Certified School Nurse (CSN) - Certified Assessment Team (CATs)

Nurse

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) aims to eliminate health-related barriers to learning and advance health equity in Chicago. CPS is committed to addressing barriers to student health and wellness and providing education, programs, and activities that help improve the quality of life for students attending our schools. OSHW also strives to decrease health disparities within the district through the coordination of school health programs and student health services.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Nurse Manager, the Certified School Nurse (CSN) coordinates the school health program including the delivery of services to students and serves as the health resource to staff members in order to enhance health and wellness in the school community. The school nurse duties are to be performed in accordance with standards of professional school nurse practice, state board of education policies and procedures and the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act.

This role is eligible for a residency waiver.

The Certified School Nurse will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• The CSN provides and/or delegates to licensed personnel direct professional nursing services, first aid, illness, and emergency care to students.
• The CSN identifies health problems, makes referrals for diagnosis and treatment, develops educational modifications, provides follow-up and evaluation, and maintains appropriate documentation.
• The CSN provides counseling and follow-up services to students with disabilities as delineated in the IEP/504.
• The CSN follows up on homebound students needing related health care services.
• The CSN provides intervention in times of school crisis, i.e. death, suicide, traumatic events.
• The CSN initiates, encourages, and participates in health education programs for children.
• The CSN assists special education children to accept or adjust to physical, emotional or health limitations.
• The CSN provides health counseling to parents of special education students, and provides individual and group health counseling to special education students.
• The CSN develops the medication protocol to safely store, administer, document, and monitor the effectiveness of the medication given at school.
• The CSN coordinates activities of local schools concerned with communicable disease regulations.
• The CSN assists with the State and Federal mandated screenings and provides follow-up for deficits in vision, hearing, growth and development, and other physical impairments.
• The CSN collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to determine if health adversely affects the student's educational process and is also responsible for the development of the all IEP goals, benchmarks, and accommodations for students requiring health related services.
• Develop and administer comprehensive school health program

Qualifications

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Certified School Nurse must possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university
• Valid Illinois Nursing license
• Valid Professional Educator License (Type 73 certificate), endorsed as a School Nurse through the Illinois State Board of Education
• CPR certification

• Previous pediatric experience is recommended but not required
• Experience working with students with culturally diverse backgrounds

• Strong oral, written communication and computer skills
• Excellent critical thinking skills

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.