1. health and fitness

Registered Nurse
Position Description
Date:
November 2014
Job Title
:
Public Health Nurse
Department
:
Child & Family
Location
:
North, but may move between bases (Waitakere Hospital, Helensville, Hibiscus
Coast)
Reports to
:
 Child & Family Team Leader of the unit for the safety of professional practice
(competent, reliable, contemporary) to the highest standard possible
 Head of Division Nursing and Director of Nursing & Midwifery for professional
conduct, quality of practice within scope of practice as defined by Nursing
Council of New Zealand.
Direct Reports
:
None
Functional
Relationships with
:
Internal










Purpose of RN role
:



Public Health Nurses
Social Workers
Medical Officer
Clinical Nurse Educator
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Vision and Hearing
Technicians
Health Promoting Schools
Advisors
Community Health Workers,
Community Health Assistants
and Administrative workers
CYFs Liaison Worker
Unit Manager
External
 Schools - Principals, Board of
Trustees
 Students and their families
 Primary Health Care Providers
 Community Organisations
(e.g. Strengthening Families)
 Relevant agencies (e.g. CYFS)
 Volunteers and related groups
To provide school based immunization programmes as per Ministry of
Health requirements
To provide nursing assessment, intervention, follow up and referral of
children, young people and their families in the community, working in
a multidisciplinary and family centred, collaborative and culturally safe
way. Care is based on contemporary evidence based practice, is
appropriate and effective.
To provide disease prevention, early intervention and health promotion
programmes using strategies appropriate to community need
Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 1
Registered Nurse
Position Description
KEY ACCOUNTABILITY
Practices nursing to
demonstrate professional
responsibility




Communication
Cultural Safety
Management of
Nursing Care
Management of the
Environment





Management of nursing care
to the highest professional
standard possible to provide
patient focused care













EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Practice meets the standards of the profession, ethical and relevant
legislated requirements. Nurse accepts responsibility for safety and quality
of nursing practice and conduct. Accepts accountability for action,
omissions and commissions.
Nursing practice is provided in a culturally safe manner and supports the
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi: protection,
participation and self determination. The client determines care as
culturally safe
At all times applies the nursing process: skilled assessment, planning,
implementation of best practice and evaluation. Directs, monitors and
evaluates nursing care that is provided by nurse assistants, enrolled
nurses and others. Delegation is appropriate.
The environment is managed to achieve client safety, independence,
quality of life and health. Individual responsibility for Workplace Health
and Safety under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 is
recognized and appropriate action take
Practice reflects competence in technical skills required to meet patient
needs (see service technical competencies).
Provide assessment and appropriate follow up of abuse/ neglect referrals
as per Public Health Nurse/Child & Family/WDHB policy. All
patients/clients receive a comprehensive and accurate nursing assessment
to identify needs and risks/ early warning signs that will affect care plans
and interventions required. Demonstrate skill in health and family
assessments.
Nursing care is provided in a reliable way, to meet needs in a timely
manner, according to a documented care plan and technical
competencies.
Children/young people and their families will receive services according to
their individual needs
Children/young people are provided with a safe, expert and professional
service in the area of child protection
All practice interventions are managed in a safe and appropriate manner
and according to best practice guidelines. e.g. administration of
interventions, treatments, medications
Documentation is accurate and maintains confidentiality of information
Handover of client is managed skillfully i.e. each shift, discharge planning
The client has adequate explanation of the effects, consequences and
alternatives of proposed treatment options
Nursing action is appropriate to protect the nurse and others when faced
with unexpected client responses, confrontation, personal threat or other
crisis situations
Patient/client progress/outcomes are evaluated in partnership with the
client
Health education is appropriate to the needs of the patients/clients within
a nursing framework
Evaluation/reflection on the effectiveness of nursing care is undertaken
with peers to achieve improvement
Identify patient’s readiness to learn and implements teaching
appropriately
Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 2
Registered Nurse
Position Description
KEY ACCOUNTABILITY
Management of School Base
Services, and Community
Engagement
Interpersonal relationships
Interprofessional health care
and quality improvement


Team relationships
Quality
Improvement
Professional development
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Works collaboratively to deliver Immunisation programmes to
schools/community in a safe, efficient and professional manner
 Responds to Regional or National Public Health alerts, as directed by
Auckland Regional Public Health team.
 Provide consultation to schools and the wider community on child
protection issues for children and young people.
 To increase school and community confidence and knowledge in
child protection issues.
 Schools/agencies are supported and encouraged in referring to Child
Youth and Family
 Schools and community will be supported in health
promotion/education activities as appropriate
 Schools and the wider community feel supported in their health care
concerns
 Will establish strong links and collaborate with Health Promoting
Schools Advisors, Social Workers, NGOs and Other agencies to
develop strategies, responding to identified school and community
health need.
 Relationships with patients/clients is appropriate and therapeutic to
achieve agreed health outcomes
Good customer service skills
Maintaining boundaries
Partnership
Caring
Value-oriented: respectful, open, compassionate, integrity
 Communication is effective with clients and members of the health care
team in all interactions
 Environment is managed to facilitate calmness so the patient/client and
their family can make sense of what is happening for them.
 Relationships with colleagues and allied health team is professional,
positive and collaborative to facilitate and co-ordinate care that achieves
health outcome.
 Professional approach recognizes, respects and values the roles and skills
of all members of the health care team in the delivery of care
 Clinical safety is a key priority in practice. Completes orientation,
undertakes in-service education, uses the policies and procedures to guide
practice. Is alert to the early warning signs and acts proactively.
 Policies are adhered to e.g. confidentiality, privacy
 Action taken improves quality of care and practice (best practice, audit,
corrective action) improves the standards of nursing practice
 The Health Practitioner Competence Assurance Act obligations are
adhered to: maintaining competence, updating knowledge, undergoing
competence assessment and annually reapplying for a practicing
certificate
 Complies with the WDHB Professional Development & Recognition
Programme (PPQG) without prompting. Presents portfolio as per policy
requirements. Annually seeks peer review and completes the competence
assessment process as required.
 Undertakes on-going learning i.e. in-service, self-learning, study days, post
graduate learning

Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 3
Registered Nurse
Position Description
Culturally sensitive practice
Workplace Health and Safety
 Shows understanding of and commitment to the principles of the Treaty
of Waitangi (partnership, protection, participation).
 Applies principles of Te Whare Tapa Wha (the four cornerstones of
health): te taha wairua (spiritual aspects); te taha hinegaro (mental and
emotional aspects)’; te taha whanau (family and community aspects);
and te taha tinana (physical aspects).
 Recognises culturally appropriate and safe practice in the nursing
workforce and assists in initiatives developed to reduce inequalities and
positively impact on Maori health status
 Assists in the leadership and management of projects to improve Maori
access to healthcare services.
 Organisational health and safety policies are read and understood and
relevant procedures applied to their own work activities.
 Refers to work practices that are evidence based, current and adhered to.
 Workplace hazards are identified and reported, including self
management of hazards where appropriate.
 Can identify health and safety representative for area.
VERIFICATION:
Employee:
_________________________________
Department Head:
_________________________________
Date:
_________________________________
KEY BEHAVIOURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE
Adheres to Waitemata District Health Boards 4 Organisational Values of:
Every single person matters, whether a patient / client, family member or a
staff member
We see our work in health as a vocation and more than a job, We are aware of
the suffering of these entrusted to our care. We are driven by a desire to relieve
that suffering. This philosophy drives our caring approach and means we will
strive to do everything we can to relieve suffering and promote wellness.
We need to be connected with our community. We need to be connected within
our organisation – across disciplines and teams. This is to ensure care is
seamless and integrated to achieve the best possible health outcomes for our
patients/clients and their families.
We seek continuous improvement in everything we do. We will become the
national leader in health care delivery.
Behavioural Competencies
Behaviour Demonstrated
Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 4
Registered Nurse
Position Description
Behavioural Competencies
Communicates and Works Cooperatively
Is Committed to Learning
Is Transparent
Is Customer Focused
Works in Partnership to
Reduce Inequality in Outcomes
Improves health
Prevents Harm
Behaviour Demonstrated
 Actively looks for ways to collaborate with and assist others to
improve the experience of the healthcare workforce, patients &
their families and the community & Iwi.
 Proactively follows up development needs and learning
opportunities for oneself and direct reports.
 Communicates openly and engages widely across the organisation.
 Enacts agreed decisions with integrity.
 Responds to peoples needs appropriately and with effective results
 Identifies opportunities for innovation and improvement
Works in a way that:
 Demonstrates awareness of partnership obligations under the
Treaty of Waitangi.
 Shows sensitivity to cultural complexity in the workforce and patient
population.
 Ensures service provision that does not vary because of peoples’
personal characteristics.
 Work practices show a concern for the promotion of health and
well-being for self and others.
 Follows policies and guidelines designed to prevent harm.
 Acts to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 5
Registered Nurse
Position Description
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POSITION TITLE:
Public Health Nurse
Qualification
Experience
Clinical Experience
Personal Attributes
EXPECTATIONS
Registered Nurse scope of practice in New Zealand
Current annual practising certificate in New Zealand
Recent relevant clinical practice experience
Registered Nurses who are new graduates must be attached to a specific programme
offered by the Nursing Development Unit (NDS)
 Nursing knowledge and skill learned in a formal education programme; technically
competent with core treatment practices
 Is aware of contemporary standards and has reputation of providing good nursing
care
 Practices nursing to demonstrate professional responsibility
 Meets management of nursing care competencies:
to achieve family centered care and
to the highest professional standard possible.
 Consistently demonstrates advanced inter-professional, health care and quality
improvement competencies.
 Consistently demonstrates advanced interpersonal relationship competencies.
 Good communication skills and customer service practices
 Practice shows understanding of and commitment to the principles of the Treaty of
Waitangi
 Upholds confidentiality with a reputation for high integrity and discretion
 Demonstrated confident collaborative approach in team practice
 Able to work under direction, but also take initiative where clinical judgment
suggests therapeutic intervention. Seeks guidance and supervision
 Sensitive and constructive in responding to the needs of individuals and groups
 Continues education to develop skills and knowledge in the provision of nursing
care
 Demonstrated ability to share clinical knowledge with others
 Understands the importance of good relationships in ensuring continuity of care:
 A commitment to immunisation
 Knowledge/understanding of socioeconomics determinants of health and their
impact
 Positive manner, able to influence without conflict
 Calm, even, consistent and mature personality
 An active listener, has a way of valuing everyone’s opinions
 Self-directed, proactive, uses initiative, confident skill in negotiation and
consultation
 Professional and sensitive approach when dealing with the needs of individuals and
groups balanced with the needs of the service
 Manages personal stress effectively
 Current drivers licence
Waitemata District Health Board -JOB DESCRIPTION - Registered Nurse
Page 6