Documents all entries in patient's medical record.
• Provide information about nutrition (including breastfeeding), using methods, materials, and tools that are designed to enhance a participant's understanding of the importance of nutrition and physical activity, and its relationship to good health, to effect a desired change in behavior, or reinforce desired behaviors related to dietary habits or health practices.
• Empower participants to make choices that will have a positive impact on their health and nutrition status.
• Complete WIC required nutrition education topics and other nutrition related education topics that are determined appropriate via nutrition assessment. Nutrition education may be delivered using a variety of methods to include individual education, group education, or computer-based education with approval by WIC Director.
• Appropriately document nutrition education.
• Assure adequate stock of educational materials and provide educational materials to participants.
• Providing breastfeeding education/counseling and support for participants through a wide variety of activities (i.e., counseling participants, offering breastfeeding classes, maintaining supplies of client education materials, establishing referral systems among the appropriate health care providers, coordinating with the breastfeeding peer counselor program).
• Establishing, building and maintaining collaborative partnerships for breastfeeding promotion and support with community health care providers/systems, businesses/workplaces, faith organizations, schools and child care facilities.
• Assuring a clinic environment that supports breastfeeding
• Complete breastfeeding assessments and develop breastfeeding interventions for breastfeeding mothers and infants at initial certification, subsequent certification, mid-certification, and nutrition education appointments. These duties are conducted during appointments with individual participants.

This is light work requiring the exertion of 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Work requires stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, and repetitive motions. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Employee must have the visual acuity to inspect small defects or parts, operate or inspect equipment and determine the accuracy of work assigned. Work may include extended periods of time viewing a computer monitor and/or operating a keyboard.

Public Health is a first responder agency for natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms), naturally occurring infectious disease outbreaks (e.g., influenza), technological hazard (e.g. Hazardous materials releases, critical infrastructure disruptions), and terrorist incidents. This position like all other positions in the Department, may be required to participate in any emergency response activities as deemed necessary by the Health Director or designee.

• Considerable knowledge of and skilled in the application of nursing theory, practices, principles, and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health.
• Considerable knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to coordinate these as needed.
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships.
• Computer skills for communication via email, patient record documentation, and accessing information.

Graduation from an accredited four-year or university with a B.S. Degree in Nursing which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation and one year of Public Health Nursing experience; or graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and two years professional nursing experience including one year in public health; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the N.C. Board of Nursing. Valid N.C. Driver's license and CPR license

• Valid North Carolina Driver's License
• State Breastfeeding Training Program
• May be required to obtain additional certification(s) as deemed necessary by supervisor.
• For a nurse who does not have a B.S. degree in Nursing, must complete Introduction to Public Health Nursing
• Must successfully complete the North Carolina Lactation Educator Training Program within one calendar year of assuming position and complete training every ten years as part of ongoing training
• Must attend 20 hours of continuing education in breastfeeding every 5 years that are approved by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

Non - Exempt

This classification specification has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform the job. Bladen County reserves the right to assign or otherwise modify the duties assigned to this classification.

Bladen County is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer