Nursing Home Inspections Nurse (Community Health Nurse II, Grade 24)

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that meets the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe the health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The mission of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is to build a healthy, safe and strong community. The Division of Public Health Services are seeking a Community Health Nurse to serve in the office of Licensure and Regulatory Services to further the mission by ensuring safety through education and regulatory compliance for promoting well-being with the community.

This position will be responsible for becoming certified as a federal health facility surveyor and performing the duties within the Nursing Home Inspection Program in the Office of Licensure and Regulatory Services. The position will conduct annual follow-up and complaint surveys for nursing home facilities. The Community Health Nurse will inspect, assess and evaluate the quality of care and services for the residents' overall health and well-being. Additional areas of responsibility include the assessment and evaluation of residents’ rights, medication administration, sanitation, infection control and safety. Position must be capable of responding to emergency situations as they are assigned.  

This position will travel throughout the County to perform required job duties. This position requires working evening and weekend hours based on the job needs. 

Performance of this work involves occasional long periods standing or walking, occasionally lifting, carrying or moving objects weighing up to fifty pounds, typically performing work sitting at a desk or a table, walking over rough, uneven, rock surfaces, long periods of standing, typically bending, crouching or stooping in confined spaces, operating keyboard devices or VDT's where speed, accuracy, and volume of work are required for production oriented work, and prolonged fine finger movements. 

Selected candidates will be required to successfully complete a background check and a pre-employment medical exam and drug screening.

Experience: Two (2) years of full-time equivalent post-licensure experience as a Registered Nurse, one year of which must have been in nursing home inspections. 

Education: Graduation from a National League for Nursing accredited college or university or an equivalent program as determined by the Maryland Board of Examiners with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.  

License:  

• Possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the Maryland State, of Maryland issued by the Maryland Board of Examiners. If the license is temporary, a regular Maryland RN license must be obtained within ninety (90) days of appointment.

• The State of Maryland accepts as valid the current RN licensure from a candidate's primary state of residence if that state has an interstate compact with Maryland. The states having this interstate compact are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. (This equivalency only applies to candidates whose primary residence is not Maryland). Any Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) applying for licensure and living in a member state of the Multistate

Licensure Compact must take the NCLEX exam in their home state.  

Note: There will be no substitutions for this section.

• Experience and knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations governing nursing homes.

• Experience providing oral and written communication to nursing home providers and the public.
• Experience multi-tasking and managing stress in a diverse and deadline-oriented environment.
• Experience and ability to lead and work in a team environment.