Nurse Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) aims to eliminate health-related barriers to learning and promote health equity. OSHW recognizes nursing plays a key role in that aim. Nurse Managers create a collaborative and efficient workplace with attention to quality standards and policies, so all nurses will be able to do their best in caring for our CPS students. The goal is to foster an excellent environment that will support everyone in working to the benefit of our district, our students, our staff, and our community.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the School Nurse Director, the Nurse Manager is responsible for the professional development, supervision, and evaluation of certified school nurses, health service nurses, and licensed practical nurses serving our students and schools. The Nurse Manager supports services and resources related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through collaboration and advocacy, the Nurse Manager supports school system goals and priorities, as well as the mission of the Office of Student Health and Wellness. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for hours worked on a salary basis.

The Nurse Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of 75 or more school assigned nurses
• Develop, implement and monitor the assignment and scheduling of district and agency nurses on a regular and daily basis, including substitute coverage
• Lead and facilitate training/professional development of nurses to enhance their effectiveness and improve their practice
• Collaborate with the Staffing team/Business Operations to screen and hire nurses city-wide, including orientation and mentoring new staff
• Collaborate with the Nurse Manager team to manage the inventory of resources for nurses city-wide
• Assist in the building of a Public Health Nursing Corp to support CPS' short and long term response to COVID-19 and other public health needs which include:
• Oversight of local health protocols within assigned schools/regions including education, tracking, and data/report management
• Tracking student absenteeism
• Investigating unreported COVID cases
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) management, ordering, and distribution
• Conceptualization and implementation of mass vaccination programs and protocols
• Promotion of Healthy CPS initiatives and leading Wellness Teams in Schools
• Analyze health-related data and recommend strategies for improvement
• Cooperate with networks, school, central office management, parents, and other stakeholders to continually improve nurse programming
• Conduct REACH evaluations for Certified School Nurses and assist with performance evaluation for Health Service Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
• Recommend and lead improvements in district-wide nursing practice to ensure alignment with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Framework for 21st-century school nursing practice
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned

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

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing required
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing, Nursing Leadership, Public Administration, or a health-related program preferred
• A current State of Illinois Registered Nurse license and CPR certification
• REACH certification or commitment to complete REACH certification within 18 months from the completion of nursing orientation

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading effective nursing teams, preference for a school environment
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience planning, coordinating, and executing efforts across multiple, regionally dispersed units

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Innovative self-starter with outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
• Superior oral and written communication skills, comfortable presenting professional development
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, combined with strong initiative and a team player attitude
• Ability to communicate and build trusting relationships with key stakeholder groups (e.g. collective bargaining units, building administrators, directors, etc.), especially within CPS
• Commitment to understanding and implementing evolving evidence-based practices in nursing, public health, and medicine
• Dedicated to strengthening nursing culture and competencies through mentorship and professional development

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.

Benefits :

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.