School Nurse

JOB TITLE: School Nurse

REPORTS TO: Director of Student Support Services

SALARY: Based on State and Local Salary Schedules

STATUS: 10 month

SUMMARY:


-The professional school nurse is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating school health services within the context of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model.


-The school nurse serves in the roles of program manager/coordinator, case manager/direct care provider, collaborator/advocate, health educator/counselor for the assigned schools.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

This professional school nursing position within Caswell County Schools is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating school health services that:

• Maximize the quantity of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health-related absenteeism.
• Eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning.
• Promote the highest degree of independent function possible
• Promote student, staff, and community awareness of and participation in healthy behaviors
• Actively participate in school based multidisciplinary teams that address student learning and performance
• Prepare for and respond to school emergencies and crises through involvement with school safety and crisis teams
• Prevent and respond to communicable disease outbreaks and provide coverage with local health department emergencies including shelter coverage
• Provide and/or arrange for routine health screenings; such as vision, hearing, or dental screening and follow up for referrals
• Conduct health counseling, assess mental health needs, provide interventions, and refer students to appropriate school state or community agencies
• Assure that federal and state mandated health related activities are completed, which includes but is not limited to: health assessments, immunization status reports, bloodborne pathogens control plan (OSHA) requirements, anaphylaxis management, etc.
• Helps develop policies, procedures and work standards for school health programs.
• Provides staff development on health-related topics for school staff including medication administration, Epipens and diabetes.
• Provides first aid care and medically prescribed services.
• Serves as a resource person on student health issues.
• Maintains stock and security of school health supplies
• Corresponds with parents on health needs of children
• Includes other duties as assigned but not limited to :

• Backup coverage for other schools/nurses
• Assist with Kindergarten registration
• Assist with open houses
• Attend staff meetings at schools and nursing meetings
• Community outreach activities
• Participate in committees as needed including SHAC

Performance Standards:

At a minimum, the school nurse is expected to:

• Participate and complete the School Nurse Modules and School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities
• Address the six core functions as identi?ed in the School Nurse Funding Initiative
• Collect data for the NC DHHS School Health Nursing Survey and Program Summary (End of Year Report)
• Complete monthly Student Health Activity Report and other reports as assigned
• Obtain necessary knowledge, skills and CEU's to maintain credentials
• Work independently in an uncontrolled environment

MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse or associate degree prepared registered nurse currently licensed in North Carolina
• A minimum of 3 years RN nursing experience preferably with young children and adolescents (ages 5-18)
• Current valid driver's license

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES :

The complex role of the school nurse demands, but is not limited to, an understanding and knowledge of :

• Community, including community as a system and aggregates as clients
• Pediatric/adolescent Nursing
• Public Health/Community Health Nursing
• Health Counseling, Mental health, and Crisis Intervention
• Communicable Disease management
• Applicable laws, regulations and standards pertaining to school nursing practice (NC Nurse Practice Act, Standards of School Nursing Practice and the Ten Components of a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model)
• Laws related to School Health
• Special Education Legislation and Services
• Case management and health advocacy
• Program management, including personnel oversight and monitoring related to delegated medical procedures
• Family theory, assessment and intervention
• Leadership, networking and collaboration
• Ethnic and Cultural Sensitivity and Competence
• Contemporary Health and Psychosocial issues that influence children, families and the community
• Healthcare delivery systems and the concepts of Primary Healthcare
• Building student, staff and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning
• School as a non-traditional health care setting
• Development, management and evaluation of school health programs
• Environmental Health within the school community

Skills related to this role:

• Plan, coordinate and monitor the work of others related to delegated nursing tasks
• Communicate tactfully with others and exercise good judgment in appraising situations
• Make independent and timely nursing decisions and triage
• Secure the cooperation and respect of students, faculty and staff
• Elicit needed information and maintain effective working relationships
• Collect data to direct evidence-based practice
• Accurately record services rendered and interpret/explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions
• Identify health related barriers to learning (i.e., at risk behaviors, financial, cultural, economical, etc.)
• Perform nursing assessments related to direct care

DISCLAIMER:

Statements of the job descriptions are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this category. The description does not contain an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills and other requirements necessary of employees to perform in this position.