Address
Form of work
SalaryPRIMARY PURPOSE:
The school nurse will be present to optimize the health and safety of all students in order to maximize learning, and the health and safety of all employees to maximize work performance.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized, accredited university preferred;
- Graduate of accredited school of nursing and licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) to practice nursing.
- SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Hold current certification in vision and hearing screening
- Hold current certification in CPR
- EXPERIENCE:
- School nursing experience preferred; three (3) or more years of hospital floor duty or Pediatric office assignment or comparable.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
The school nurse shall provide and coordinate the Health Services program in the school assigned, such as:
RESPONSIBILITIES TO STUDENTS:
- Provide emergency care for the ill and injured, using first aid procedures and obtaining necessary assistance in cases of serious trauma and/or illness.
- Assist with the management of students who have health problems in the school setting.
- Provide health appraisals including: height, weight, vision, hearing, tympanometry and spinal screening or other health problems as deemed necessary.
- Provide referrals and follow-up for identified health problems as necessary to attain optimum health for each student.
- Maintain accurate and complete health records on each student including immunizations records, health history, screening results, referral and follow-up information.
- Adhere to the Texas immunization law securing records on each student and updating records as necessary on the health cards and the computers.
- Control communicable diseases (exclusion and re-admission): notifying the health department of all reportable diseases.
- Dispense medication according to law and district policy. Document time, dosage and name of person administering medication.
- Promote health education individually, in the classroom and as a resource to the teacher, thus promoting optimum health.
- Provide health counseling for students with health problems cooperating with principals, teachers, counselors, family physicians and other agencies.
- Participate in the ARD process when necessary.
- Participate as an active member of the crisis team.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO SCHOOL DISTRICT, PRINCIPAL, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES AND
STAFF MEMBERS:
- Actively support the philosophy of the school district and the total school programs.
- Communicate effectively with the principal in interpreting and implementing policies, laws and procedures of the health services program.
- Provide faculty and other personnel, who have a need to know, with information about students with medical conditions. Assist with the management of these problems in the classroom. Maintain updated information on students with medical conditions keeping records confidential.
- Compile monthly health services reports and annual reports of all screening results and immunizations. Reports are sent to the Director of Nurses.
- Continue to pursue educational studies to maintain a professional level of performance.
- Cooperate with other staff members in child abuse and drug abuse cases, assisting with the assessment, documentation and referral process.
- Update skills in CPR/AED each year. Teach CPR/AED to staff members yearly.
- Attend monthly health services staff meetings and other meetings required of staff members in school assigned.
- Perform other health-related duties as assigned by the principal and/or Director of Nurses.
- Regular and reliable attendance is an essential job function.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO COMMUNITY:
- Promote health by participation in community health activities such as blood pressure screening, organizing blood drives, teaching First Aid and CPR Courses and assist the American Red Cross during disasters, serving in shelters at designated schools in the district.
- Be a liaison between the school and community, physicians, hospitals and other health agencies.
PERFORMANCE AND APPRAISAL:
- Participates in performance appraisal and develops goals.
- Demonstrates/shares evidence related to performance objectives.
- Demonstrates understanding/compliance
- with laws and regulations.
- Promotes standards/practice through peer review and professional networking.
EDUCATION:
- Shares/attends continuing education programs.
- Seeks knowledge about new information/skills. Implements new knowledge to practice.
- Provides/seeks clinical experiences to promote professional competency.
Collegiality:
- Serves as a mentor/resource to colleagues.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary peers to reinforce their practice.
- Maintains professional memberships.
- Engages in promoting safe and health work environment.
Ethics:
- Demonstrates knowledge of Nurse Practice Act.
- Maintains student, family, and staff confidentiality.
- Incorporates culture/religious/ethnic beliefs in practice.
- Advocates for student/staff health issues.
- Practices excellent attendance so all performance standards can occur.
Collaboration:
- Demonstrates leadership in community resources.
- Uses knowledge of resources to plan and evaluate care.
- Supports students and families to choose healthy lifestyles. Uses school and
- community providers to support student needs.
Research:
- Participates/promotes research with health/educational purpose.
- Identifies/develops issues as potential research questions. Applies research findings
- to improve Health Services. Shares research results.
Resource Utilization:
- Seeks/accesses community health resources.
- Evaluates cost/materials to ensure safe provision of quality health care.
- Delegates tasks appropriately.
- Encourages students/families to be better consumers of health care.
Communication:
- Uses appropriate/accurate communication. Communicates collaborative role of school nurse.
- Communicates policies, programs and mission to school community.
- Provides appropriate counseling in crisis situations.
Program Management:
- Collaboratively revises/establishes policy/ procedures utilizing available technology.
- Develops/participates in training/supervisions/evaluation of assistive personnel.
- Provides in-service to personnel re: health issues.
- Implements/evaluates policies to manage students at risk.
Health Education:
- Assesses need for and provides health education to individuals and groups. Develop and/or evaluates health education curriculum/materials.
- Promotes health and is a resource throughout the community.
- Provides health education/counseling to students/staff.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, pulling, pushing, and possibly lifting up to 53 pounds when assisting with a student or employee transfer. Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom equipment. Responsibilities may require contact with individuals that may include exposure to body fluids, bacteria, communicable diseases, and disruptive behavior. There may be exposure to potentially hazardous medical equipment and/or chemicals. The job requires ability to perform CPR and other vigorous activities related to nursing duties.
