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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Public Health Nurse I
Opening Date: August 14, 2026
Closing Date: August 27, 2026
Job Class Code: 4051
Grade: 20 (Nurses)
Salary: $28.46 - $38.78 per hour*
- This is inclusive of a 15% recruitment and retention stipend
Position Number: 02033-0941
Location: Ellsworth
Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.
Position Location: This is a full-time position based out of regional State offices. Leaving directly from your residence may be an option depending upon your day’s scheduled work. This position allows for telework and requires daily travel within the assigned district.
The Division of Public Health Nursing, within the Maine CDC, provides nursing services to individuals, families, and population groups statewide. Public health nursing is the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences. Nursing services include maternal and child health support, adult health services, communicable disease control, lead poisoning management, asthma management, immunizations, and migrant and refugee health services.
As a Public Health Nurse I, you will provide care for new or expecting parents, older adults, individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis or latent tuberculosis, and community groups. Your responsibilities include care planning and management, conducting home and field visits, supporting clinics and conferences, and advising and assisting civic groups on nursing and public health needs. As a Public Health Nurse I, you will often collaborate and consult with internal and external DHHS partners to achieve desirable outcomes for families and communities. Work is performed under limited supervision.
This is generally a Monday through Friday, 8AM – 5PM position requiring you to travel within the assigned geographic area. Travel reimbursement is provided.
Core Responsibilities:
- Apply the nursing process to individuals and families including health assessment, nursing diagnoses, care plan development, implementation, evaluation, resource coordination, and/or referral(s) to meet demonstrated health care needs.
- Observe the home environment, identify health problems or at-risk behavior, and contact appropriate resources and agencies to respond to family and client needs.
- Document assessments and interventions in medical records. Use established medical record software, forms, and documentation practices.
- Plan, develop, and coordinate client care with hospitals, medical providers, schools, and social services agencies to ensure necessary services are accessible.
- Support Division goals, objectives, and standards, including practicing evidence-based, best practice nursing care.
- Participate in regular staff meetings to share information and discuss client(s) status.
- Provide updates, reports, and case reviews, as needed, to the PHN District Supervisor.
- Participate in all mandatory Division trainings and meetings.
- Occasional statewide travel is required.
- Assume responsibility for your own professional growth and development by pursuing education, participating in professional committees and work groups.
- Comply with State of Maine human resource laws, policies, procedures, and practices.
Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS : (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in the class).
Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse as issued by the State Board of Nursing.
Preferred candidates will also have:
- A desire to make a difference in Maine communities and identify emerging health concerns.
- Demonstrated desire to participate in and support quality improvement and operational excellence strategies.
- Experience with maternal child health and/or infectious disease nursing practices.
- Knowledge of public health programs, current nursing principles and practices, and nursing process.
- Knowledge of public health nursing laws, education, and administration.
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Agency information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.
The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.
Application Information:
For additional information about this position please contact: Cynthia Grass, Public Health Nurse Supervisor, at (207) 356-2452
*To apply , please upload a resume with your application.
Please submit all documents or files in a PDF or Word format.
To request a paper application, please contact [email protected]
Benefits of working for the State of Maine:
No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:
- Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
- Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value) , depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
- Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5% . Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .
- Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
- Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
- Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
- Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office .
- Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
- Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .
Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.
There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.
As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.
If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.
