Nurse Consultant - Clinical Resources Unit Immunization Branch

ABOUT US: 

At The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) we are dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. 

We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.  We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This position will have hybrid workplace options available but will still be required to report to the listed address at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business needs.

Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

CDPHE offers: 

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Flexible working arrangements

• Retirement ( PERA options), Medical and dental health plans

• Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off

• Tuition assistance 

• Wellness programs

• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects

• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

The Work Unit: 

The Immunization Branch works to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) and ensure access to vaccine services for all people in Colorado. Functions include public health surveillance of immunization rates and uptake; access to immunization; developing high-quality, evidence-based and comprehensive immunization programs; and conducting program evaluation to enhance and use data to direct activities. The Branch manages the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), a federal entitlement program that provides vaccines at no cost for children who meet eligibility requirements, and the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS), a confidential, population-based, computerized system that collects and consolidates vaccination data for Coloradans of all ages from a variety of sources. 

The Clinical Resources is positioned within the Immunization Branch of the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) and functions to support the branch’s mission of reducing vaccine-preventable disease by developing and implementing programs designed to positively influence the uptake of immunizations across the lifespan. The Clinical Resources Unit provides clinical expertise to the Branch and advises internal and external partners to support this mission, all while addressing vaccination coverage disparities among disproportionately affected populations.

What You Will Do: 

This position provides clinical consultation, technical assistance, and training and serves as an immunization resource to providers and the public. This includes consultation on pediatric, adolescent, and adult immunizations, coordination of immunization assessment activities, and provider education. 

This position conducts Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers IQIP site visits, providing data assessments to providers and promoting quality improvement activities within provider offices. The purpose is to assure high quality immunization services, correct vaccine administration, and to promote activities that increase immunization coverage in children and adolescents. Quality improvement site visits are available to providers enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. 

This position provides clinical consultation to Immunization Branch staff, primarily on the functionality of the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) vaccine recommender - the forecasting and evaluation engine built into CIIS that helps provide clinical support to providers at the point of care. Identifying clinical issues based on patterns of administration and other clinical uses of CIIS is another priority. 

This position will support the Immunization Data Unit with the annual School and
Child Care Immunization Data Reporting (SCCIDR) survey. This includes updating
resources, responding to questions, and providing training.

The position provides coverage for the vaccine administration clinical support customer service line. This includes consultation on pediatric, adolescent, and adult immunizations to the public as well as provider education.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducts IQIP site visits with providers to assess immunization workflows, identify opportunities for process improvement, and provide technical assistance and other resources to develop action items tailored to the individual provider. 

• Generates provider-level immunization coverage assessment reports for baseline and follow-up progress measurements for the IQIP cohorts. 

• Provides assessment and interpretation of practice-specific immunization rates, and information regarding planning and implementation of immunization strategies that can increase immunization rates in provider settings. 

• Collaborates with provider staff through 2- and 6-month check-ins to support the selected quality improvement (QI) strategies and related activities. 

• Follows up with additional practice-specific rate assessments for 12 months, with consultation on QI activities and strategies, and assistance in addressing barriers to success.

• Ensures timely and accurate data entry into the CDC-developed IQIP database for each stage of the IQIP cycle
  

• Develops and implements ongoing educational opportunities for public and private health care providers, local public health agency staff, partner organizations, and other agency staff. 

• Provides technical assistance and clinical consultation for complex situations in which clinical judgment and experience are critical to interpret guidelines and provide clinical advice.

• Responds to queries from CDPHE VFC and CIIS staff and health care providers statewide regarding clinical immunization issues. 

• Provides information on planning and implementing immunization strategies to increase immunization rates in organizations or communities. 

• Provides education for immunization providers, including vaccine administration, schedules and intervals, valid and invalid doses, contraindications and precautions, missed opportunities. 

• Provides education on proper storage and handling of vaccines, documentation requirements, adverse reactions and actions to be taken, and standards of practice for
  immunization service delivery.

• Participates in a rotating clinical on-call system to ensure phone and email coverage for clinical questions from providers or the public.

• Provides clinical updates to the CDPHE’s Online Immunization Education Module.

• Tailoring public-facing materials, trainings, and the CDPHE’s Online Immunization Education Module so the material can be more easily understood by those outside of the public health or clinical communities.
  

• Provides clinical consultation to the Immunization Branch, CIIS users, providers, and stakeholders who call the vaccine administration customer service line with vaccination or vaccination recommendation inquiries. 

• Responds to queries from CIIS users and Immunization Branch staff concerning vaccine recommendations and the CIIS vaccine forecasting algorithm. 

• Submits tickets to the CIIS vendor regarding vaccine and vaccine recommender questions for issues that are identified in CIIS. 

• Translates vaccine recommendations for computer programming staff to ensure CIIS provides appropriate clinical recommendations. 

• Collaborates with the CIIS Training and Outreach Unit to review, edit, and finalize the CIIS recommender section of the monthly CIIS User Impact document. 

• Develops vaccine and vaccine recommender communications for posting on the CIIS News Feed. 

• Evaluates and recommends modifications to CIIS Code Tables to ensure vaccine and vaccine name details are accurate and easy for CIIS users to differentiate. 

• Implements vaccine forecaster testing following CIIS upgrades to ensure that forecasting logic is performing as expected.

• Supports the Immunization Data Unit with the annual (SCCIDR) survey. 

• Participates in preplanning activities, including providing input on the SCCIDR survey during the annual change cycle window to support user access, ease of use, and understanding. 

• Provides training to schools (K-12), childcare programs, colleges/universities and local public health agencies. 

• Responds to user inquiries within the SCCIDR helpdesk that operates during the reporting period. • Provides updates to the SCCIDR webpage, user guides, FAQs, and worksheets. 

• Leads immunization data reporting for colleges and universities, which includes updating the reporting form, communicating with college/university partners, offering training, and reviewing and validating college/university data submissions. 

• Performs quality improvement activities after the annual reporting period ends to support the SCCIDR project over time.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description:

C7E1XX Nurse Consultant

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Nursing, Global Health, Biology, Epidemiology, Public Health, or other closely related field and current, valid licensure
as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), and three (3) years of professional
experience inwith public health nursing,vaccination, immunizations, providing technical assistance and training,technical assistance, and training and coordination of
immunization resources and education to providers and the public, or other closely related experience  related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitutions

Additional appropriate experience in public health nursing with vaccination, immunizations, providing technical assistance, and training, and coordination of immunization resources and education to providers and the public, or other closely related experience related to the work assigned to the position, will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

**This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:  

• Experience in pediatric, adolescent, and adult clinical immunization consultation and
  vaccine administration.
• Experience in clinical leadership or being a program lead.
• Experience with immunization quality improvement and outreach activities for immunizing for providers and the public.
• Experience in epidemiology and data analysis
• Experience with implementing evidence-based recommendations in a healthcare setting.
• Understanding of immunization-related regulatory requirements. for vaccination and immunization
• Experience using evidence- based strategies to increase vaccination rates.
• Experience creating and facilitating in-person and remote trainings for medical professionals.
• Experience in utilizing and learning computerized information systems, training platforms, and multimedia.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Critical Status: This is a critical position and can be expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place. 

• Travel to visits when requested and other travel to in or out of state conferences and may require overnight stays.

Appeal Rights:

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: 

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.