School Nurse

School NurseThe employee identifies and treats health disorders among students and provides instruction in the maintenance of good health and disease prevention. The employee must evaluate the physical conditions of students and refer students to appropriate resources as needed. The school nurse functions independently under state and agency guidelines and policies without on-site supervision. Work is self-directed and clinically autonomous. Supervision may be exercised over volunteers, unlicensed personnel, and/or licensed personnel. To accomplish these responsibilities, the school nurse serves in the roles of program manager/coordinator, case manager/direct care provider, collaborator/advocate, educator, and health counselor for the entire school/school district. Decisions made by this employee require discretionary judgment and analysis. Errors may not be easily discernible and may result in a serious impact on the individual child and others. This employee's work is seldom reviewed while in progress and is performed under general supervision.The school nurse works in the Orange County School Health Program and reports to the School Health Nursing Supervisor. The school nurse will know and comply with OCS policy and procedures. Work requires that the nurse use sound judgment in applying professional standards and guidelines. Problem-solving and critical situation assistance is available by the nursing supervisor or, if unavailable, high-performing colleagues. In addition, the school nurse works as a team member in the assigned school(s) and complies with the directives given by the school principal. Directives, however, must be in line with the essential functions and performance standards for school nurses as well as support professional nursing judgment or legal standards.Illustrative examples of work include developing policies, procedures, and work standards for school health programs; monitoring compliance of school health programs with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies; initiating program changes as needed; managing program allotment efficiently; preparing health reports for supervisor, board of education, and health department; collaborating with other child-support agencies in designing and providing a school health program; negotiating professional and medical services essential to the school health program; providing first aid care and medically prescribed services; maintaining security of school health supplies; serving as a resource person on student health issues; providing staff development on health-related topics for school staff and volunteers; screening and conducting health appraisals for students; providing follow-up evaluations on students as required; recommending corrective action where problems are identified; conducting home visits when appropriate; corresponding with parents on health needs of children; recording immunizations, health findings, and other relevant health data; and other duties as assigned.The complex role of the school nurse demands an understanding and knowledge of community, including community as a system and aggregates as clients, community assessment, and community resources; pediatric/adolescent nursing; human growth, development, and learning; public health/community health nursing; professional nursing practice including nursing process, effective communication/documentation, professional conduct/ethics, and reflection/professional growth; health counseling, mental health and crisis intervention; communicable disease management; applicable laws, regulations and standards pertaining to school nurse practice; school health law; special education legislation and services; case finding, case management and health advocacy; program management, including staff supervision; family theory, assessment and intervention; leadership, networking, collaboration, and client advocacy; ethnic and cultural sensitivity and competence; contemporary health and psychosocial issues that influence children, families and the community; health care delivery systems and the concepts of the primary health care; building student, staff and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning; school as a non-traditional health care setting; development, management and evaluation of school health programs; and environmental health within the school community.Skills related to this important role include the ability to plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others; deal tactfully with others and exercise good judgment in appraising situations, making decisions, and providing nursing care; make independent and timely nursing decisions and triage into priorities; secure the cooperation and respect of students, faculty and staff; elicit needed information and maintain effective working relationships; utilize effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills; collect data to direct evidence-based practice; record accurately services rendered and interpret and explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions; and identify health-related barriers to learning.At a minimum, the school nurse is expected to attend the New School Nurse Orientation and follow-up session (new school nurses); address the six core functions as identified in the School Nurse Funding Initiative; collect data for the NC DHHS School Health Nursing Survey and Program Summary (end of year report); obtain necessary knowledge, skills and CEU's to maintain credentials; work independently in an uncontrolled environment; follow the Orange County Schools (OCS) policies, procedures and protocols as set forth in the School Health Program Manual(s), OCS/OCHD Memorandum of Agreement, and OCS Employee Handbook, and the NC Nurse Practice Act as well as other applicable state and federal statutes; maintain necessary mental and physical health to effectively make sound nursing assessments/judgments; function with precision, exactness, and accuracy at all times; and operate as an inter-disciplinary manager and team member.Job qualifications include a registered nurse, currently licensed in North Carolina; current valid driver's license; two year clinical experience as RN under supervision. Highly recommended are BSN/BS or more advanced nursing education; a minimum of 3 years RN nursing experience dealing with young children and adolescents (ages 3-21); and public health nursing experience.