Job Description Please!!

[spp2423]

Ok.. I hadn't been able to find an RN job in my area as a new grad and now suddenly in the past week I've been given 3 interviews at 3 dfferent places- hospital, health dept, and mental health facility. The job I would LOOOOVE to land is at the health department. The RN job opening there requires no previous experience which is such a plus for me b/c the only experience I have is an externship in the ICU that last 2 months!!

Anyway... can someone describe for me the day in the life of an RN who works at a health department??? I am from a town of like 4,000 people so I know pretty much what goes on there. I know they do a lot of vaccinations and such. But what about the health department in a bigger city of say 50,000 people (just to give you an idea). I'm thinking it would have to be a lot different than the health department I am used to. So can someone paint me a picture please? Is the health department stressful--- as stressful as the hospital?? They have in their job decription that your duties include case mgmt of communicable disease-- I'd just like some info!!!!!

THANKS A BUNCH!!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

this will depend on where you work in the health department. i worked in one prior to nursing school. if you are an immunization nurse you will give shots and go through records all day (case manage). if you work the tb clinic you will be a case manager and a nurse that provides direct patient care to tb patients and their families... if you work with the wic program or baby programs you will case manage women and children all day... if you are a lactation nurse, you will provide lactation counseling, case management, and training on lactation all day... (see a trend???)? some public health nurses visit clients all day in homes while with others work only at the health department. all attend health fairs at some point throughout the year; that is fun. plus, the job is usually 8-5 m-f.