Durham County·Durham, North Carolina
The Public Health Nurse Specialist manages breast and cervical cancer screening programs and provides comprehensive contraceptive counseling within the Women's Health Program. Responsibilities include performing clinical duties, coordinating with community partners, and responding to public health emergencies.
Join Durham County Government Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields—giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play. Learn more at www.dconc.gov.
Date posted: JULY 22, 2026
$76,422.00 - $129,825.00
Position number: 40009651
Full-Time (37.5 hours, exempt)
Duties: And responsibilities:
The PHNS participates in clinic nurse duties, administrative nurse duties, precepting of new staff and nursing students, and following up on abnormal results related to breast and cervical cancer screening tests.
The PHNS works with community partners and providers to facilitate breast and cervical cancer screening education and referrals.
The PHNS assists during physical exams and procedures (as appropriate), provides full scope contraceptive counseling, administers injections, and follows up on abnormal labs and missed appointments.
This position may be required to work in other clinical areas across the organization.
Employee may to be called upon at any time to help the agency respond to a public health emergency outside of normal busniess hours, which may include but is not limited to outbreak investiagrtions, staffing mass dispensing or immunization clinics, providing diaster relief for incidents (man-made or natural and interntional or non-intentional) as they arise, or any public health response requested by the Health Director.
A thorough knowledge of, and skill in, the application of principles and techniques employed in the field of public health, general nursing, and women’s health nursing, specifically contraception and family planning services; General knowledge of current health disparities and community resources related to public health; Ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of others; Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and make decisions; Ability to work in partnership with patients and other service providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships; Ability to accurately record services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions; Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health; Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record documentation, and accessing of information; Ability to be flexible and receptive to change in dealing with changing patient populations and changing program requirements.
At the minimum, candidates must have graduated from a four-year college or university with a B.S. in Nursing which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation and two years of Public Health nursing experience; or a Master’s in Public Health and graduation from a school of professional nursing and two years of professional nursing experience; or graduation from a school of professional nursing and three years of professional nursing experience including two years of Public Health nursing experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
Must be licensed to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Preferred qualifications: CPR certified Bilingual
To further the mission of the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) to partner with our community to advance health equity, protect the environment, and promote health and wellness for all, DCoDPH is implementing the employee vaccination and tuberculosis screening policies. All DCoDPH employees are considered healthcare personnel (HCP) working in a health care setting with the potential for exposure to patients and/or infectious materials and, therefore, are required to comply and provide documented proof of the following:
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination/immunity Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chicken Pox) vaccination/immunity Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Tuberculosis (TB) baseline screening within the last twelve (12) months prior to employment Hepatitis B vaccination/immunity – only required for DCoDPH employees with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposures.
Durham County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Market context
North Carolina nursing jobs often reflect steady demand in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings, especially for RNs who can provide age-appropriate care across patient populations. These roles are competitive because employers typically want an approved nursing-school graduate with a current North Carolina RN or Compact License and active AHA BLS certification. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, and confirm your license status and BLS renewal before applying.
