School Nurse

School Nurse

This professional school nursing position within Nash County Public Schools is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating school health services that:

• Maximize the quantity of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism;
• Eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning;
• Promote the highest degree of independent functioning possible; and
• Promote student, staff and community awareness of and participation in healthy behaviors.

Additional duties may be assigned.

Applies nursing practice to the unique and diverse needs of individuals, groups, and populations of schools.

Promotes, implements, and upholds the values and ethics of the nursing profession and professional standards of nursing practice as established by the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act and rules.

Follows federal, state and local health practice statutes, district policies, procedures and administrative guidelines.

Serves as a medical resource and health and safety advocate for students and staff.

Assumes the responsibility of health assessment, healthcare planning, intervention and implementation of healthcare services, evaluation, case management, referral and follow-up for students.

Plays a key role in identifying healthcare needs, safety concerns, availability of health services, resources and treatment measures.

Provides instruction, counseling, training and guidance in the maintenance of good health practices and communicable diseases' prevention.

Serves as a direct link between the student, family, healthcare provider and community agency in securing access to health services and in assuring continuity of healthcare delivery for students.

Collaborates with families, school staff and various disciplines within the school setting and with outside agencies, providers, and/or organizations to identify, minimize, eliminate and/or manage health-related barriers to student-learning in the academic setting.

Functions independently under state and local education agency guidelines and policies without on-site supervision.

Works self-directed and clinically autonomous.

Educates, delegates, trains and supervises unlicensed personnel in safely delivering healthcare services to students with special needs.

Duties will vary depending upon the needs of the individual school population; however, the purpose of the school nurse position remains the same. Specific duties fall into the following general categories:

Case Manager/Direct Provider of School Health Services

• Identifies students with special healthcare needs as defined by Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools procedures.
• Develops emergency action plans (EAPs) for students at risk of medical crises at school or during a school-related function.
• Develops and monitors individual health care plans (IHPs) for students requiring invasive procedures and medical treatments performed, medication administered and adaptations and adjustments to the learning environment.
• Supervises the management of students with complex health needs.
• Determines the tasks that may be appropriately delegated to unlicensed persons on an individualized student basis.
• Records immunizations, health findings and other relevant health data.
• Conducts home visits when appropriate.
• Orders, stocks and maintains security of school health supplies.
• Coordinates the provision of first-aid supplies for first responders, diabetic care managers and school staff, e.g. disposable gloves, Band-Aids, sharps containers, first-aid bags and personal protective equipment.
• Health-related consultation as a member of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team.
• Consultation and recommendations in the planning and development of accommodation plans for Section 504 eligible students.
• Task- and healthcare-related training for student healthcare and safety.
• On-going supervision of the delegated staff to assure staff effectiveness and student safety.
• Assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, management, referral and follow-up for the care of students with identified medical conditions.
• Review of and follow-up for immunizations and pre-kindergarten and kindergarten health appraisals.
• Health screening and appraisals within the realm of professional nursing licensure for student referrals; e.g., exceptional children's program, student support team evaluations, identified health conditions or suspected health-related problems.
• Vision and hearing screening
• Mass screening as determined by state guidelines and local staffing.
• Individual screening upon referral by teachers, parents, the exceptional children's program, students, other programs and local education agency need.

Program Manager/Coordinator of Student Healthcare

• Assists in the development or revision of policies, procedures, health-related administrative guidelines and best-practice work standards for the school health program adhering to the legal and regulatory requirements and ethical standards of nursing practice.
• Assesses plans and evaluates the health services component of the coordinated school health program.
• Implements communicable disease control strategies, including monitoring and providing surveillance and participates in disease prevention and outbreak management.
• Serves as school health consultant school staff, students, their parents and families, interpreting health mandates, health information, recommendations and trends.
• Monitors compliance with state immunization and health assessment requirements.
• Serves as liaison between the school and local and regional health service agencies/providers.
• Functions as facilitator for access to healthcare resources and services in the local community and regional area.
• Develops, integrates and monitors the school's process for identifying students with special healthcare needs.
• Provides assessment, care planning, referral and follow-up for students with known and suspected healthcare needs.
• Collaborates with school support staff; healthcare providers; regional, local and community agencies and organizations to meet the healthcare needs of students.
• Serves on school and community committees and task forces as a healthcare advisor, student advocate, facilitator and promoter for student and staff health, safety and wellness.
• Seeks local and regional health resources and obtains local education agency approval for their use in the school setting.
• Participates in the development and implementation of health promotion activities.
• Assures compliance with state and local documentation and reporting standards.
• Assists in the development of staff training protocols and programs pertinent to student healthcare management; provides such training with follow-up compliance and surveillance procedures for effectiveness monitoring purposes.
• Participates in the development of school-based emergency health and crises plans.
• Supervises health professionals, volunteers and non-health professionals within the scope of a licensed registered nurse and the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act and rules.

Collaborator/Advocate, Educator and Counselor

• Interprets student health needs to school staff and facilitates understanding of and adjustments to changes and limitations.
• Utilizes various communication methods to students and their parents/legal guardians, including but not limited to written and computerized methods, verbal contacts and home visits to provide and/or obtain healthcare information, encourage follow-through of referrals and secure needed care and/or services.
• Educates students, staff, parents and/or legal guardians regarding medication administration, medical procedures needed at school, acute and/or chronic illness management, prevention and control of communicable diseases, emergency healthcare provisions and other health-related issues.
• Provides health counseling for students develops and/or facilitates health- oriented support groups.
• Promotes health through education, advocacy and counseling.
• Serves as consultant and resource for health, safety, communicable diseases' control and wellness promotion.
• Serves as healthcare resource for special programs; e.g., exceptional children's program, healthy active children policy, the school health advisory council and the coordinated school health program.
• Provides information regarding the availability of community and regional resources and assistance to families in the utilization of healthcare management and treatment services.
• Presenter for classes in grades four and five on puberty and growing up, following guidelines of the healthful living curriculum.
• Conducts health, safety, wellness and communicable diseases prevention instruction, presentations and workshops for parents, school staff, students and community organizations within the realm of local Board of Education policy, state and federal guidelines; e.g., parent-teacher organizations, staff meetings, student classes, clubs, organizations and groups.
• Develops and annually conducts training for school staff on blood borne pathogens, diabetes awareness and care of students with diabetes, role of the school nurse, student referral process, medication administration, management of students with chronic illnesses and other topics pertinent to the school health program.