School Nurse

POSITION: School Nurse

Qualifications and requirements

• An individual must be able to perform the school nurse duties and responsibilities satisfactorily.

• An individual must meet the knowledge, skill, and ability requirements of the school nurse position.

Nature of work

This professional school nursing position within is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating school health services that:

• Maximize the quantity of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism;

• Eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning;

• Promote the highest degree of independent functioning possible; and

• Promote student, staff and community awareness of and participation in healthy behaviors.

Nursing practice

• Applies nursing practice to the unique and diverse needs of individuals, groups, and populations of schools.

• Promotes, implements, and upholds the values and ethics of the nursing profession and professional standards of nursing practice as established by the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act and rules.

• Follows federal, state and local health practice statutes, district policies, procedures and administrative guidelines.

• Serves as a medical resource and health and safety advocate for students and staff.

• Assumes the responsibility of health assessment, healthcare planning, intervention and implementation of healthcare services, evaluation, case management, referral and follow-up for students.

• Plays a key role in identifying healthcare needs, safety concerns, availability of health services, resources and treatment measures.

• Provides instruction, counseling, training and guidance in the maintenance of good health practices and communicable diseases’ prevention.

• Serves as a direct link between the student, family, healthcare provider and community agency in securing access to health services and in assuring continuity of healthcare delivery for students.

• Collaborates with families, school staff and various disciplines within the school setting and with outside agencies, providers, and/or organizations to identify, minimize, eliminate and/or manage health-related barriers to student-learning in the academic setting.

• Functions independently under state and local education agency guidelines and policies without on-site supervision.

• Works self-directed and clinically autonomous.

• Educates, delegates, trains and supervises unlicensed personnel in safely delivering healthcare services to students with special needs.

Duties and responsibilities

Duties will vary depending upon the needs of the individual school population; however, the purpose of the school nurse position remains the same.

Abilities, skills and knowledge

Professional Ability

• Apply knowledge of current nursing research and theory to daily practice.

• Triage and make independent and timely nursing decisions.

• Establish and maintain a professional image, respect and effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and other professionals.

• Deal tactfully with others, exercise good judgment in eliciting information and appraising situations.

Other

• Accurately record services rendered and interpret and explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions.

• Communicate in both written and oral format.

• Develop, maintain and secure student health records. Collect data to direct evidence based practice.

• Identify health-related barriers to learning, i.e., at-risk behaviors, financial, cultural, economic, etc.

• Identify health and community resources, coordinate and facilitate services for students and staff.

• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals and individuals in community agencies and those in local and regional resource areas. Plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others, implement health-related programs and provide health information to individuals and groups.

Performs other related work as required

Physical demands

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, scanners, copiers, calculators, etc. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. The school nurse must have mobility to carry out the school nurse responsibilities and duties as listed.

Education, experience, training and licensure

• Registered nurse (RN) working toward a baccalaureate degree in nursing or health-related field with attainment of the baccalaureate degree and national school nurse certification within 3 years of hire date.

• Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse in nursing or health-related field working toward national school nurse certification with the stipulation that certification is completed within 3 years of hire date.

• RN experience in public health is preferred.

• RN experience working with children and adolescents ages 5-18 is preferred.

• A newly hired nurse shall attend the state-sponsored School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities training and follow-up.

• Registered nurse, currently licensed in North Carolina.

• Current North Carolina driver’s license.

REPORTS TO: Director of Student Support Services

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.