Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

School-Based Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

The school-based Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides direct health care, personal care, and daily living support to students under the direction and supervision of the school nurse or designated health services supervisor. The CNA supports the delivery of student health services by implementing assigned portions of individual health care plans, providing first aid and other routine health services within the scope of the CNA's training and certification, performing appropriately delegated nursing tasks, monitoring and reporting student health observations to the school nurse, and assisting with health-related procedures as authorized.

The CNA assists the school nurse with the delivery and coordination of health services by maintaining accurate and confidential student health records, obtaining required health information and documentation from parents/guardians, maintaining health room supplies and equipment, supporting health screenings and other health-related activities, and providing clerical and administrative assistance. The position may also be responsible for monitoring the readiness and operational status of designated emergency equipment, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), in accordance with district procedures.

The CNA works collaboratively with the school nurse, administrators, teachers, paraeducators, families, and other school personnel to support student health, safety, and access to educational opportunities. The CNA performs assigned health-care and nursing tasks only when authorized, appropriately trained, and competent to perform the task and in accordance with Washington State law, district policies and procedures, individual health care plans, and the direction of the school nurse. The position does not independently diagnose, assess, or make nursing judgments regarding student health needs. Changes in a student's health condition, concerns requiring clinical judgment, or needs outside the CNA's assigned responsibilities are promptly referred to the school nurse or other appropriately licensed health professional.

Immediate Supervisor: Building Principal and Lead School District Nurse

Required Qualifications:

• Current Washington State Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification in good standing
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, including AED training, or the ability to obtain required certification within a designated period of employment
• Successful completion of required training and demonstrated competency in assigned health-care procedures, including any specialized or delegated procedures required for the position
• Ability to maintain required certifications, training, and competency throughout employment
• Knowledge of basic health, safety, first aid, infection-control, and universal-precaution practices
• Ability to understand and follow individual health care plans, emergency care plans, medication orders, written procedures, and directions provided by the school nurse
• Ability to use computers and district-approved student information and health-record systems
• Ability to work effectively with students with a wide range of physical, developmental, behavioral, and health-care needs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working as a CNA in a school, pediatric, health-care, or community setting
• Experience providing care or working with students with disabilities or medically fragile conditions with complex or specialized health-care needs
• Experience with electronic health records or school student information systems
• Training or experience in specialized health-care procedures commonly required in a school setting

Essential Job-Related Activities:

Student Health and Personal Care

• Provides routine health care, first aid, and personal care to students within the scope of the CNA's training, certification, and assigned responsibilities
• 1:1 Student care: assist medically fragile or special education students who need constant monitoring or help with daily activities during the school day
• Ability to provide compassionate, respectful, and developmentally appropriate care to students while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Implements assigned portions of individual student health care plans and emergency care plans under the direction of the school nurse
• Provides assistance with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, toileting, feeding, mobility, positioning, and other personal care as identified in a student's health care or educational plan
• Provides individualized health support to students with chronic health conditions, disabilities, medically fragile conditions, or other identified health needs
• Responds appropriately to student illness, injury, and health-related emergencies in accordance with district procedures and the direction of the school nurse
• Observes and reports changes in a student's condition, behavior, symptoms, or response to care to the school nurse.
• Ability to work independently within assigned responsibilities while recognizing when a matter requires direction or intervention from the school nurse or supervisor; does not independently diagnose, assess nursing needs, or make decisions requiring professional nursing judgment

Delegated Nursing and Health-Care Procedures

• Performs nursing tasks delegated by the school nurse or other appropriately authorized licensed nurse in accordance with applicable Washington State law, district procedures, and the student's individual health care plan
• Performs assigned health-care procedures only after receiving appropriate instruction, training, and verification of competency
• Follows written directions, health care plans, emergency care plans, medication orders, and established procedures accurately and consistently
• Administers medications only when authorized under applicable law, district policy, medication orders, and the direction or delegation of the school nurse
• Assists with health-care procedures and treatments as assigned and within the CNA's scope of practice and demonstrated competency
• Reports adverse reactions, unexpected results, changes in condition, or concerns regarding delegated tasks immediately to the school nurse
• Recognizes that delegated tasks are student-specific and may only be performed as authorized by the delegating nurse.
• Ability to recognize and promptly report changes in a student's condition, health concerns, or other observations to the school nurse
• Ability to exercise appropriate professional judgment and boundaries

Health Room Operations

• Assists in maintaining a clean, safe, organized, and appropriately supplied health room
• Maintains inventories of health room supplies, equipment, medications, and other materials as assigned
• Monitors expiration dates and reports depleted, expired, damaged, or otherwise unusable supplies and equipment to the school nurse
• Assists with maintaining emergency medical supplies and equipment in accordance with district procedures
• Monitors the assigned school's AED equipment and readiness, including checking equipment status and reporting deficiencies or maintenance needs in accordance with district procedures
• Assists with preparing health supplies, equipment, medications, and student health information for field trips and other school activities as directed
• Follows infection-control, bloodborne-pathogen, universal-precaution, and other health and safety procedures

Student Health Records and Documentation

• Organizes and maintains accurate, timely, and confidential student health records and related documentation as assigned.
• Enters health-related information into district-approved electronic health and student information systems
• Documents health services, first aid, medication administration, delegated procedures, student contacts, and other assigned services in accordance with district procedures
• Maintains confidentiality of student health information in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and district policies
• Assists the school nurse in obtaining and maintaining required health information, immunization records, medication orders, emergency care information, and other health documentation from parents/guardians

Health Services Support

• Assists the school nurse with vision, hearing, and other health screenings and other school health activities as assigned
• Assists with communication and follow-up related to required student health documentation as directed by the school nurse
• Supports communicable-disease prevention and other school health and safety activities as assigned
• Assists the school nurse in preparing health-related materials, reports, forms, lists, and other documentation
• Supports implementation of health-related accommodations and services that allow students to participate safely in the educational program

Communication and Collaboration

• Communicates professionally and respectfully with students, parents/guardians, school staff, health-care providers, and community partners within the scope of assigned responsibilities
• Provides timely information to the school nurse regarding student illness, injury, health concerns, changes in condition, or other observations
• Works collaboratively with teachers, paraeducators, administrators, special education staff, transportation personnel, and other school