LPN - School Health

Provision of tasks or activities and daily health room function is under the direction of the school registered nurse consistent with Florida Statutes and the Board of Nursing regulations. This position assists in implementing the medical components of an integrated school health program, reporting and functioning under the auspices of the Health Care District School Health Nursing Supervisor for all clinical and employee issues. The School Health Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will be under the general supervision of the school-based Principal for non-clinical matters.

The role of the School Health LPN is to advance the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement of the students. Employees in this class perform duties in accordance with established regulations, policies, nursing standards, and medical instructions.

Essential Functions

• Maintains appropriate certifications, licenses, and continuing education credits.
• Provides a student-centered approach to care for all students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 in the school setting.
• Provides first aid and injury care to students with urgent health needs.
• Manages health room (first aid, office, medical) supply inventory and equipment.
• Provides triage and treatment (as needed) to students with symptoms of potential communicable disease.
• Reports diagnosed or suspected communicable diseases to the Department of Health.
• Maintain infection control and use of PPE as directed per School Health guidelines.
• Counsels parent/guardian as to child's health needs.
• Case manages students with chronic health conditions, providing school-based services related to student-specific health care plans.
• Implements individualized health care plans for students with chronic health conditions as needed.
• Serves as a team member with other school-based staff, professionals, students and parents in developing and implementing individual Education Plan (IEP’s) for ESE students and 504 plans for eligible students.
• Initiates, develops and maintains student health records utilizing the electronic School Health medical record system.
• Provides information concerning programs available for children with chronic health problems or disabling, and/or terminal illnesses.
• Liaises with hospital-based staff for students receiving long term hospitalization with a view to transitioning to hospital homebound care, prior to re-entry into school.
• Under the direction of the RN, administers medications and provide treatments to students prescribed by a licensed health care provider with parental consent in accordance with established protocols and care plans.
• Identifies high-risk students and liaises with school administrator and staff in the coordination of school-based care and activities requiring health-related support.
• Works closely with the School District Data Processors providing guidance and technical assistance in the identification of students that are non-compliant with established immunization and health assessment requirements.
• Counsels parents on child-specific health needs referring to health care provider or community agencies as needed.
• Conducts state mandated health screenings - vision, hearing and body-mass-index (BMI); may assist the RN in conducting state mandated scoliosis screenings. Provides follow-up case management related to vision, hearing, and BMI.
• Liaises with parents and provides follow-up for students failing scoliosis, vision and hearing and/or BMI screenings.
• Reviews and maintains student health records per established HCD guidelines.
• Initiates, develops, and maintains student health records utilizing the electronic School Health medical record system.
• Serves as a health resource person to students, parents, guardians or foster parents and school personnel, supporting the RN.
• Provide health education sessions in cooperation with school staff and established HCD guidelines.
• Travel to alternate school locations during scheduled work hours to perform nursing services, as needed. School assignments may change based on the needs of the program. Access to reliable transportation during the workday is required.
• Assist the RN with training Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) who are providing health care services within the School Health Program by gathering pertinent health information, reporting student's response to care, and assisting in monitoring UAP skills and competencies.
• Monitors the school environment including the school campus for health and safety issues advising school administrators of potential risks to students in a timely manner.
• Actively participates on School-Based Team meetings.
• Records compliments, grievances, complaints and risk occurrences in the Event Reporting system.

Emergency duties may be required that includes assisting community or hospital-based organizations or staffing emergency community shelters. Staff may be directed to perform other emergency duties based on clinical experience including, but not limited to, responses to threats or disasters, man-made or natural.

Additional Duties

This job description reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a complete description of all the work requirements and expectations that may be inherent in the position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position.

Management of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County reserves the right to assign duties not listed herein as necessary to accomplish the goals of the organization.

Education

Graduation from an accredited Licensed Practical Nurse program.

Experience

No experience necessary. One (1) year of experience in pediatric nursing, emergency room, public health, med/surg and/or school health nursing is preferred.

Certification

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association required upon hire and must be maintained.

Licensure

Current State of Florida Licensed Practical Nurse license (unrestricted) required.

Registrations

N/A

Training

N/A