School Nurse Job Description

 

Summary

 

Provide specialized school nursing services to protect and promote student health, facilitate optimal development, and advance academic success. The School Health Program provides general nursing services for students enrolled in Carolina International School (CIS). This is an FT permanent 10-month position. The incumbent will provide nursing services for students enrolled in CIS per standards of care approved by the School Health Program. The incumbent must be able to maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external clientele which include diverse groups (e.g. multidisciplinary, multicultural, and multigenerational groups). The incumbent must also be able to function independently under the general supervision and guidance of the Head of School and state’s Regional School Health Nurse. Provide specialized school nursing services to protect and promote student health, facilitate optimal development, and advance academic success with off-site supervision. CIS school nurses provide preventive health services to facilitate students’ optimal physical, mental, emotional, and social growth and development.

 

Incumbents are registered nurses working in the school setting to strengthen and facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children. Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in North Carolina.

 

The RN selected for this position will:

• Work under the general supervision of the Head of School
• Collaborate with school and public health colleagues to provide, manage, promote and coordinate health services at the assigned school
• Assess the physical and psychosocial needs of students and provide direct health services or referrals to address acute and chronic conditions
• Develop individual health care plans and emergency action plans
• Train and delegate health services tasks to unlicensed staff as appropriate
• Provide care coordination services
• Monitor and facilitate student immunization compliance
• Coordinate responses to communicable disease events
• Design, develop and communicate clear, effective health education messages in oral and written formats for individuals and groups
• Document nursing interventions using an electronic documentation system
• Promote the tenets of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach to School Health
• Prepare statistical reports
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures compliance with agency policies, procedures, and protocols, as well as, Board of Nursing laws, rules, and standards.
• Performs specific health care procedures and/or treatments under standing orders or orders from the student’s health care provider.
• Administers daily and PRN (as needed) medications and nursing care procedures prescribed by the student's physician; trains unlicensed assistive personnel to perform delegable tasks, for instances when the nurse is absent or not available.
• Initiates emergency procedures for students and staff as needed.
• Develops emergency action plans (EAP’s) and individual health plans (IHP’s)
• Provides consultation to school teams to assure that medical accommodations are made to support optimal learning (e.g., IEP and Section 504 teams).
• Orients the school staff and teaches specific medical procedures for students who may have special health care needs that must be addressed in the classroom.
• Assesses compliance with immunization laws and coordinates special immunization clinics for CIS families, as appropriate. provided
• Assumes responsibility for appropriate assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, management, and referral related to student health conditions that occur or become evident at school.
• Provides health counseling/classes and education to students, parents, school staff, and others on nutrition, disease prevention, chronic diseases, healthy lifestyles, and health promotion topics to facilitate responsible decision-making.
• Documents health services per Program policy using an electronic health record system.
• Present, train and maintain appropriate standards from OSHA regarding contact with, and possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious body materials within the school or employment setting.
• Provide health education and anticipatory counseling.
• Follow procedures for suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.
• Act as a liaison between the school, home, public health professionals, health care providers, and other community agencies.
• Coordinates presentations by various agencies and professionals on pertinent health care topics as requested by school staff.
• Maintain school health office equipment and assesses/maintains a stock of consumable supplies.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

• Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of nursing experience, preferably in child health, school health, public health, home health, or emergency nursing.

 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Nursing from an accredited college. If a higher degree in Nursing was conferred w/o a BSN, employment may be possible with the stipulation the incumbent successfully completes course work and exams for Principles and Practices of Public Health Nursing within a year.

 

• Licenses and Certifications: Current NC License to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) issued by the NC Board of Nursing or another Nurse Licensure Compact State. American Heart Association CPR certification must be current; a proof will be required prior to hire.

 

• Equivalent Education & Experience Accepted? No

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Nursing experience within the past 5 years.