School Nurse - 12 Month Position

School Nurse

Reports To: District Nurse Administrator

Department: Student Services

Classification: Classified/ZEA Work Year: 235 days

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Required: Minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing; minimum 1 year of successful professional nursing experience are preferred.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Valid Illinois driver's license. Valid Illinois Registered Nurse license; Valid Professional Educator License endorsement in school nursing preferred; work towards school vision and audiometric certification.

BASIC FUNCTION: Improve children's health in the educational setting by performance of physical and developmental assessments and manage common pediatric illnesses. These services enhance children's attendance in school and assist families to meet their health care needs.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Provide health maintenance care for children.
• Perform routine developmental screenings.
• Diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses according to practice protocols.
• Use prescriptive authority, in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations to treat illness, improve health status and provide preventative care.
• Provide health education, anticipatory guidance regarding common child health concerns, and utilize community resource opportunities for the child and/or family.
• Record and maintain an accurate, cumulative health record for each child.
• Participate in IEP team and 504 meetings as appropriate.
• Collaborate with other health care providers in the delivery of health care.
• Educate children and families toward participation in self-care.
• Monitor and interpret public health and communicable disease issues, which impact the delivery of health care for children.
• Provide leadership and guidance to all health aides.
• Create awareness of health services in the community and coordinate services with health related agencies.
• Participate in quality assurance review, including systematic review of records and treatment plans on a periodic basis.
• Perform basic first aid procedures and screen ill or injured children according to established procedures; utilize a variety of health products and supplies in caring for injuries and health needs.
• Administer medications to students who have a completed Medical Authorization form on file.
• Schedule students for and conduct screenings (vision, hearing, etc.); schedule follow-up appointments if further testing is required.
• Prepare, maintain, and enter health-related information on forms and in student management system.
• Files and records may include items such as student health records, emergency medical records, accident reports, and health and disability reports.
• Prepare correspondence, forms, notices, and referrals.
• Maintain the health office in a clean, orderly and safe condition; assist in maintaining inventory and order first aid supplies (from district nurse) as necessary.
• Attend meetings and assist other school personnel as required.
• Operate standard office and medical equipment as required.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES: Normal and abnormal child growth and development. Nursing process. Appropriate therapies for children. Nurse's role in the school system. Communicable diseases and health issues that affect public schools. District policies and State regulations. Knowledge of the use of defibrillators. Record-keeping techniques. Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary. Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy. Ability to: Educate parents in regards to proper therapies. Establish, maintain, and function cooperatively and effectively in relationships with patients, parents, peers, administrators, and community resources. Perform age appropriate CPR and first aid in emergency situations. Apply regulations to educational settings. Meet schedules and timelines. Plan and organize work. Work confidently with discretion. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Read, explain and follow rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Operate standard office equipment as required. Complete work with many interruptions.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Environment: Health office environment; constant interruptions; driving a vehicle to conduct work. Physical Abilities: Sitting for extended periods of time; reaching overhead and horizontally to retrieve store supplies; kneeling or crouching; hearing and speaking to exchange information; seeing to assess health status of pre-school and school aged children; lifting moderately heavy objects. Hazards: Exposure to and contact with blood and other body fluids; exposure to communicable diseases.