School Nurse

Basic Function

Under direction of the Administrator of Health Services, School Nurses strengthen and facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children and by identification and assistance in the removal or modification of health-related barriers to learning in individual children. The major focus of school health services is the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems.

The school nurse provides services to one or more school sites, preschool through grade 12, and to students 0-22 years of age.

CLASS

TITLE:

School Nurse

Exercises supervision of paraprofessionals as assigned. Conducts mandatory screening programs according to state law. Assists with the immunization program and with the Child Health and Disability Prevention program. Assesses and evaluates the health and developmental status of pupils to identify specific physical disorders and other factors relating to the learning process, communicates with the primary care provider, and contributes significant information in order to modify the pupils’ educational plans.

Interprets the health and developmental assessment to parents, teachers, administrators, and other professionals directly concerned with the pupil. Designs and implements a health maintenance plan to meet the individual health needs of the students, incorporating plans directed by a physician. Refers the pupil and his or her parent/guardian to appropriate community resources for necessary services. Assists parents and pupils to solve financial, transportation and other barriers to needed health services.

Maintains communication with parents and all involved community practitioners and agencies to promote needed treatment and secures reports of findings pertinent to educational planning. School Nurse – Continued Interprets medical and nursing findings appropriate to the student’s individual educational plan and makes recommendations to professional personnel directly involved. Participates in developing Individual Educational Programs. Provides appropriate staff training and supervision of specialized Health Care Procedures.

• Exploring health-related attendance problems.
• Helping parents, school personnel and pupils understand and adjust to physical, mental, and social limitations.
• Exploring with families and pupils, attitudes, information, and values which affect their health behavior.
• Participation at student study team meetings when appropriate.

Supervises the distribution of medication taken by students. Participates in planning the implementation of proper emergency care and first aid for sudden illness or accident, and gives general assistance when available. Plans and coordinates the work of paraprofessionals, parents, and volunteers as assigned. Keeps accurate records and makes available information appropriate for inclusion in the cumulative records of pupils. Executes and prepares such forms, records, and reports as may be called for in the management of the school health program at the school site and district level.

Assist school staff in the control of communicable diseases through early detection, exclusion, reporting and training. Consults with, conducts in-service training to, and serves as a resource person to teachers and administrators, and acts as a participant in implementing any section or sections of a comprehensive health instruction curriculum for students by providing current scientific information regarding nutrition, preventive dentistry, mental health, genetics, prevention of communicable diseases, self-health care, consumer education, first aid, CPR,…