School Nurse

School Nurse

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected Start Date: October 2, 2026 or as soon as possible

FTE: 1.0

Hours per day: 7.5

Salary Level: Based on preparation level and experience per TEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Range is $73,549 (BA+0 step 1) through $144,248 (MA+90 step 20)

Union/Days per year: Teacher, 182 workdays, 10-month

Benefits: This job has the full range of benefits offered by Tacoma Public Schools.

Additional Information: School Nurse positions are considered Districted Deployed assignments. These positions are subject to change based on the needs of the District. This position is currently anticipated to support Birney, Manitou Park Elementary Schools and Float School Nurse.

Examples Of Duties

This position implements, manages, delivers and monitors school health services in assigned schools and programs; ensures compliance with professional nursing standards, practices and procedures; provides the fullest possible educational opportunity for each District student by minimizing absence due to illness and creating a climate of health and well-being in the District schools; collaborates with health professionals, agencies, staff, administrators, parents, students, and community partners; oversees student health information at assigned schools and programs required by District, state, and federal regulations; provides health education programs according to state law and standards for professional nursing.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Appraises, promotes, and protects the optimal health status of students and staff; gives relevant health instruction and information to individual students and staff; assists in the development of District health and education curricula and integrating health concepts into the total curricula; participates in the development of objectives, standards, and procedures in the school health program and in planning, implementing, and evaluating health services to be provided in each school.
• Assesses the physical and emotional health of students as related to the educational process; manages health concerns within the scope of school nurse practice; initiates referrals for further diagnosis and treatment of identified health needs and provides follow up; coordinates and implements health screenings mandated by law and District policy, including referral and follow up; communicates student health concerns that may impact learning to appropriate staff with parent and/or student consent.
• Obtains a health and developmental history for students, as necessary; uncovers health problems through screening, observations, and interviews; makes appropriate referrals and follow-up; maintains and performs data entry to ensure up-to-date cumulative health records for all students; prepares reports necessary to carry out the activities of the school health program; assists in maintaining all student immunization information; appraises and monitors immunization status of each student.
• Provides individual and/or group health counseling to students, parents, and school personnel; serves as an advocate and resource for the health rights of students and as a professional liaison between the school, family, and the health community; assists students and parents in obtaining adequate medical, dental, and mental health care; maintains confidentiality regarding student and family information; promotes positive health practices through individual contacts and in the classroom; serves as a resource to classroom teachers; models healthful behaviors.
• Identifies students showing evidence of abuse and/or neglect and reports to the administration and proper law enforcement agencies as required by District policy and state law; participates in school/community programs, including but not limited to, those relating to substance abuse and child abuse, which may include education, case finding, intervention, referral, and follow up.
• Performs professional nursing tasks as needed, including, but not limited to, emergency services and supportive care for both staff and students.
• Provides direction to school staff regarding student and/or staff health issues, e.g., communicable disease control and dispensing of medications.
• Provides lead direction to Health Room Assistant Nurses, Health Clerks, and Office Professionals; delegates health services responsibilities; instructs and evaluates the work performance of health room volunteers; acts as a preceptor for nursing students.
• Performs initial and the re-evaluation of Special Education health appraisals and parent interviews; contacts physician to obtain health impairment statements; works as a member of the multidisciplinary assessment team to assess student health status and make appropriate recommendations for modifications of students' individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans; provides for the health needs of medically fragile children in the least restrictive environment in accordance with IEP and 504 requirements; develops student health care plans as needed.
• Administers first aid care in accordance within established guidelines for ill, medically fragile, and injured students; follows -up with parents and school personnel regarding school emergencies.
• Develops protocol and monitors safe administration of medication as mandated by state law and District policy; delegates tasks and presents training to staff including, but not limited to, administration of medication, tube feedings, clean intermittent catheterization, basic coverage/ first aid in the health room, and Careplan review/training.
• Requisitions and replaces health supplies and equipment; oversees maintenance of a sanitary and safe environment in the health room; assists in maintaining order and discipline in the health room.
• Cooperates with administrators, school custodians, and other staff to identify school safety and sanitation needs; assists with the development and implementation of improvements.
• Initiates and/or participates as appropriate in research and data collection related to education and health care services; completing District, state and federal reporting, as necessary.
• Other Job Duties
• Performs nursing procedures as needed, e.g., clean intermittent catheterizations, tube feeding, trach suctioning, administering medications requiring a licensed professional, diabetic care, and delegation. Provides delegation, training, and supervision as appropriate in alignment with District, state, and federal requirements.
• Maintains professional competence through continuing education activities; maintains nursing license, ESA certification, and first aid and CPR certifications; keeps appraised of current legislation pertaining to School Nurse Practice; maintains membership in professional organizations, preferred; attends building staff meetings; participates in staff development training as assigned.
• Performs related duties as assigned by the building principal and/or Administrator of Health Services.
• Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.
• Conditions

Experiences frequent interruptions; may be required to work outdoors in inclement weather; required to deal with distraught parents/students and difficult situations and/or people; may be exposed to infectious diseases and blood-borne pathogens; required to travel between schools; needs to be physically and mentally able to carry out the work; stands, walks, runs, stoops, bends, reaches, squats, and crawls to attend to ill or injured students; lifts up to 25 pounds, and team lift up to 50 pounds, carries, and positions ill and injured students; performs CPR.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university and School Nurse Certification; two years of pediatric, community health nursing, health education, nurse practitioner, or school-based nursing experience, preferred; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Washington State Registered Nurse license.

Washington State ESA School Nurse certificate.

First aid and CPR certificates prior to starting employment.

Valid Washington State driver's license and access to personal transportation.

Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance.

Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of basic first aid and health care practices and procedures, basic symptoms of communicable and other childhood diseases.

Knowledge of basic principles of human growth and development.

Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding students in special education.

Knowledge of professional nursing standards, practices and procedures.

Knowledge of the proper storage, administration and dispensing of over the counter and prescription drugs, including controlled substances.

Skill in assessing and identifying student health problems and ability to interpret these problems to parents and school staff.

Skill in demonstrating sensitivity to the special needs of students and showing interest in working with children.

Skills that are well developed in human relations required for communicating and dealing with diverse Students.

Skill in exercising patience when conveying information to students having difficulty with verbal and written communications.

Skill in oral and written interpersonal communication.

Skills with efficient and effective use of personal computer and applicable software.

Ability to communicate competently with tact and to listen effectively