School Nurse

School Nurse

The Philadelphia School (TPS) is seeking a full-time, twelve-month School Nurse. We are a Preschool - Grade 8 progressive, independent school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with an enrollment of approximately 420 students. Since our founding in 1972, The Philadelphia School has grown in size, complexity, and diversity. This growth has been rooted firmly in the progressive values with which our founders began: immersive learning, responsive pedagogy, and meaningful engagement with the world.

Position Summary:

The School Nurse supports student success by providing health care through assessment, intervention, and follow-up for all children within a school setting. The School Nurse promotes an optimal level of wellness that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students and supports their achievement in the learning process. (This role is a twelve-month role with core hours usually from 9a to 5p, supporting both school-day and after-school programming.)

Responsibilities:

Student Health Services:

• Provide direct nursing care (assessment and intervention) to ill or injured students during the school day.
• Collaborate with the school psychologist to assess and support students physically and emotionally and take appropriate steps to address student mental health needs.
• Conduct, communicate, and follow-up on referrals for state-mandated health screenings (growth, vision, hearing) and vaccination compliance.
• Administer medication and manage acute and chronic illness and/or allergy in coordination with individually developed care plans in partnership with student, family, health-care providers, and faculty.
• Track student absences and illnesses, notifying appropriate parties of communicable diseases in coordination with the Philadelphia Department of Health.
• Identify, report, and manage outbreaks (e.g., flu, COVID-19, strep throat, head lice) within a closed school community.
• Serve as system owner for Magnus Health, the EHR solution TPS currently uses for as the SIS for student health.

Health Program Administration & Compliance:

• Plan and implement school health management protocols and policies, and ensure dissemination to and understanding by relevant stakeholders.
• Document assessments, interventions, and communication regarding care.
• Manage school health records and health communications in accordance with HIPAA. FERPA, and best practices surrounding confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate medical records to assure compliance with state mandates including immunizations, physical examinations, and medical conditions.
• Maintain the health office in clean, orderly, and safe condition with special attention to confidential information, inventory management, and safe disposal procedures.
• Maintain stocked classroom First-Aid bags and field trip First-Aid bags, as needed.
• Advise school administration in preparing a budget for the health program for health office supplies.

Health Education & Wellness Promotion:

• Actively collaborate with others to build student and family self-management, self-advocacy, and learning.
• Serve as a resource person to facilitate learning of positive health and wellness behaviors for students and actively participate in student education programs related to health education, sex education, suicide prevention, and first-aid training.
• Create and facilitate in-service trainings to faculty, coaches, and staff as needed to implement and strengthen health protocols at school.
• Coordinate CPR/AED/First-Aid training for the faculty, coaches, and staff, including certification programs designed for faculty and staff.
• Coordinate 8th grade CPR training through the American Heart Association.

Health & Safety Leadership:

• Provide leadership in promoting health and safety, including a healthy school environment.
• Co-chair the Health and Safety Committee to ensure a healthy environment for students and staff, and follow-up on health-related recommendations of the committee.
• Prepare all necessary medical information, material, and forms and planning support for after-school programs, camps, and overnight trips–potentially serving as a (paid) chaperone for one or more overnight trips.
• Perform other tasks and assume other responsibilities as the HoS/DoO may assign from time to time. Workday may be extended as needed for planning, professional development, and other school events–which may include evenings and weekends.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a related field, as well as RN license.

Knowledge of principles and requirements of a school nurse and adhere to best practices in school nursing in an independent elementary school setting.

Exercise professional judgment and decision making.

Highly motivated, with energy and enthusiasm about working in an academic atmosphere.

Demonstrate a genuine interest in the student population and its health needs.

Must be diplomatic, tactful, discreet, flexible, resourceful, dependable, well-organized, friendly, emotionally mature, punctual, and professional.

Must be able to work effectively with multiple supervisors and administration, balance and prioritize multiple requests.

Demonstrate sensitivity, good judgment and confidentiality in working with students and parents.

Must demonstrate ability to complete assigned project tasks on time.

Communicate appropriately and effectively with students, parents, administrators, faculty, and other school personnel.

Remain calm and courteous under pressure.

The pay range for this position is $65-95k depending on education and applicable experience.

Application Process:

Qualified candidates should visit our website and click on "Job Opportunities" under "Quick Links". For full consideration, please provide a cover letter tailored specifically to your interest in and alignment with our program, your resume, and contact information with three professional references.

The Philadelphia School welcomes and celebrates diversity in our student body and in our faculty and is committed to providing an education for all of our children that instills in them a respect, understanding and appreciation for the many races, cultures, religions, family structures, and ethnicities that make up our complex and diverse world.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Philadelphia School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Philadelphia School provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws to ensure fair treatment of all applicants and employees. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources department at View email address on click.appcast.io.