Health Educator jobs in Florence, AL

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LOCAL HEALTH DIVISION, MCNAIRY COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including 9 quarter hours in human nutrition, 4 quarter hours in human anatomy or physiology, and 4 quarter hours in education, psychology, or counseling.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid motor vehicle operator's license is required.

Examination Method: Education and Experience,100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Note: A transcript is required for proper evaluation for this class.

Summary

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for nutrition education work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class provides general nutrition counseling and educational services to local health department staff and clients and community organizations in an assigned county area. This class differs from Nutritionist 1 in that incumbents of the latter provide therapeutic nutrition counseling to high-risk clients, possess active status as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and may supervise incumbents of this class.

Responsibilities

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Certifies patients who meet criteria and documents in medical records to provide appropriate services.
• Develops and documents appropriate nutrition plan of care to comply with program guidelines and practice standards.
• Assigns appropriate supplemental food packages to comply with program guidelines.

Analyzing Data or Information:

• Compares patient data and information against program nutrition risk criteria to determine program eligibility.
• Analyzes medical information including hemoglobin/hematocrit, anthropometric data and other nutrition-related information, as required.
• Evaluate progress on nutrition goals utilizing patient input to determine patient stage of change.

Getting Information:

• Consults with health care providers to obtain relevant information regarding patient care.
• Interviews patients to assess their literacy level, cultural background and readiness to learn.
• Collects nutrition-related data to determine the patient's stages of change and goals.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Conveys information on breastfeeding techniques and other nutrition issues by using multiple media to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.
• Develops and provides a variety of teaching strategies and tools, including posters or lesson plans, to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, as needed.
• Serves as the nutrition advisor on multi-agency committees by providing nutrition information.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Assesses nutrition-related information using approved programs processes to ensure compliance with standards.
• Determines patient eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to comply with program guidelines.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Maintains knowledge of community resources to provide referrals and resources to the public.
• Communicates with community stakeholders to offer medical and social services assistance to patients.
• Promotes community nutrition and education activities for healthy lifestyle behavior changes.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

• Performs home visits to observe and assess general nutrition needs.
• Monitors patient's progress to achieve nutrition goals.

Performing Administrative Activities:

• Documents information associated with the patient's nutrition care plan and education provided into the patient record according to policies and guidelines.

Documenting / Recording Information:

• Enters information into patient chart in written or electronic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.

Processing Information:

• Performs calculations to determine patient risk criteria such as body mass index, appropriate nutrition intake, gestational age and estimated date of delivery.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

• Interprets and explains nutrition data and risk to patients to promote behavior change and comply with programs guidelines.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

• Inspects and cleans breastfeeding equipment.

Interacting With Computers:

• Uses office software including but not limited to word processing programs, presentation software, web-based programs and search engines.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Communicates with supervisors and co-workers using multiple media to effectively relay work-related information.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

• Monitors and inventories resources related to infant feeding such as breastfeeding aids and infant formula according to policies and program guidelines, as required.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize and accomplish work in an efficient manner.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Attends required trainings in order to stay up-to-date with current knowledge and policies.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Action Oriented
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Listening
• Written Communication
• Customer Focus
• Approachability
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Self-Development
• Presentation Skills

Knowledge:

• Customer and Personal Service
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Biology
• Sociology and Anthropology

Skills:

• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Writing
• Active Listening
• Instructing

Abilities:

• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Finger Dexterity
• Speech Clarity
• Auditory Attention
• Oral Comprehension
• Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

• Computer
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Printer
• Scanner
• Copy Machine
• Calculator
• Electronic Devices

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.