ANYBody work for county health department

[aminv]

hi

does any one work for county health department? i just fot a job offer, but when i was interviewed they told me they one put me in child immunization clinic, but now they are telling me that i have to start in STD clinic and than i will be going to different clinic like child immunization, TB clinic. i am nervous about working in that clinic because i dont want accidentally get needle stick and get something. please help

[kittykatty]

I would think it would all depend on what county/state you are working in? Where are you from?

[aminv]

i am from NJ

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Needle sticks are possible with any job involving needles. Even if it is the childrens imm. clinic you can still have a needle stick. Children can carry disease as well. You can always give it a try. If you don't like it look elsewhere. Who knows maybe you will end of the fact that you experience different things?

[LaneyB]

I work in a health department, and you pretty much have to be willing to do all programs (at least where I work). I work some in imms, communicable disease, HIV, breast and cervical cancer control, geriatric health screening, school health, and of course everyones favorite, H1N1.

From my experience, some health departments like to cross-train you so you can cover multiple programs if need be. All in all, I really like my job, and STD is a good program to work.

[tokki2u]

Hi Aminv

I worked in a county health department for 6 years. You will be very busy, to say the least. I worked all clinics over that 6 year period of time, but most of it was in Family Planning and Maternity. You will gain a wealth of knowledge, and it is not as stressful as being in the hospital. Remember, no matter where you work, use good handwashing techniques, AND common sense, along with your nursing knowledge. You'll do fine.

Good Luck!

[EarthChild1130]

I work in the county mental health department. I'm the only full-time nurse (we have 2 nurses who are on-call in case I call out sick, as is the case today)...I do a little bit of everything, including running the weekly injection clinic. I love the job. Working for the county is much more fun than hospital nursing was, IMO. My advice would be to try it out, see if you like it, and then if you don't you can always look for something else. Needlestick injuries can happen anywhere, not just county clinics. Just remember your best safety practices! O and, if your clinic doesn't use them, advocate for using needles with safety devices! My office didn't use them till I was hired and insisted on them...3 years and so far so good! (knocking on wood!)

[aminv]

hi

since i am getting all the good reply i want to ask one more thing. how often do you use the phone on your job. reason i am asking because i wear hearing aids and sometimes it is hard to hear on certain phone although i went for physcial with their own doctor i told him truth that i wear hearing aid and also i had surgery he said that does not matter you passed the physical because i can function well with them only some phones are problem so i was wondering are you guys on the phone a lot?

[aminv]

sorry i had lot of grammer mistake on the original post. LOL

[tokki2u]

I was seldom on the phone. We had clerks in the front office and in each department who took care of things like that. Most incoming calls to nurses were personal.

[EarthChild1130]

I'm on the phone quite a bit at my office. But there is another lady in my office, who works in records, and they have a special phone for her to use because she wears hearing aids too. I believe that the employer can accomodate you with this phone if you let them know that you require this. Good luck!

[aminv]

Thank you guys so much.i am excited about the job