School Nurse

School Nurse

To provide the fullest possible educational opportunity for each district student by minimizing absence due to illness and creating a climate of health and well-being in the district schools.

An individual who holds this position is responsible for:

• Assessing and evaluating the health and developmental status of students through appropriate screening techniques.
• Monitoring initial screening programs in schools served and providing secondary screening prior to referral.
• Assuming responsibility for selection and referral of students identified by the screening process as needing medical or other care.
• Compiling information including observations, appropriate medical records and screening results.
• Interpreting the date to students, their families and school personnel.
• Maintaining health records and using the information accumulated to initiate preventive, remedial or rehabilitative action.
• Monitoring pupil immunizations as required by law.
• Recording screening data using appropriate computer program.
• Maintaining cumulative health records and performing clerical duties as school policy allows access to records on appropriate computer program.
• Participating in health counseling, planned and unplanned, with individuals and groups to assist students in improving their health status and promoting self-care, decision making and wellness behavior.
• Interpreting nursing assessments and medical evaluations to students, families and school personnel.
• Planning and supervising daily care of students with disabilities, as needed.
• Providing care management for children with identified health needs.
• Incorporating health teaching in all activities performed.
• Participating as a team member in developing and evaluating IEP's needed for students with special health care needs.
• Assisting parents to learn about health problems and aspects of parental responsibility for the health care and maintenance of their child/children.
• Providing relevant health instruction, counseling and guidance to students, school personnel, parents and others on such topics as first aid and emergency care, CPR training and specific health problems.
• Planning, initiating and monitoring preventive programs.
• Planning, organizing and coordinating a system of care for illness and first aid and emergency care.
• Assuming responsibility for maintenance of the health room.
• Monitoring injury reports to identify potential hazards and encourage their elimination.
• Administering first aid, care and comfort of ill or injured students as stipulated in written health policies and procedures, if appropriately trained.
• Participating in the development and revision of written health program policies.
• Taking and recording accurate temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and other symptoms presented by the student.
• Maintaining student records electronically for health room visits.
• Assisting in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect and reports to the appropriate person as outlined in school board policy.
• Making home visits as appropriate and necessary.
• Serving as a liaison between the school, home, private health care providers, health and social agencies and other community resources to assure appropriate utilization of all available resources for student health needs.
• Consistent and regular attendance is an essential function of this position.
• Ability to work to implement the vision and mission of the district.
• Participate in meetings of the School Wellness Committee.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate judgment in behavior, speech, dress, and appropriate professional manner for the work setting.
• Maintains strict confidentiality.
• Adheres to all district rules, regulations, and policies.
• Using district medical program, electronically maintain cumulative health records and student visits to the health room.
• Follow established policy and procedures for care of ill and injured students.
• Follow up on students with excessive absences for health reasons.
• Send out referral letters for health problems and screening failures after rescreening by registered nurse and referral decisions have been made.
• Follow up on referrals and maintain a log or worksheet of referral status.
• Assume responsibility for maintenance of health room supplies and equipment.
• Assist in identifying possible abuse and neglect and follow district reporting procedures.
• Prepare reports of nursing activity for participation in the DHSS contract.
• Screen all new entrants for height/weight, vision, hearing within one week of enrollment.
• Do initial screening for vision and hearing (in grades determined by DHSS).
• Participate in development of emergency action plans for students needing emergency provisions.
• Implement individual health care plans, including special care procedures.
• Provide assessment of vision and hearing for students being evaluated for special education placement and report findings.
• Provide health instruction to students, teachers, parents and community as needed.
• Assist teachers in finding resources for health education.
• Participate in community outreach programs.
• Assist school personnel with health needs as indicated.
• Consistent and regular attendance is an essential function of this position.
• Required to clock in and out each day they are scheduled to work.
• Clocking must reflect true time worked.
• Other duties as required or assigned.

Currently licensed in the State of Missouri as a RN (or LPN under the orders of an RN). Currently certified in CPR, Basic Life Support. Possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and physical attributes necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Desire to continue career improvement by enhancing skills and job performance. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The individual who holds this position will regularly work in a school environment that is noisy and active.