School Nurse

JOB TITLE: School Nurse

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

Mesa Public Schools is an award-winning district and voted Best Place to Work in Mesa. With over 9,000 employees, we are the largest school district in Arizona. Families have sent generations of students through our schools, as we are the premier educational choice in Arizona.

Candidates must complete an on-line application which requires appropriate Arizona certification, valid IVP Arizona fingerprint clearance card, evidence of highly qualified status, three letters of recommendation, and transcript of credits.

OVERVIEW:

The primary purpose of the professional School Nurse is to intensify the educational process through enhancement of the health status of children and youth. The School Nurse carries out functions requiring nursing judgment, uses initiative based on nursing experience and has the education and the ability to maintain interdependent relationships with colleagues in health, education, and related professional fields.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Arizona Registered Nurse License
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in nursing, which has included public health nursing, theory and practice.
• Current IVP Fingerprint Card
• Experience in school nursing or public health nursing is preferred
• Work effectively with children and adolescents.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills in planning health programs in coordination with the administrator (e.g., health curriculum, disease prevention, and promotion/maintenance of student health)
• Conducts student health screening programs to assess physical, mental, and emotional health
• Administers appropriate medications to students according to district policies and procedures; has knowledge of medication’s use, action, contraindications, and side effects
• Coordinates health services information among home, school, private physician, clinic, and other community agencies
• Assists teachers in planning health curriculum by providing valid resource materials and presenting demonstrations in the classroom that are relevant to healthful living
• Interprets and alerts the staff to school health laws, health trends and school health problems
• Utilizes assessment skills to plan and provide care for ill and injured students and staff; develops nursing care plans for special needs students
• Assists parent/guardian with health-related referral resources
• Collects social/developmental history information for student evaluations and participates in Medicaid billing when appropriate
• Provides health counseling for students to encourage and maintain optimum health practices
• Functions as a member of the school child abuse team and other district intervention teams as directed by the site administrator
• Functions as a member of the school safety committee and serves as a resource to maintenance, cafeteria, and other services involved in maintaining a healthful physical environment
• Responsible for maintaining accurate health documentation and continuous required health records
• Compiles accurate yearly reports to document student encounters and nursing activities; provides results to district Health Services
• Maintains professional growth through continuing education and support of professional organizations
• Supervises health assistants while on site; building administrator supervises the health assistant in the absence of the nurse
• Implements state and district guidelines for control of communicable disease, including state rules for immunization compliance
• Adheres to all Professional Standards set forth by Mesa Public School and the Arizona State Board of Nursing
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the site administrator

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ORGANIZATION: The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or marital status.