School Nurse (26-27 School Year)

School Nurse Position

Under direction of the Director of Special Education, and within District Policies, plans, organizes, supervises and evaluates District school-wide health services program, which strengthens the educational process through improvement of the health status and knowledge of students and performs other duties related to the educational program as assigned.

Major duties and responsibilities include conducting a program of communicable disease prevention control, counseling, guiding pupils, family members and staff on individual health needs, serving as a resource to school and District staff in relating health instruction and guidance for the needs of individual students, and preparing and maintaining pertinent health and other related files, records and reports according to established procedures.

The position also involves assisting with planning and maintaining a healthful school environment, in keeping with the unique needs of identified students, assisting with the development of strategies to meet a variety of emergencies and providing care and treatment for accidents and emergency illnesses which occur during school hours, and serving as a health liaison for the District with practitioners and community agencies in the planning and implementation of health and welfare programs.

Additionally, the role includes maintaining positive staff and community relationships, monitoring and training staff in specialized physical health care procedures, teaching a variety of health-related topics on a one-to-one or group basis, coordinating and monitoring the administration of medication during school hours, and providing inservice training to site and District staff regarding healthful living, communicable diseases and other health concerns.

The School Nurse also serves on various school and District committees and attends meetings as assigned, including blood borne pathogens, CPR and First Aid, refers parents/guardians of pupils needing medical care to appropriate private or community resources, conducts and performs such tests and screenings as mandated by State or Federal law, and serves as a consultant to the curriculum committee for health instruction, as well as the District School-wide Wellness Council.

The position requires continuing self-education and professional development, as well contribute to the professional development of staff.

Knowledge and abilities include CPR and First Aid techniques, hygiene and health needs of school-age children, health and medical terminology, equipment and techniques, health and safety regulations, applicable sections of California Education Code, State regulations and other applicable laws, current office practices, procedures, and equipment, record keeping techniques, medication effects and proper administration procedures, genetic and environmental disorders which affect cognitive, motor, visual and auditory development, diagnostic methods for medical conditions and diseases, public health agencies and local health care resources, ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action during emergency situations, ability to establish and maintain files, records, reports and referrals, according to District procedures and State and Federal mandates, ability to meet schedules and timelines, ability to counsel and provide health-related information to preschool and school-age children and their families, ability to plan, prioritize and organize work, ability to maintain confidentiality, ability to speak, read and write in fluent Spanish is desirable, ability to read, interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures, ability to complete work with multiple interruptions, ability to provide, train and monitor health information and procedures to parents/guardians, students and staff, ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions, ability to establish and maintain positive, cooperative working relationships, mobility to traverse all areas of the work sites, ability to properly use and care for materials, supplies and equipment employed in school nursing.

Qualifications required include current Registered Nurse (RN) License (CA), must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related field, including all courses needed to meet credentials requirements, must hold a California credential authorizing services as a School Nurse, must possess a Public Health Certificate, must possess a Valid California driver's license and private transportation, and must possess a thorough understanding of the philosophy, methodology and trends related to providing services to individuals with exceptional needs.

Desirable qualifications include a valid audiometric credential and first Aid/CPR training (current or in progress), background experience in health education, acute care in a pediatric facility or pediatrician's office, and bilingual Spanish.

Other requirements include exposure to driving a vehicle to conduct work; exposure to blood-borne pathogens, communicable or infectious diseases and emergency medical situations; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; reaching, bending at the waist, turning and twisting, walking on level surfaces and occasional walking on uneven, slippery surfaces; occasional stair climbing (elevator available at certain sites), dexterity of hands and fingers to operate specialized health services and standard office equipment; regularly lifting 40 lbs. and up; carrying/pushing 40 lbs., hearing and speaking to exchange information and make presentations; see color, possess near vision and depth perception; stress of emergencies, deadlines, interpersonal conflict, and normal work stress; concentrate for long periods of time; memorize and recall objects and people; analyze problems and generate alternatives; reconcile apparent ambiguities; solve multi-variant problems.

Paramount Unified School District