School Nurse - Systemwide

SUBJECT: SCHOOL NURSE REPORTS TO: COORDINATOR OF SCHOOL NURSES LOCATION: TO BE DETERMINED ACCOUNTABILITY OBJECTIVE: School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that is accountable for the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaption, self- management, self-advocacy and learning. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (to be included along with other responsibilities) 1. Organizes and implements state-mandated programs such as immunization surveillance and screening programs: completes and submits state-mandated reports and surveys as required by M.D.P.H. 2. Promotes positive safety practices and models best strategies for hygiene and injury prevention. 3. Collaborates with school administrators and personnel in assessing and improving the social and emotional climate of students and faculty. 4. Utilizes a distinct knowledge base for decision making in nursing practice. 5. Utilizes effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills. 6. Collects information about health and development status of the student. 7. Develops a nursing diagnosis and care plan for students with specific health needs. 8. Carries out appropriate referral and follow- up care. 9. Provides medically prescribed interventions, which includes medications administration and nursing procedures. 10.Collaborates with school guidance department. 11.Identifies, delineates, and clarifies the nursing role, promotes quality of care, and demonstrates professional conduct. 12.Collaborates with other professionals, team members and community providers in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating program s and the other school health activities. 13.Establishes a process to identify students at risk for physical and psychosocial problems. 14.Identifies health related needs for student be reviewed for I.E.P. 's. Completes and submits, attends and participates in team/parent meetings. 15.Collects data of relevant health information, end of the month reports and annual reports of significant areas of health/safety concerns. 16.Serves as a member of pertinent committees and teams supporting the school. (Crisis Intervention Teams; Support Groups for students dealing with divorce, trauma or death; Health Advisory; etc.). 17.Serves as a liaison among school, home community health agencies and other healthcare professionals. 18.Serves as a resource to the administration on environmental health and safety issues. 19.Assumes responsibility for continuing own education, meeting requirements for recertification with D.O.E., R.N. license renewal and recertification for National School Nurse Certification (if currently board certified. 20.Obtains expert consultation, supervision and peer review as needed. 21.Maintains ongoing consultation with school physician regarding student health issues; in addition to consultation with individual student's health care providers (physician, dentist, and counselor). 22.Provides first aid care to students and staff. 23.Utilizes written and EHR (Electronic Health Record) to documents student health history and on- going health issues and nursing interventions. 24.Maintain confidentiality of student records in accordance with FERPA/HIPAA regulations. 25.Responsible for assuring equal educational opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, marital status, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability. 26.Performance of other job-related duties as assigned. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Must have a valid license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 71, s. 53) 2. Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a college or university program in nursing accredited by the National League for Nursing. (unless grand fathered by D.O.E.) 3. Hold a MA DESE License in School Nurse All Levels 4. Maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a recognized provider (i.e. American Red Cross, American Heart) and obtain a certification in First Aid. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Demonstrated experience supporting students with special needs 2. Ability to speak Albanian, Arabic, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese or an African Language. 3. Demonstrated experience with second language acquisition WORK YEAR: 185 days. SALARY: Commensurate with experience. TO APPLY: Any person interested in this position should apply on-line at This deadline does not preclude further advertisement or recruitment.