School Nurse

Registered Nurse

Under limited supervision, administers medical assistance and first aid to students and emergency assistance to faculty according to school health program procedures prescribed by the District. Maintains student health records; performs limited health counseling services; refers students and their parents to community agencies and professionals as appropriate. Reports to the District Coordinator of Nursing Services for clinical supervision and performance evaluation and the Principal for administrative supervision.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manages health room; sees ill and injured students on a walk-in basis and handles medical emergencies.
• Notifies parents or physicians, as necessary, in cases requiring medical attention; summons ambulance if necessary.
• Schedules and helps to conduct physical assessments, which includes appropriate vital signs, hearing, vision, blood pressure and dental screening tests, documenting the results.
• Determines if further medical consultation or treatment is necessary or advisable, and follows through as needed.
• Counsels and educates students about their health problems or conditions, disease prevention, hygiene and health maintenance; educates faculty and staff about health conditions and special medical procedures as necessary.
• Administers prescription and non-prescription medications as directed by licensed healthcare provider and parent; supervises assisting with administration of medication by other designated District employees.
• Looks for conditions which might indicate the presence of communicable diseases; alerts faculty, parents, physicians and public health authorities when necessary.
• Reports suspected child abuse/sexual abuse/neglect to the Department of Social Services when necessary.
• Coordinates health services and promotions with community health agencies, including vaccinations.
• Maintains accurate, complete and confidential individual health records of students using the computerized School Health Management Program (SNAP), by promptly documenting nursing services provided and manually document when electronic system is unavailable.
• Develop Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) using nursing language to direct nursing care for students with handicapping or chronic health conditions, as well as, Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) written in lay language to guide the response of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in a health-related emergency for all eligible students with chronic illnesses.
• Makes decisions related to the appropriate delegation of healthcare tasks as directed by South Carolina laws and professional practice guidance.
• Participates in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, Response to Intervention (RTI) meetings and 504 meetings when appropriate.
• Generates monthly Medicaid Billing and reviews Medicaid documents when appropriate.
• Orders and maintains inventory of health room supplies and equipment.
• May serve as site coordinator for staff wellness programs; obtains literature and shows films pertaining to health.
• Makes hospital and home visits as appropriate; attends placement meetings for students assessed.
• Collaborates with corporate, community and hospital systems to coordinate health care for students.
• Makes medical and dental appointments for students and arranges transportation as necessary.
• Conducts informational / support meetings for students and parents.
• Keeps abreast of developments and innovations in the nursing/medical profession.
• Uses a computer to retrieve and record student information and to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Receives, reviews, prepares and/or submits various records and reports including health screening data, health records, laboratory reports, immunization records, physicians' statements, accident/injury reports, student health records, referrals, supply requests, monthly and annual reports, permission forms, training reports, memos, correspondence, etc.
• Operates a variety of equipment such as a computer, typewriter, telephone, calculator, vehicle, audiometer, blood pressure cuff, scoliometer, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, scales, stethoscope, thermometer, vision occluder, etc.
• Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as the immediate supervisor, principal and other administrators, co-workers, teachers, other school / District personnel, students, parents, community health and service agencies, Department of Social Services personnel, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, medical and dental professionals, emergency medical personnel, etc.
• Provides emergent medical care to faculty and staff.

Additional Job Functions:

• Provides annual OSHA training to staff members as assigned school.
• Stocks health room supplies.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Training and Experience:

Requires an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in nursing supplemented by one (1) or more years of recent nursing experience, preferably in an educational settings, pediatric nursing, public health nursing, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Must be a Registered Nurse, licensed by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing; must possess CPR/AED certification.

Physical Requirements:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including a computer, telephone, vehicle, health assessment equipment, etc. Must be able to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; work involves walking or standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of up to thirty-five pounds and to apply physical restraint when necessary.

Data Conception:

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications:

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions to students and other District personnel and receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor.

Language Ability:

Requires ability to read a variety of laws, policies and procedures, medical reference books, health records and publications, etc. Requires the ability to prepare routine records and reports, correspondence, recommendations, etc. with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence and articulate information to others.

Intelligence:

Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form. Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and implement basic office machinery and medical equipment functions.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions; to counsel and teach students. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including medical, counseling, etc.

Numerical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to utilize mathematical formulas, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time and weight. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, and to use descriptive statistics.

Form/Spatial Aptitude:

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape; identify degrees of similarity and difference; and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination:

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes accurately in using office and medical machinery; to operate motor vehicles.

Manual Dexterity:

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, medical equipment, etc. Must have moderate levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination:

Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament:

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations, unusual or dangerous situations, or tight deadlines. Worker may be subject to danger or risk to a moderate degree or to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job. Physical Communications: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).