School Nurse

School Nurse

Position Goals: To assist the Supervisor of School Health in the development, implementation and evaluation of school health services in order to develop a school environment in which each student can reach his or her maximum level of well-being and educational potential.

Essential Functions: Other duties may be assigned. The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following fundamental duties:

• Assists district administrators, school physician consultant and wellness committee members in developing and optimizing the school health program.
• Promotes and protects the health status of all students and staff.
• Completes health assessments
• Obtains and reviews a holistic health and developmental history for each student
• Screens and evaluates findings of deficit in vision, hearing, scoliosis, and growth.
• Observes students on a regular basis for development and health patterns in making nursing assessments and nursing diagnoses.
• Identifies students with health needs.
• CRNP only: Completes state-mandated, working paper and sports physicals using basic skills of inspection palpation, percussion, auscultation and with the appropriate tools.
• Recognizes normal and abnormal physical findings which require medical consultation
• Maintains current and cumulative health records for each student.
• Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
• Reviews and interprets reports and results of tests as provided by school district personnel and private health care providers.
• Notes health problems in terms of nursing diagnoses on the permanent health record.
• Develops and implements health plans
• Interprets the health status of students to parents and district personnel
• Initiates referrals to parents / guardians, district personnel, and community health providers and resources for intervention, remediation and follow-through.
• Differentiates between situations to be referred to primary health care provider and emergency personnel.
• Provide on-going health counseling with students, parents/guardians, district personnel, and health providers.
• Incorporates student and family culture, resources, skills and needs in planning and implementing student health care plans.
• Recommends and helps to implement modification of school programs to meet student's health needs.
• Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care to students.
• Evaluates student and family response to interventions within student health care plan.
• Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to assist with the development of the Individualized Education Plan and Chapter 15 (504) plan.
• Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with special health needs.
• Follows procedures and provides for basic and crisis intervention for acute illness, injury and mental health concerns.
• Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventative immunization programs, early detection, surveillance and reporting of contagious diseases.
• Completes annual state immunization reports and provides information regarding provisional enrollments to district administrators as directed.
• Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning.
• Provides health education.
• Provides direct health education and health counseling to assist students, families and staff in making decisions on health and lifestyles that affect health.
• Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching students, families and staff to become more assertive health consumers and to develop responsible self-care habits.
• Counsels students, families and staff concerning social, physical and mental health issues in order to facilitate responsible decision-making practices.
• Serves as a resource person to the classroom teacher and administrators in health instruction and health curriculum and as a member of the wellness committee.
• Annually reviews and continuously follows standing medication orders from the School Physician Consultant
• Participates in home visits to assess the family's needs as related to the child's health.
• Coordinates school and community health activities and serves as a liaison person between the home, school and community.
• Provides leadership and/ or support for staff wellness programs.
• Supervises performance of the health assistant in the areas of screenings (except for scoliosis), first aid, and clerical tasks.
• Assists in ordering and receiving medical and paper supplies
• Prepares monthly, annual and other reports as required by the Supervisor of School Health.
• Prepares and submits accident reports.
• Prepares and submits child abuse reports.
• Assists with the implementation of the Reading School District dental health program
• Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practices.
• Assists in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for the school district.
• Acts as a mentor and preceptor for the various student nurse training cooperative agreements with the Reading School District.
• Acts as a resource person in promoting health careers.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Physical Requirements: Standing for extended periods of time. Sitting at a desk/table for extended periods of time. Frequent bending, stooping, twisting, reaching, grasping. Light lifting up to 25 pounds. High level of manual dexterity. Use of hands for fine motor activity.

Qualification Requirements: To performs this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and / or Experience: Bachelor's Degree, in Nursing Science preferred Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid nursing license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Nursing Valid school nurse certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education Valid certified nurse practitioner license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Nursing. Valid Pennsylvania driver's license Current CPR /AED certification

Language Skills: Ability to communicate clearly and distinctly in person and via phone. Ability to read, analyze and interpret policy and procedure manuals, professional journals, governmental regulations and legal documents. Ability to read, write and maintain records and reports. Ability to read and write correspondence with parents / guardians, various district personnel, health care providers and community liaisons. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students and parents / guardians, building staff, peers, various district personnel and administrators. Ability to coordinate activities with related and specialist staff.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions for practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form.

Evaluation: The employee will be formally supervised and evaluated with regard to his/her duties on a regular basis by the Building Principal or his / her designee. The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district administrator designated as immediate supervisor of the position, of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required. The information contained in this job descriptions is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. The Reading School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.