School Nurse

About the Job

Registered Nurse (RN)

• Are you looking for a place to apply your nursing skills in a school community?
• Do you believe that wellness and learning are interconnected?
• Do you love working with young people and their families?
• Are you interested in making education accessible for youth with complex health and learning needs?

Assabet Valley Collaborative (AVC) is an educational service agency in Metrowest/Central Massachusetts. Our services include school programs, wraparound services, transportation services, professional development, cooperative purchasing, and consulting. We use a shared leadership model to engage stakeholders across the organization in learning, leading, designing, and decision-making. To thrive at AVC, team members must be self-reflective, embrace the value of partnering with others through complex challenges, and recognize the mutual responsibility of giving and receiving feedback.

AVC's Commitments to Educational Equity are the vision for our future. To achieve our vision, we are committed to a continuous study of the principles of human-centered design, social innovation, cultural proficiency, and culturally responsive practices.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Successful completion of an accredited nursing program and Massachusetts licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• BSN desired to enable support for Nursing student internships.
• Exposure to pediatrics, psychology, school, special education, and/or geriatric settings.
• Ability to work as part of a team and follow through on individual responsibilities.
• Ability to lead, learn, and work within diverse teams.
• Ability to seek and incorporate clear and direct feedback from others.
• Ability to provide authentic, clear, and direct feedback to others.
• Bilingual or multilingual is a plus.

Job-specific Details:

AVC operates 3 special education school programs for students with disabilities - REACH, Evolution, and Orchard Street Academy. The Nurse may be assigned to a specific classroom (REACH) for 3-7 students with significant medical complexity, or may be assigned to a program (OSA or Evolution) for 25-60 students with a range of physical and mental health needs, or may be assigned to "float" between programs as needed for field trips, coverage, or extra support for a variety of reasons. AVC's team of 7 nurses partners together with colleagues to support learning, policies, protocols, and practices that address the health needs across our community. While nursing responsibilities are the foremost priority for the Nurse, additional programmatic responsibilities are shared to deliver high-quality education services, of which nursing is a related service. As a Nurse at AVC, there are unique opportunities to build meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff and to explore and leverage your passions in service to our community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administers medications, treatments, and interventions for students with complex health needs, including but not limited to: tube care and feeding, seizure management (first aid, rescue meds, etc), monitoring skin integrity, etc.
• Medication management and storage.
• Acts as a medical resource, training staff and families in implementing universal precautions, infection control, and program emergency planning and management.
• Maintains school nursing documentation and records - including consent forms, standing orders, health care plans, health records, etc..
• Communicates and collaborates with colleagues, families, and medical providers.
• Shares pertinent students' medical information with the classroom team and trains colleagues to implement plans/protocols as appropriate.
• Communicates and consults with AVC nursing colleagues.
• Develops and implements health care plans.
• Crisis or emergency response when needed: including but not limited to seizures, injuries, illnesses, monitoring, physical interventions, coordinating response with emergency responders and families, etc.
• Collaborates within and adapts to the classroom schedule.
• Contributes to the overall work of the program, including but not limited to support with instruction/lessons, lifting, activities of daily living, and hygiene care.

Physical Demands:

• Physical ability to execute job responsibilities may include:
  • Assist in lifting students, which may include the use of a Hoyer Lift.
  • Assist in the personal care of students.
  • Implement treatment plans as developed by S-LP, PT, and/or OT as applicable.
  • Assist in positioning and mobility goals.
  • Meet the physical requirements necessary to physically intervene in a crisis or emergency.

WORK YEAR : School year - 10 months; 185-day work year; 7hours per day; Summer hours available at additional compensation.

BENEFITS :

• Compensation competitive within the public school employees sector.
• Full-time Salary range $47,000-$108,000 (see salary scale).
• Full-time leave benefits: 3 personal days, 10 sick days.
• 75% health insurance premiums are covered by AVC..
  • Currently, a High Deductible Health Plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield with Health Savings Account (HSA) benefit.
  • AVC contributes 50% of the high deductible amount directly to employees' HSA.
• Participation in the MA State Retirement or the Teachers Retirement pension systems.
• Voluntary benefits: Life, Short-term, Long-term Insurance, and Dental Insurance.

Evaluation: Evaluation to be performed annually in accordance with Assabet Valley Collaborative's personnel handbook and pertinent regulations and statutes.