School Nurse

School Nurse Job

The school nurse is employed by the LEA, McDowell County Schools. The school health program is within the Student Services Program.

Primary Purpose: The professional school nurse is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating school health services within the context of the Coordinated School Health Program Model. The school nurse serves in the roles of program manager/coordinator, case manager/direct care provider, collaborator/advocate, educator and counselor for the school district.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The complex role of the school nurse demands, but is not limited to, and understanding and knowledge of: Community, including the community as a system and aggregates as clients Pediatric/Adolescent Nursing Public Health/Community Health Nursing Health counseling, mental health crisis interventions Communicable Disease Applicable laws, regulations and standards pertaining to school nursing practice (NC Nurse Practice Act, Standards of School Nursing Practice and the Eight components of a Coordinated School Health Program) School Health Law Special education legislation and services Case finding, case management and health advocacy Program Management including personnel supervision Family theory, assessment and intervention Leadership, Networking and collaboration Ethnic and cultural sensitivity and competence Contemporary health and psychosocial issues that influence children, families and the community Health care delivery systems and the concepts of the primary health care Building student, staff and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy and learning School as a non-traditional health care setting Development, management and evaluation of school health programs Environmental health within the school community Skills related to this important role include the ability to: Plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others Deal tactfully with others and exercise good judgment in appraising situations Make independent and timely nursing decisions and to triage Secure the cooperation and respect of students, faculty and staff Elicit needed information and maintain effective working relationships Collect data to direct evidence based practice Record accurately services rendered and interpret and explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions Identify health related barriers to learning (i.e. at risk behaviors, financial, cultural, economical etc.)

Duties, Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions: The professional school nurse within MCS 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 function possible Promote student, staff and community awareness of and participation in health behaviors

The school nurse will provide:

Standards of Care Assessment: Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the client's health or situation

Diagnosis: Analyzes the assessment data to determine the nursing diagnosis or issues

Outcomes Identification: Identifies goals

Planning: Develops a plan, as needed, to obtain goals

Implementation: Implements plans through coordination of care, health teaching and health promotion and consultation to influence the identified plan, enhance the abilities of others and effect change

Evaluation: Evaluates progress towards attainment of outcomes

Standards of Professional Performance

Quality of Practice: Systematically enhances the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice

Education: Attains knowledge and competency that reflects current school nursing practice

Professional Practice Evaluation: Evaluates one's own nursing practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines, relevant statues, rules and regulations

Collegiality: Interacts with and contributes to the professional development of peers and school personnel as colleagues

Collaboration: Collaborates with the client, the family, school staff and others in the conduct of school nursing practice

Ethics: Integrates ethical provisions in all areas of practice

Research: Integrates research findings into practice

Resource Utilization: Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, costs and impact on practice on the planning and delivery of school nursing services

Leadership: Provides leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession

Management: Assists in the management of school health services

Performance and Workload Standards

Attend the New School Nurse Orientation and follow up sessions as indicated Collect data for the NC DHHS School Health Nursing Survey and Program Summary (End of Year Report)

Qualifications: • Required: Registered nurse, currently licensed in North Carolina

• At least two years of experience as a nurse in a hospital or health clinic OR be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center OR the National Board for Certification of School Nurses. • BSN or more advanced nursing education is highly recommended. • If the school nurse is employed by the LEA in a SNFI position, they are mandated to obtain certification within three years.