Lead Nurse Support Specialist/School Nurse Leader

Qualifications: The School Nurse Leader must have a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts; possess a minimum of a baccalaureate in nursing from an accredited nursing program (a master's degree in nursing or related field is preferred); be licensed as a certified school nurse by the Massachusetts Department of Education; have a minimum of 5 years of experience in school nursing or a related field, one of which is in a management position; maintain certification in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, including AED training. Must be familiar with student information systems and comfortable with data collection, management, and reporting. Capable of tracking trends, activities and outcomes. Comfortable providing directed feedback and working collaboratively to strengthen the provision of health services in Billerica Public Schools. Responsibilities: The School Nurse Leader manages the total school health service program, providing nursing leadership within the school system, and preparing and administering the health services budget. Must prepare a needs assessment for the CSHS grant using available demographic, health, school system, and community data to identify the health needs of the student population. Plans and implements programs and supports overall student health and healthy living initiatives. S/he works with nurses, students, staff, administrators, parents, and community agencies to attain the desired outcome of continuously improving Billerica's Health Services Department, and to support the development of a highly professional school nurse role within Billerica Public Schools. The Lead Nurse communicates with the school physician on a regular basis to manage standing orders, organize physicals as is appropriate, and initiate consultation of medical concerns. Collaborates and cultivates positive linkages with other members of school health services, the health education team, the DPH's school health advisory committee, the local board of health, and other community organizations and coalitions.. Applies for and maintains registration permitting delegation of prescription medications to unlicensed properly trained school personnel as well as the registration for training school personnel to administer epinephrine to students with life threatening allergic conditions to ensure needs of students served under these medication administration plans are met. Coordinates supply maintenance, inventory, and acquisition. Interviews, orients, assigns, and supervises qualified personnel to implement the school health program. Develops and implements written policies and protocols (with staff assistance) for the clinical services and programs addressing health issues. Acts as a resource for interdisciplinary teams to ensure that integrated systems are in place which address the comprehensive health needs of the student population.. Provides leadership in school-based and community emergency response, bioterrorism, and pandemic planning efforts which may include becoming certified in the NIMS (National Incident Management System) and ICS (Incident Command System), and becoming linked to the Health and Homeland Alert Network (HHAN) for emergency planning and preparedness. Develops and implements documentation systems at both the individual student and programmatic level. Organizes all aspects of flu clinics and mandatory health screenings, including: scheduling, billing, reimbursement, ordering, staffing, advertising, and administration. Promotes positive linkages and referral mechanisms to community providers for a range of services dealing with child and adolescent health. Coordinates ongoing professional development and facilitates workshops for health services staff that extends nurses' knowledge and application of best practices in school nursing, and maintains and expands clinical skills; encourages staff to participate in pertinent conferences and workshops addressing a range of school health issues; and provides ongoing formal and informal feedback to staff about their progress in achieving the goals of the program, encouraging their continued educational and professional development. The lead nurse may perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Services and/or PE, Health/Wellness Coordinator Salary based on Teacher contract salary schedule, which can be found at: Go to collective bargaining agreements (BFT -2025-2028 /page 43)