School Nurse

School Nurse Position

The successful candidate will be an individual who firmly believes:
All students can and will learn, and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control;
In the need to work interdependently with teachers, school, and district leaders throughout the system, aligning the work of adults around improving student learning by meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of students;
In the need to work in partnership with staff to continuously improve practices to enhance student and family engagement, creating the conditions for equity, excellence and student success; and In meeting students' academic, social, and emotional needs and aspirations so that each student feels valued and has a sense of belonging, leading to academic success.

Position

Purpose:

To provide assessment, screening, planning, intervention, evaluation, counseling, management and/or referrals concerning the health and medical care needs of students for the purpose of minimizing absences due to illness, maximizing educational opportunities, and creating a healthy school climate.

Primary Responsibilities:

Duties of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively with health care providers, students' parents, school district staff and community agencies to ensure access and continuity of care for students.
• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive school health program.
• Collect information about the health development status of students for compliance with state immunization regulations and Board of Education policies.
• Conduct school programs of immunization, physical examinations, and sight and hearing testing.
• Perform nursing assessment for students who are ill or injured; apply appropriate theory as basis for providing first aid, nursing care, intervention and referrals for those students.
• Evaluate nursing care provided and change plan of care as necessary.
• Implement Board policy with respect to the exclusion and readmission of students in connection with certain infectious and contagious diseases (e.g., Tuberculosis).
• Maintain accurate records and documentation in accordance with state and federal law, and Board of Education policies.
• Develop individual health care plan (ICHP) when needed with specific goals, nursing diagnosis, and interventions delineating school-nursing actions unique to students' needs and for incorporation into the student's individualized educational plan (IEP).
• Intervene as guided by the nursing care plan to implement nursing actions that promote, maintain or restore health, prevent illness and effect rehabilitation.
• Serve as a member of school teams as designated health care professional (e.g., Crisis Teams, PPT, Section 504).
• Provide guidance, counseling and health education to students, parents and employees as necessary.
• Report to parents, school district personnel, physicians, clinics, and others as needed to meet student health needs.
• Provide instruction and training regarding the Heimlich Maneuver, Blood Borne Pathogen training, the school district's Emergency plan, and with regard to providing care for students, including students with disabilities.
• Contribute to nursing and school health through innovations in theory; practice and participation in research, including narrative and statistical reports.
• Provide medical assessment to school district employees as requested.
• Provide health education to students as requested.
• Notify the appropriate person or agency of student's injury/illness in accordance with Board policy as necessary.
• Confer with parents, students and school district staff and professionals to interpret health and developmental assessments.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned by supervisors or other administrators.

Preferences:
We strongly prefer candidates who have exhibited excellence in collaboration with colleagues and an enthusiasm for working with students. Preferred candidates will also have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning as evidenced by graduate-level work or an earned degree, as well as participation in professional organization conferences or seminars related to the content area. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, first aid, illnesses and injuries, nutrition, and related areas
• Ability to use medical equipment to provide health care to students/staff, including, but not limited to: blood glucose monitor, stethoscope, thermometer, sphygmomanometer
• Diagnoses and provide care for ill or injured students
• Convey appropriate medical information to school district staff or medical professionals to ensure a proper maintenance in the school setting
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed for position
• Understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, the internet, Outlook,…