26-27 School Nurse

Position Summary


School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidenced-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential" Adopted by the NASN Board of Directors February 2017.

The school nurse will perform professional nursing duties consistent with Massachusetts guidelines, regulations and statutes governing nursing, school health, and local district policy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the Enrollment Health Specialist, performs and oversees all state mandated annual health screenings (e.g. vision, hearing, postural, SBIRT, height and weight, etc.) for designated grade levels and makes appropriate referrals.
• Identifies specific medical needs relating to the particular health status of the student(s) and facilitates appropriate management for the student(s) in the school setting, and secures additional services as needed.
• Triages students to provide appropriate medical intervention, and follow up care. Monitors student(s) referred for illness/and or injury for the purpose of attending to their immediate health care concerns and initiating follow-up care.
• Provides care to students with chronic illnesses and high-risk students (e.g. allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures, medically fragile, etc.) for the purpose of assisting the child in achieving their highest possible functioning level.
• Assesses situations involving students' safety, abuse (physical, sexual, drug, etc.) and other health related issues for the purpose of identifying problems, referring for proper treatment, and complying with legal requirements.
• Performs skilled nursing procedures and/or is willing to be trained in insulin administration, catheterizations, suctioning, trach care, gastrostomy tube feedings, and nebulizer treatments to ensure the health and safety of the students.
• Administers first aid, medication and specialized medical treatments for the purpose of providing appropriate care for the ill, medically fragile and/or injured children in accordance with state laws and district policies.
• Develops and implements individual health care plans/medication administration plans for students and develops health care sections of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans.
• Documents all clinical visits, medical and/or information changes thoroughly and professionally to ensure accuracy in the school health record and continuity of care for the student.
• Maintains students' confidential records (e.g. immunization records, health care plans, accident reports, agency referrals, etc.) for the purpose of reporting and complying with legal requirements.
• Maintains health room statistics as required for the school district and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
• Complies with district medication policies, which include obtaining required annual parental permission and physician orders for prescribed medication and/or treatments, and medication delegation and Epi-Pen training.
• Provides twice-yearly in-service educational training to staff on life-threatening allergies, Epi-Pen administration, medication administration, and provides yearly blood-borne pathogen education.
• Serves as a resource to students, staff and parents. Provides consultations for team meetings as needed. Assists in the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
• Maintains continuing education requirements for recertification by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and registration by the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN).
• Maintains supplies, takes inventory and orders necessary equipment for the health office and promotes a healthy and safe environment.
• Other nursing/health related duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Abilities, & Skills

• Active/Current license as a registered nurse with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Masters in Nursing.
• Currently certified or eligible for the Department of Education's School Nurse Certification (if not currently certified, must take and successfully obtain certification within 2 years of employment).
• Failure to obtain certification may result in termination.
• Current Massachusetts CPR certification.
• Ability to work with people and communicate effectively with diverse populations.
• Those with Bilingual and/or multilingual skills are encouraged to apply.
• Experience caring for students with special health care needs is preferred.

Physical and Mental Requirements :

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.

Physical Skills :

• Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Ability to lift up to 30lbs. Ability to respond to emergency situations.

Motor Skills :

• Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the position may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as operating a telephone, personal computer, and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing, and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills :

• Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Reporting Relationships

• Position Reports to:The Director of School Health Services or designee

Terms of Employment

• Position Type: Full Time
• FLSA Classification: Exempt
• Union Status: SMEA, Unit C
• Salary and benefits are determined in accordance with the SMEA, Unit C collective bargaining agreement and the policies of the Somerville School Committee.

Work Year: The work year of school nurses will be 189 days and consists of the 180 student school days, four (4) professional development days, and five (5) consecutive summer school days.

The four (4) professional development days consist of the two (2) days before the start of the student school year, one (1) professional development day during the school year, four (4) hours between August 1 and the start of the student school year and two (2) hours on the final day of the student school year. The five (5) summer days will consist of five (5) consecutive days in the summer school program as set forth in greater detail in section G.

The Somerville Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.