Direct Care Public Health Nurse

Overview

Date:
Jan 14, 2026

Location:

NACOGDOCHES, TX

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional

Title:

Direct Care Public Health Nurse I

Job Title: Public Health Nurse I

Agency: Dept of State Health Services

Department: Region 4/5

Posting Number: 9360

Closing Date: 01/30/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20

Salary Range: $4,263.16 - $6,779.25

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Shift: Day

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 40%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Job Location City: NACOGDOCHES

Job Location Address: 2614 NW STALLINGS DR

Other Locations: MOS Codes: 290X,46AX,46FX,46NX,46PX,46SX,46YX,66B,66C,66E,66F,66G,66H,66N,66P,66R,66S,66T,66W

Public Health Nurse I, under the supervision of a PHN III Nursing Supervisor, the PHN I is responsible for the delivery of public health nursing services and day to day direction of a public health nursing clinic and the support staff. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordinating public health nursing services with Program requirements to assure achievement of the Region's goals and objectives, implementing nursing and program standards to assure quality public health nursing care is provided to consumers, and coordinating services with other disciplines.

PHN I is responsible for direct public health nursing services in an assigned geographic area, including participation in current and long-range planning for the assigned area. The PHN I is also responsible for delivering population-based services to assigned communities using the essential public health services model. In coordination with the PHN III, the PHN I indirectly supervises clinic support staff, including scheduling and assignments, assessing staff skills and requesting staff development.

Works under limited supervision with considerable latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment.

• Deliver public health nursing services to eligible clients, using the nursing process, adhering to program standards and guidelines; perform technical nursing procedures, including tuberculosis testing, treatment, and monitoring. May give immunizations and education to eligible clients. Travel to geographical areas where patients reside.
• Serve as role model for support staff in professional/ethical behavior.
• Assure appropriate patient referral/follow-up and coordinate services with other disciplines; maximize use of available resources for patient benefit.
• Implement nursing program purpose/goals/objectives, nursing standards, and program changes into the office.
• Support/interpret lines of authority and communication.
• Assist with staffing/scheduling of clinics.
• Prepare administrative/patient encounter reports.
• Provide indirect supervision/daily direction of clinic support staff and LVNs.

• Monitor health status to identify community health problems; assist in disease investigation/reporting; maintain immunization tracking systems; serve as a community resource for infectious diseases/immunizations.
• Diagnose/investigate health hazards in the community; participate in rapid response teams for outbreaks; assist in contact/environmental/epidemiological investigations, follow-up; obtain lab samples; provide vaccine.
• Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues; provide community education/training; identify needs and participate in community activities; provide outreach targeting hard to reach groups.
• Mobilize partnerships to identify/solve health problems; participate in coalitions/worksites/school health meetings; conduct needs assessments; plan for low/no-cost immunizations and improve immunization rates.
• Develop policies/plans that support health efforts; advocate for populations; contact/local officials about health indicators; collect/utilize data to identify trends; provide input for policies and implement locally.
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health; link people to resources; ensure compliance with public health laws.
• Link people to personal health services and assure provision of health care if unavailable.
• Ensure a competent public health/personal health care workforce; evaluate staff, orient employees, determine readiness; participate in in-service planning and training;…