SECTION .0300 ‑ LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF

10A NCAC 46 .0301         MINIMUM STANDARD HEALTH DEPARTMENT: STAFFING

In addition to meeting the requirements in 10A NCAC 48B .0103, to be accredited pursuant to G.S. 130A-34.1, a local health department shall meet the following requirements:

(1)           The local health department shall employ a full-time health director who meets the requirements of G.S. 130A-40, a full-time public health nurse who meets the requirements of Item (2) of this Rule, a full-time registered environmental health specialist who is authorized as an agent of the State in accordance with 15A NCAC 01O .0100, and a full-time administrative assistant. For purposes of this Rule, full-time means the employee is employed to work a standard work week of the local health department.

(2)           All public health nurses employed by a local health department shall:

(a)           Hold an active and unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of North Carolina in accordance with 21 NCAC 36, which is hereby incorporated by reference, including any subsequent amendments and editions, and available free of charge at http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac.asp;

(b)           Complete an introductory course in principles and practices of public health and public health nursing sponsored by the Department and developed by the Department with input from local health departments and schools of nursing. Public health nurses employed by a local health department after the effective date of this Rule shall complete the introductory course within one year of employment with the local health department. Public health nurses employed by a local health department on the effective date of this Rule who have not completed the introductory course or who completed it prior to January 1, 2023 shall complete the introductory course by December 31, 2027; and

(c)           Complete within three years of first publication each public health nursing refresher course sponsored by the Department following the public health nurse's completion of the introductory course required in Sub-item (2)(b) of this Rule. Refresher courses shall be published on the Division of Public Health's website at https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/local-health-departments and be based on the American Nurses Association's Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd edition and any subsequent amendments or editions, which is incorporated by reference and available at https://www.nursingworld.org/nurses-books/ at a cost of thirty-eight dollars and ninety-five cents ($38.95).

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-4; 130A-5(3); 130A-9; 130A-34.1;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. December 5, 1977;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1985;

Transferred and Recodified from 10 NCAC 12 .0101 Eff. April 4, 1990;

Amended Eff. October 1, 2008; September 1, 1990;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2025.