Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse is responsible for providing a full range of professional nursing care services for the District.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

A. Education and Experience:

1. Graduation from an accredited nursing program
2. Experience in a school health office preferred
3. Fluency in Spanish and English preferred

B. Credentials:

1. Registered Professional Nurse (RN) License
2. First Aid, CPR and AED certification preferred
3. Child Hearing and Vision Testing Certification preferred

C. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of professional nursing theory, practice, ethics, and standards of care, including applicable procedures, protocols, and quality standards.
2. Knowledge of pediatric nursing, child and human development, and common childhood health conditions, including infectious diseases and acute and chronic conditions.
3. Knowledge of medical, therapeutic, psychiatric, and clinical nursing interventions, including the ability to analyze and evaluate appropriate care and treatment.
4. Knowledge of medications, including their actions, interactions, uses, side effects, safe administration, and recognition of adverse reactions.
5. Knowledge of emergency care, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), with the ability to respond effectively to medical emergencies.
6. Knowledge of health-related needs of students with disabilities and other specialized health needs, including students receiving special education services and pregnant or parenting students.
7. Knowledge of health-related technology and medical equipment commonly encountered in the school setting, including devices such as insulin pumps and nebulizers.
8. Knowledge of community resources and support systems available to children and families, with the ability to connect students and families to appropriate services.
9. Skill in conducting health screenings and assessments, including vision, hearing, height/weight, otoscopy, audiometry, tympanometry, and other required school health screenings.
10. Skill in physical assessment and clinical observation, including blood pressure, skin color, breath sounds, blood glucose assessment, lice screening, and recognition of changes in student health status.
11. Ability to establish therapeutic, supportive, and empathetic relationships with students and families, including listening effectively and assisting them in meeting health needs and carrying out prescribed treatments.
12. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including accurate documentation, report writing, and communication of health information to appropriate stakeholders.
13. Ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams, fostering cooperation, trust, shared responsibility, and coordinated student care.
14. Ability to demonstrate cultural responsiveness and work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and personal backgrounds.
15. Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment, including effective use of technology and demonstration of professional judgment, conduct, and role-modeling.

Essential Functions:

1. Provides direct nursing care and assessment to students, including first aid, dressing changes, physical assessment, monitoring of health conditions, and other nursing interventions consistent with professional standards and physician orders.
2. Responds to medical emergencies and urgent student health needs, implementing appropriate emergency procedures, interventions, and follow-up.
3. Administers and supervises the administration of medications and prescribed treatments, including controlled medications, blood glucose monitoring, dietary orders, and other physician-directed interventions; maintains appropriate medication security and documentation.
4. Conducts, coordinates, and supervises required student health screenings, including vision, hearing, tympanometry, height and weight/growth, scoliosis, and other required or indicated screenings.
5. Interprets screening results and health assessment data, determines the need for rescreening or referral, and monitors students requiring ongoing follow-up.
6. Reviews student health histories and medical information, including immunization records, health examinations, medical documentation, and other information necessary to identify student health needs and meet applicable requirements.
7. Establishes, maintains, reviews, and updates student health records, documenting nursing assessments, interventions, treatments, medications, referrals, and other required health information.
8. Develops, implements, reviews, and updates Individual Health Plans, emergency action plans, and other student-specific health plans based upon identified student needs.
9. Gathers, reviews, interprets, and communicates relevant health information for IEPs, IFSPs, student support processes, and specialized-program eligibility, and participates as a member of multidisciplinary teams.
10. Communicates and collaborates with students, families, staff, healthcare providers, and community partners to coordinate care, appropriately exchange health information, and support continuity of services.
11. Provides health counseling, consultation, and education to students and families regarding individual health needs, prescribed treatments, preventive care, and other health-related concerns.
12. Provides health education and training to students and staff on school and community health topics, including bloodborne pathogens, hygiene, puberty, and other identified health needs.
13. Provides clinical direction, supervision, and training to health assistants and other designated staff regarding student health plans, medication administration, first aid, blood glucose monitoring, and other delegated health services.
14. Facilitates referrals and connections to community health, medical, dental, and other support resources, assisting families in overcoming barriers to accessing services when appropriate.
15. Monitors the quality and effectiveness of student health services, including observation and evaluation of care, follow-up of identified concerns, and implementation of appropriate improvements.
16. Maintains required health-related reports, records, and documentation, including applicable State, District, programmatic, and third-party billing records.
17. Maintains a safe, clean, organized, and appropriately supplied health-services environment, including necessary medications, equipment, and health supplies.
18. Maintains professional competence and awareness of current school health practices and local, State, and national health requirements and concerns through professional development, training, and ongoing learning.
19. Performs other related duties as assigned.