Itinerant School Nurse

SCHOOL NURSE

POSITION: Itinerant School Nurse

PRIMARY

LOCATION: School Nurses will provide health care support at additional school locations as needed for required health services of students.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors Degree in nursing, RN license, West Virginia School Nurse Certification, 2 years nursing experience preferred.

EMPLOYMENT

TERM: 200 Days

ROLE: School nurses strengthen and facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children and by identification and assistance in the removal or modification of health-related barriers to the learning process for individual children. The major focus of school nursing services is the prevention of illness and disability and the early detection and correction of health problems while maintaining strict confidentiality. The school nurse may provide direct or indirect medical services to students and oversee others trained to do so. The school nurse is responsible for upgrading and maintaining professional skills.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

1. Promotes and protects the optimal health status of children.
2. Provides health assessments.

1. Obtains a health and developmental history, as needed.
2. Screens and evaluates some health issues such as vision.
3. Observes the child for development and health patterns in making nursing

assessment and nursing diagnosis.

1. Identifies deviant health findings and makes appropriate referrals.

1. Develops and implements a health plan, as needed.

1. Interprets the health status of pupils to parents and school personnel.
2. Initiates referrals to parents, school personnel and community health

resources for intervention, remediation, and follow through.

1. Provides on-going health counseling with pupils, parents, school

personnel, and health agencies.

1. Recommends and helps to implement modification of school programs

to meet students' health needs.

1. Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of students

SCHOOL NURSE (CONT'D)

1. Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual

needs of students.

1. Participates as the health team specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the Individual Education Plan (IEP), as needed.
2. Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with special health needs, including the administration of medication.
3. Participates in home visits to assess the family's needs as related to the child's health.
4. Develops procedures and provides for crisis intervention for acute illness, injury, and emotional disturbances.
5. Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventive immunization programs, early detection, surveillance, and reporting of contagious diseases.
6. Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning.
7. Provides health education which may include:
8. Teach parenting skills as they relate to child development and health needs

of children

1. Provides direct health education and health counseling to assist students and

families in making decisions on health and lifestyles that affect health

1. Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of

health by teaching persons to become more assertive health consumers and to


assume greater responsibility for their own health

1. Counsels with students concerning problems such as pregnancy, sexually

transmitted diseases, mental health issues, and substance abuse in order to


facilitate responsible decision-making practices

1. Serves as a resource person to the classroom teacher and administrator in

health instruction and as a member of the health curriculum development


committees

1. Coordinates school and community health activities and serves as a liaison person between the home, school, and community.
2. Acts as a resource person in promoting health careers.
3. Provides health counseling for staff.
4. Provides leadership and/or support for staff wellness programs.
5. Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health problems and school nursing practices.
6. Assists in the formation of health policies, goals, and objectives for the school district.