Public Health Nurse

The Public Health Nurse provides direct service and support with communicable disease investigation, outbreak control, and direct observation therapy. Distribute vaccines and ppd to local providers and maintain vaccine inventory according to MDPH specifications. Provide immunizations and ppd testing to eligible residents and maintain records. Assist with planning, preparation, and implementation of vaccine and other health clinics. Participate in, and acts as secondary lead for Emergency Planning activities and is liaison with schools, City departments and community-based agencies. Leads the Department’s access and functional needs unit for emergency preparedness; coordinates with Police and Fire. Liaison to schools and assists with immunization records review to ensure compliance with state and local school entry requirements and assist families of entering students to find a “Medical Home” as needed. Manage data entry of new students into current health records database and provide preliminary documentation of health concerns/special needs of entering students. Participate in preschool (SMILE and ECIP) and kindergarten registration. Coordinates Public Health education events and activities including but not limited to Council on Aging Health Fair, Out of School Time Fair, employee health fair. Provides back-up support for PHN – Manager. Serve as an information conduit between schools, community stakeholders, residents, businesses and others. Other duties as assigned.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

• Must possess a valid, current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
• B.S.N in Nursing required. M.S.N. in Nursing preferred. 
• Prior experience in Public Health/School Nursing required.
• Must have access to own transportation and ability to travel throughout community and to State Lab Institute in Jamaica Plain.
• Must be physically able to bend, lift 20 pounds, and move up and down stairs.
• Must have current CPR and First Aid certification.
• Bilingual/Bicultural experience preferred

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. 

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills: Some physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping\squatting, bending, walking, climbing and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.) Ability to respond to emergency situations.

Motor Skills: The job requires fine motor skills for activities such as picking up objects with hands, grasping small objects with hands, writing with pen or pencil, key/typing on a computer, pinch/pick, twist, squeeze or otherwise work with fingers to manipulate standard nursing supplies and office equipment.

Visual Skills: Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes, and ability to see objects up to 20 inches away and more than 20 feet away. Job requires depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to distinguish color and color intensity.

This position will remain open until filled. Send your resume and cover letter to

City Hall HR Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at (617)625-6600 x2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.