School Nurse (RN)

School Nurse

In collaboration with educational staff and others, the professional school nurse manages a coordinated school health program consistent with New Mexico guidelines, regulations and statutes governing nursing and school health, as well as District policies and procedures.

Contract Days: 187

Qualifications

• Valid certificate as a school nurse as established by the NM Public Education Department.
• Current professional license to practice as a Registered Nurse, issued by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. (BSN preferred) or a professional license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Current CPR certification
• Computer literacy in word processing, spreadsheets, databases

Physical Requirements

Sitting – frequent (deskwork for prolonged periods)

Standing – frequent (during screenings, examinations)

Walking – frequent (on school campuses, fields)

Bending – frequent (during screenings, examinations, CPR)

Lifting – occasionally (supplies and equipment transport)

Moving – rarely (furniture to accommodate clinics, AV equipment)

NECK-flexion, rotation

BACK/TRUNK-flexion, rotation

JOINTS-flexion (especially wrists, knees)

Other Work Activities

• Operation of motor vehicle (required to have a valid driver's license and completion of defensive driving course).
• Exposure to hazardous/infectious waste such as instruments, blood and other body fluids.
• Emotionally stressful situations.
• Exposure to odors, infectious, contagious, and nuisance conditions.
• Activities requiring good visual/audio acuity.
• Physical endurance for CPR.

Performance Responsibilities

• In collaboration with educational staff and others, assists in developing, implementing, and revising health policies and procedures of the school district in a coordinated school health program including fiscal accountability and practices to improve the health of students.
• Provides nursing services to schools and populations as directed per nursing supervisor, according to staffing and student specific needs.
• Applies nursing theory as the basis for decision making with personal responsibility for progressive expansion of knowledge and skills in response to professional issues in school nursing, school and community health, growth and development, nursing assessment, acute and chronic health care, injury prevention, emergency care, contemporary health issues of students/schools, and legal and ethical health practices in the school setting.
• Serves as a member of the school team that assesses the health/social aspects of the school district's long-range strategic plan.
• Assists in developing data collection procedures, evaluation of health services, and preparation of reports for supervisor and state agencies.
• Participates in pilot/research projects under the direction of the nursing supervisor; facilitates and participates with schools of nursing to provide education experiences for students in the school setting.
• Organizes, implements, and maintains state and/or district mandated programs such as immunization surveillance and health screening programs.
• Maintains and uses computer skills of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Assists in developing and maintains effective methods of systematic documentation of the nursing process using nursing standards, and district and state record keeping criteria.
• Interprets school health service needs of students and staff and the role of the school nurse to the school and community; participates in school health advisory committees and training programs as assigned.
• Follows district policy, student assistance procedures and monitoring. Consults with nursing supervisor with related issues.
• Assists to develop and promote positive safety practices including communicable disease prevention, intervention, and response per district, state, and federal guidelines.
• Participates in emergency planning from individuals to school and community emergencies through prevention, and response activities as assigned or directed.
• Using the nursing process identifies health problems including developmentally relevant physical, social, psychological, and economic factors that interfere with learning.
• Communicates nursing assessment information to the school intervention team and uses internal and community resources to address identified needs.
• Initiates and communicates to school staff necessary restrictions and/or modifications in a student's educational program related to health needs, per nursing order based on nursing assessment, and/or health provider orders within applicable regulations.
• Collects, analyzes, documents, and communicates information about the health status of students, families and staff, in a systematic manner including health, emotional, and social histories, individual and general screenings, assessments, performance levels and health goals.
• Formulates a plan of care and assesses response for students requiring nursing or health related care while at school, in collaboration with the family, health care provider and educational team, and school personnel aimed at improving health and educational status.
• Performs and/or delegates student specific nursing tasks and procedures using standards of care for safe delegation of nursing tasks.
• Provides for and communicates medically prescribed interventions including medication supervision and administration and medical/nursing treatments.
• Communicates, interprets, and arranges for standard care of ill and injured students and staff using the state recommended Emergency Guidelines Procedures.
• Facilitates the orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation of health assistant personnel in compliance with the NM Nurse Practice Act and district requirements.