NURSE PRACTITIONER (NP) School-Based Health Clinics

Nurse Practitioner (NP) School-Based Health Clinics

Delta Health Center, Inc. (DHC), located in historic Mound Bayou, MS, is one of the nation's oldest community health centers, proudly celebrating 60 years of service to the Mississippi Delta. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), DHC is committed to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare to underserved communities. We serve patients across the Delta with compassion, respect, and a deep sense of community responsibility — and we extend that mission directly into the schools of Sunflower County through our School-Based Health Clinic program.

The School-Based Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides comprehensive, student-centered primary and preventive healthcare services within Sunflower County school-based health clinics operated by Delta Health Center. This advanced practice provider delivers high-quality care to school-age children and adolescents, with an emphasis on preventive medicine, chronic disease management, behavioral health integration, and health education. The NP works in close collaboration with school administrators, nurses, counselors, DHC's supervising physician, and the broader interdisciplinary care team to remove health-related barriers to learning and promote lifelong wellness among Delta youth.

This role reflects DHC's core mission of health equity — bringing quality medical care directly to students who might otherwise face significant access barriers in one of the most medically underserved regions in the United States.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Primary & Preventive Care: Deliver comprehensive primary care to students within the school-based clinic, including well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, and health screenings.
• Acute Care Management: Diagnose and treat acute illnesses, injuries, and infections presenting in the school environment, with appropriate referral and follow-up coordination.
• Chronic Disease Management: Manage chronic conditions common in the student population including asthma, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, ADHD, and anxiety/depression in collaboration with DHC's care team and supervising physician.
• Sports & Pre-Participation Physicals: Conduct athletic physicals and clearance evaluations for student participation in school sports and extracurricular activities.
• Screenings: Perform and coordinate vision, hearing, developmental, and behavioral health screenings with appropriate follow-up for identified concerns.
• Behavioral Health Screening: Administer and interpret validated screening tools (e.g., PHQ-A, CRAFFT, SDOH screeners) and facilitate warm hand-offs to behavioral health staff.
• Mental Health First Response: Provide initial assessment and stabilization for students presenting with mental health concerns and facilitate timely referrals to behavioral health providers.
• Trauma-Informed Care: Apply trauma-informed principles in all patient interactions, with sensitivity to the social, economic, and environmental stressors faced by Delta students and families.
• History & Physical: Conduct thorough patient histories, physical examinations, and risk assessments appropriate for pediatric and adolescent populations.
• Diagnostic Ordering: Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic studies within NP scope of practice and school-based clinic protocols.
• Prescriptive Authority: Prescribe medications in accordance with DHC formulary, clinic policy, collaborative practice agreement, and Mississippi state law.
• Student & Family Education: Provide culturally sensitive health education to students and families on nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, substance use prevention, and mental wellness.
• School Staff Collaboration: Partner with teachers, counselors, coaches, and school nurses to identify at-risk students and integrate health into the broader school environment.
• Community Outreach: Participate in school health fairs, parent engagement events, and community initiatives that extend DHC's presence throughout Sunflower County.
• Physician Collaboration: Practice under a collaborative practice agreement with DHC's Medical Director or designated supervising physician in accordance with Mississippi APRN regulations.
• Care Team Integration: Work collaboratively with DHC's primary care team, behavioral health staff, social workers, and care coordinators to ensure continuity of care beyond the school setting.
• Referral Management: Coordinate referrals to specialists, DHC's main clinic, or other community resources as clinically indicated with close follow-up.
• School Administration Liaison: Serve as a clinical resource and partner for school administrators and district health staff on health policy, emergency protocols, and student wellness planning.
• Medical Records: Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) consistent with FQHC, HIPAA, FERPA, and Mississippi state requirements.
• Quality Improvement: Participate in clinical quality improvement initiatives, peer review, and outcome tracking to uphold DHC's standards of care in the school-based setting.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to all applicable HRSA, FTCA, state, and school district policies governing the delivery of healthcare in school settings.
• Credentialing: Maintain all required licensure, national certification, DEA registration, and CME for credentialing in good standing.

Requirements:

• Education: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program. Specialty focus in Family Practice (FNP), Pediatrics (PNP), or Pediatric Primary Care preferred.
• Licensure & Certification: Current, active license to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the State of Mississippi — required. National NP certification from AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) or ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) — required. Current DEA registration or eligibility to obtain — required. Current BLS/CPR certification — required. PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) preferred. Collaborative Practice Agreement with DHC's Medical Director — required prior to independent practice per Mississippi state law.
• Experience: Minimum of one (1) year of clinical NP experience in a primary care, pediatric, or school-based setting preferred. Experience working with pediatric and adolescent populations strongly preferred. Experience in a Community Health Center (CHC), FQHC, or school-based health clinic is highly desirable. New NP graduates with strong pediatric or community health clinical rotations are encouraged to apply.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems; experience with eClinicalWorks or similar platforms preferred. Familiarity with standardized pediatric/adolescent screening tools (PHQ-A, CRAFFT, ACEs, developmental screening instruments). Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Core Competencies: Strong clinical judgment with the ability to manage a wide range of acute and chronic conditions in a school-based environment. Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust with children, adolescents, and their families. Cultural humility and demonstrated commitment to serving diverse, underserved, and rural populations. Ability to work independently on-site at schools while maintaining strong communication with DHC's central care team. Proficiency in a second language — particularly Spanish or other regional languages — is a plus.
• Preferred Experience: Experience practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or safety-net clinical environment. Background working in rural or underserved communities, particularly in the Mississippi Delta region. Familiarity with HRSA UDS reporting, FTCA malpractice coverage, and value-based care models. Experience with telehealth platforms for remote consultations or follow-up care. Knowledge of Section 504 plans, IEPs, or IDEA as they relate to student health needs.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Federal Student Loan Repayment eligibility through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program (FQHC designation).
• Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) malpractice coverage — no tail insurance required.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Paid Time Off (PTO), sick leave, and paid holidays.
• CME allowance and paid CME days for continuing education and certification maintenance.
• Relocation assistance may be available for qualifying candidates.
• Schedule follows the Sunflower County school calendar with flexibility during school breaks.