Substitute School Nurse

Newmarket School District
Job Description
 
 
JOB TITLE:               Substitute School Nurse
 
EducationAL Training / Experience / LicensURE REQUIREMENTS:
New Hampshire license to practice as a Registered Nurse is required.  The Substitute School Nurse should have a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution and demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with students, staff, parents, and the community.  A Bachelor's degree in a field related to nursing or education along with a second degree in nursing is also acceptable.
 
Position Summary
The School Nurse's job is to identify the health care needs of specific student populations and the availability of health services/resources, plan and implement services to meet those health care needs, assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the services and health care plans, and collaborate with a wide variety of school system and professional disciplines to enhance the educational process and the promotion of an optimal level of wellness for students, families, and staff.  The School Nurse must adhere to the Nurse Practice Act, pertinent regulations governing nursing practice and standards of care established by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. The School Nurse reports directly to the Building Principal or, if so directed by the Principal, to an Assistant Principal.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES / Essential Functions
 
Program Manager / Coordinator

1. Plan the school health program in cooperation with the Building Principal.
2. Participate with school staff in developing and implementing the total school health and health education programs.
3. Cooperate with school personnel in identifying and meeting physical, social, and emotional needs of students.
4. Assist school personnel in establishing sanitary conditions in schools.
5. Assist in the development of school crisis plans and work with teams to implement school safety, preventative interventions and crisis response.
6. Serve as the health care consultant for school personnel, students, and their parents/families.
7. Assure that the school is in compliance with mandated health service activities and that school health services and activities are appropriately documented according to professional School Nurse standards.
8. Coordinate and participate in the establishment, review, and implementation of school health services, policies, and procedures.
9. Act in accordance with all federal, state and local laws and policies with respect to confidentiality, suspected cases of abuse, and threats of harm or violence.
10. Document, compile, and analyze data for required reports on school health services.
11. Maintain up-to-date cumulative health records, nurses' notes, medication orders, care plans and emergency plans on all students.
12. Implement communicable disease control in the school, including monitoring, surveillance, and participating in disease prevention and outbreak management within the school.
13. Where applicable, direct, and monitor assistants assigned to the school health program.
14. Where applicable, monitor and oversee nursing students from various colleges during practicum rotations.

 
Case Manager / Direct Care Provider

1. Provide health care services to students.
2. Provide basic care and first aid to staff and school personnel.
3. Identify and assist students with special health care needs.
4. Provide case management to students with complex health needs.
5. Provide periodic health appraisals of students with identified or suspected health problems.
6. Develop emergency action plans for students at risk of medical crises at school or during a school function.
7. Develop and monitor individual health care plans (IHP's) for students who need invasive procedures performed during the school day, as well as for students who may require adaptation of the learning environment or classroom schedule.
8. Function as a health resource for chronically ill students and their families.
9. Assume responsibility for identification, referral, and follow-up of students in need of medical and dental care.
10. Coordinate and perform screening programs and immunization review/follow up for the school.
11. Administer necessary nursing procedures based on students' needs and doctor's orders.
12. Assume responsibility for safe keeping of student's supplies and daily medications stored in the health office.
13. Assume authority for the care of a student or staff member who has suffered injury or emergency illness.
14. Authorize exclusion and re-admission of students in connection with infections and contagious diseases in consultation with physician or nurse leader.
15. Document students' visits to the nurse's office.

Collaborator / Advocate

1. Function as the liaison between the school and local health service agencies/providers and community resources.
2. Collaborate with other student support personnel to prevent health problems from becoming reasons for educational failure.
3. Provide guidance and support to families in finding and using treatment services.
4. Participate in program audits to determine the degree to which the school nursing program is being implemented.
5. Provide health related consultation as a member of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team.
6. Provide consultation and recommendations in the planning and development of accommodation plans for health-related Section 504 eligible students.

Educator

1. Participate with other school personnel in developing workshops for teachers, assistants and other staff on health-related topics.
2. Conduct in-service training for school personnel on health issues and provide training for staff regarding chronic illnesses and/or life-threatening allergies experienced by students at school.
3. Provide classroom health instruction, serving as a resource to increase the existing teaching staff's capacity to achieve the school's health education goals.
4. Participate in the development and implementation of health promotion activities.

Communicator

1. Establish and maintain two-way communication with parents, students, and other staff members in an honest, positive, and constructive manner.
2. Display visibility throughout the building to students, teachers, and parents and help to develop a positive school climate.
3.  

Newmarket School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer