School Health Nurse

Core values

The core values of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc. (CHC/SEK) are dignity and stewardship. Each staff member is expected to perform their job duties in a way that preserves dignity for our patients and maintains good stewardship of the CHC/SEK’s resources.

General description

The RN School Health position is part of the school-based health team. This position is responsible for health care needs for students and coordinating state-required health screenings. This position provides the communication link between counselors, teachers and parents regarding student's health and wellness. Supports individualized health care plans for students with health needs

Requirements

Essential duties

• Regulatory: Coordinates completion of the student health record and maintains a cumulative health record for each student per the system used by the school district. Provides ongoing nursing support for students with identified conditions that necessitate consistent monitoring. Organizes and conducts student health appraisals to include medical examination, vision and hearing screenings, and height/weight measurements meeting state regulations. Coordinates the care for students who are injured or who become ill at school. Assists in providing emergency care for accidents and sudden illness of students until parents assume responsibility. Establishes communication, obtains proper consent and uses referral process for students to use the school-based health clinic or tele-med services when applicable.

• Compliance: Ensures continuation of program of communicable disease control based on Kansas immunization laws by assessing and monitoring the immunization status of each student and coordinates with parents for options to assure student compliance with immunization requirements as needed. Maintains student medications following district polices on medication administration. Observes district reporting requirements for student illness, accidents, safety hazards or unsanitary conditions. Adheres to all district health and safety policies, including all precautions of the Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan. Participates in the district emergency preparedness plan as required. Complies with state and federal privacy/confidentiality requirements, HIPAA & FERPA. Submits accurate and timely reports as required by various health/state agencies on behalf of the school district.

• May be requested to fill in at alternate locations to assist with staffing needs, as requested by supervisor.

• If working in a float position, employee will be required to travel to alternate schools, including school-based health clinics.

• Performs all duties, services and documentation in full compliance with CHCSEK policies and procedures.

If working in a school-based health clinic

• School-Based Clinic Patient Rooming: Interview/assess clinic patients for health concerns and obtain health history, measure vital signs, update medication list and allergies at each visit and records information in EHR. Prepares stations for examination of patients; assures all areas are clean. Provides a positive impression, through words and tone, to students, parents, staff and visitors presenting to the clinic.

• School-Based Clinic Patient Care and Discharge: Supports clinic providers in patient care to include specialty procedures/tests and providing injections, treatments and vaccines as needed. Performs phlebotomy and routine in-house laboratory tests as ordered. Ensure patients are educated about medications, provider orders, follow-up and other education as appropriate.

• Other School-Based Clinical

Duties

Maintains supplies for clinic and school nurses office observing district policies for ordering supplies; cleaning and sterilizing of instruments; transporting specimens, equipment and supplies utilizing appropriate and safe techniques.

The essential functions listed are not an exhaustive list of every task the employee is required to complete. Employees are expected to perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Valid Kansas or Oklahoma Registered Nurse license or Licensed Practical Nurse, depending on state of practice. Multi-State License strongly preferred. Multi-state license must be in nurse’s state of residence.

• BLS Certification through American Heart Association within 90 days of hire.

• Two years’ experience in an outpatient clinic, preferred.

• Experience in a school health setting or working with children, preferred.

• If hired in a float position, valid driver’s license is required as daily travel is expected. Must meet CHC/SEK driving standards, no more than 2 minor or 1 major violation within the last 3 years.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Social and cultural sensitivity appropriate to ethnically and economically diverse patient-and employee-base.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the rationale of appropriate patient care.

• Must be organized and able to manage/prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, adapts to change in a positive manner, able to work as a part of a team.

• Communicates through appropriate channels. Use proper chain of command for patient complaints.

• Ability to handle emergency situations calmly and effectively.

• Must be computer literate, especially with Microsoft Office products, specifically advanced excel knowledge, and be proficient with the Electronic Health Record software.

• Must be able to maintain good inter-personal relationship with co-workers and other members of the health care team and the organization.

• Provide customer service in accordance to the organization’s mission.

• Be courteous and respectful when interacting with patients and family members.

• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance to organization’s policy and procedure and HIPAA requirements.

• Maintains student confidentiality in accordance with FERPA regulations.

Working conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, up to the entire shift; use hands and fingers to operate computer keyboard, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Computer work is frequent. Good lighting and comfortable temperature of ventilation at all times. May be exposed to communicable diseases and high stress situations.