Certified School Nurse

Certified School Nurse Job Description

Date Updated: December 18, 2012 FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Director of Student Services Employee Group: HEA Supervisor of Nursing Services

Days Per Year: Hours Per Day: 7.5

Job Summary: The Certified School Nurse plans, implements, and evaluates the mandated School Health Services as defined by the Pennsylvania School Code and that aligns with the standards and practice under the Nurse Practice Act and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The nurse initiates health concern treatment, follow-up, counseling, and referrals to ensure comprehensive student health care. The certificated school nurse initiates student and staff health education, wellness, and safety programs that promote healthy lifestyles and the utilization of community resources. The School Nurse Standards include assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, implementation, planning and evaluation.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Provide general, emergency, and maintenance health care to students and staff a) Students and staff may receive daily medications, injections, wound care, blood pressure screening, lice screening/treatment, temperature taking, OTC distribution of pain relievers, antacids, and cough drops, blood sugar monitoring, tube feeding, catheterizations, and individualized medical care as warranted by medical assessment and/or understanding doctor's orders. 2) Provide health/wellness education and employ strategies to promote life-long health in a safe environment. a) Nurse should work in conjunction with district staff to solicit, plan, and deliver relevant opportunities for wellness, nutritional education, physical activity b) Serve on wellness council or wellness program organizational team c) Help to coordinate any health fairs on district campus d) Common examples of health promotion and disease prevention include hypertension monitoring, nutrition education, stress management, tobacco cessation, weight management, and lifestyle change programs, including walking groups. 3) Provide screening and referral for diagnosed health concerns a) Coordinate services that come to campus, such as doctors/dentists for screenings b) Coordinate social services such as Brush Brush Smile, and other medically relevant organizations that serve students c) Collect data for diagnostic purpose and create referral for appropriate community care 4) Promote a healthy school environment

a) Educate faculty on basic first aid measures that can be initiated until the nurse arrives on the scene. Example, the distribution of emergency action plans to the teachers of students with chronic health concerns (diabetes, seizures, anaphylaxis). b) Coordinate safety and accident prevention programs: The school nurse can provide the safety training or arrange for qualified organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. c) Participate in violence prevention programs. d) Coordinate investigation into and identify potential real hazards related to school safety, air quality, temperature, mold on the walls, exposed asbestos, noise levels, water quality, food, and/or the spread of communicable disease. 5) Serve as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and healthcare providers 6) Provide leadership for the provision of health services a) Takes a leadership role in collaborating with community agencies to identify and provide programs to meet the physical and mental health needs of children and families 7) Collect comprehensive data pertinent to the student's health or the situation and analyzes the assessment data to determine the appropriate treatment/referral for the assessed health concern in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations a) School nurses perform needs assessments/studies that collect data about the needs of a group b) School nurses conduct evaluation research that determines how well a program or policy works 8) Attain continuously relevant knowledge and competency that reflect current school nursing practice by participating in ongoing educational activities related to appropriate knowledge bases and professional issues. a) The school nurse is required to obtain Act 48 hours every 5 years b) The school nurse is required to obtain 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain their professional license. c) Nurses serving children and families in schools are held to the same standard of currency as are nurses in other practice settings, therefore, ongoing educational activities is essential. 9) Interact with, and contributes to the educational development of students and school personnel regarding general physical, mental, nutritional, and community health 10) Integrate ethical provisions in all areas of practice. a) Professional and honorable behavior is always the norm for school nurses b) Care is delivered in a manner that protects client autonomy, dignity and rights. c) Maintains confidentiality within the context of legal and regulatory parameters 11) Provide screening (height, weight, vision, hearing and scoliosis) for health related maladies that impact hygiene and concerns of public health and share relevant assessment data and interpretation to IST, Spec Ed, psychologists, administrators to assist in diagnosis, intervention, and academic programming for students.

a) Cooperation and partnering with others is necessary to bring about positive outcomes and needed change for the client b) Referrals are documented, including strategies for continuity of care. 12) Provide critical care to chronically ill students, such as tube feedings, seizures, allergic reactions, catheterizations, diabetics, asthmatics 13) Prepare and monitor Individualized Healthcare Plans (IHP) for students to effectively remove educational barriers posed by their diagnosed health impairment. a) Written plans are collaboratively developed that focus on outcomes as well as care- related decisions, and document relevant communication with all concerned 14) Participate as a team member at IST, PST, MDE, IEP, Wellness, Emergency Management meetings and are members of nursing professional groups 15) Perform other duties as assigned by the School Health Services Supervisor and the Director of Student Services

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required
• Pennsylvania Department of Education nursing certification is required
• Submission of pre-employment medical examination (Section 148 of the PA School Code)
• Submission of the following clearances: o PA State Criminal History Record (Act 34 & Act 114) o PA Dept. of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151 & Act 114) o Federal (FBI) Background Check (Act 24)
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable

Physical Demands:

• Ability to reach above and below the waist
• Some stooping, kneeling, bending and twisting of the body
• Ability to lift and/or carry supplies and/or papers weighing no more than 20 lbs.
• Ability to lift and/or assist in lifting students and their assistive equipment or device up to 75 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time with some walking or moving throughout the building

Sensory Abilities:

• Visual acuity
• Auditory acuity

Work Environment:

• Typical school environment
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions

Temperament:

• Possess effective interpersonal skills with the ability to interface diplomatically with other teachers, administrators, parents, students, support staff and outside professional contacts
• Must be able to work in an environment with frequent interruptions
• Able to make judgments and work under high level of stress

Cognitive Ability:

• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to organize tasks
• Ability to handle multiple tasks
• Ability to exercise good judgment

Specific Skills:

• Proficiency in the use of technology for individual communication, research, and statistical reporting
• Proficiency in presentation of technology to enhance small and large student group information and demonstration sessions
• Ability to operate various office equipment
• Must possess conflict mediation skills
• Must appropriately handle confidential information

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability or disabilities to perform the primary duties and responsibilities of the job.)

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