School Nurse

School Nurse

Job Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in nursing required.

Certification or Licensure: Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LNP) license through the Georgia Board of Nursing is required. Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid certification are required within one year of employment.

Skills: Thorough knowledge of nursing procedures, student growth, and development, first aid, and CPR. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Ability to provide specialized health services. Skills in training and supervision of health-related procedures. Ability to exercise professional judgment in making decisions. Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with students, parents, staff, health care professionals, community agencies, and the public. Strong time management and organizational skills. Ability to use computer programs and various software applications. Ability to be a team player. Ability to maintain a positive, professional manner with students, parents, and colleagues. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Excellent interpersonal skills.

Work Experience: Two years of experience in public health nursing, community health nursing, school health nursing, or pediatric nursing is required. Experience in a K-12 environment is preferred.

Primary Duty:

This position is responsible for providing health services to strengthen and facilitate the educational process of students by addressing health-related barriers to learning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Promote and protect the optimal health status of school-aged children.

2. Provide health assessments and obtain health histories as needed.

3. Screen and evaluate findings in vision, hearing, growth, and other related areas as needed.

4. Observe children for development and health patterns in conducting nursing assessments and identify and report abnormal health findings.

5. Develop and implement student health plans and school health management protocols.

6. Initiate referrals to parents, school staff, and/or community health resources for intervention, remediation, and follow-up.

7. Obtain, file, and deliver accident reports on students and employees to the Principal in a timely manner.

8. Maintain clinic records and obtain current and up-to-date health cards for each student.

9. Obtain, update, and file certificates of immunization for each student, including dental, hearing, and vision certificates for students who enter a Georgia school for the first time.

10. Conduct internal audits on certificates of immunization as well as dental, vision, and hearing certificates.

11. Initiate referrals to parents and school staff as needed.

12. Screen and evaluate findings of scoliosis, blood pressure, head lice, and scabies and maintain records and report findings to the appropriate personnel.

13. Provide crisis intervention for student illness, injury, and/or emotional disturbances.

14. Follow procedures outlined by a physician and monitor the performance of the procedures described by the physician in addressing students' health problems.

15. Perform catheterization, tracheotomy suction, and care, vision screenings on referrals, and communicate with hearing-impaired students where applicable according to physician orders.

16. Provide assistance to students by monitoring and/or administering medication brought from home with proper paperwork in place and determine who is to go home and notify the parents or guardians.

17. Assess the school environment for safety and serve on safety and other related committees.

18. Develop procedures and provide emergency nursing management for injuries and illnesses.

19. Promote and assist in the control of communicable diseases.

20. Report contagious diseases to the Principal, Director of Student Services, and the Richmond County Health Department.

21. Serve as a resource to school staff in health instruction and conduct ongoing health counseling with students, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents.

22. Coordinate and implement school and community health activities and serve as the liaison health professional between the school and the community.

23. Assist physicians in conducting physical examinations for special education students that participate in the special needs Olympics when requested.

24. Evaluate the nursing program and provide recommendations for improvement.

25. Assist in reviewing and revising procedure manuals and other related training materials.

26. Teach CPR and first aid courses to school staff and conduct nursing education and skills workshops.

27. Conduct awareness programs such as drug abuse, asthma, seizures, etc. for students, school staff, and parents.

28. Order and maintain a current inventory of clinical supplies, first aid supplies, and stock medications.

29. Attend and participate in professional development activities, workshops, seminars, and conferences in order to maintain expertise in the nursing field.

30. Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or designee.

Work Environment / Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, and sit.

Special Requirements: Must wear a medical uniform or lab coat.

Date Established: 03/2008 Date(s) Revised: 06/2023

This description may be changed at any time. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Board. Richmond County Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.