School Nurse

Job Summary

Position is responsible for performing professional nursing care and providing health care services to students and staff in a public school setting. Position organizes the health clinic at the assigned school; performs and interprets health screenings and medical examinations; assesses student health needs; administers emergency care / first aid treatment; provides health counseling; and conducts related workshops.

Essential Duties

• Evaluates the health status of students at the assigned school by performing health screenings, tests, and physical examinations (i.e. vision, hearing, dental, scoliosis, and blood pressure) and interprets/communicates findings to students, parents/guardians, and school personnel.
• Provides direct nursing care to students and staff by administering medication, immunizations, first aid, emergency health care, and nursing care prescribed by a medical provider; and accompanies students to the hospital as necessary.
• Observes students on a regular basis to monitor illness and provide early detection of communicable diseases, child abuse, substance abuse, mental illness, depression, eating disorders, chronic illness, and physical defects; makes referrals to other professional staff members and community agencies as needed; and communicates findings to parents/guardians as appropriate.
• Improves attendance by reducing time lost to illness and injuries.
• Serves as liaison between the school and family physicians to promote effective patient case management.
• Enforces established infection control policies and procedures on the exclusion and readmission of students with infectious and contagious diseases.
• Provides health counseling to individual students and parents/guardians regarding disease, emotional distress, pregnancy, and other health related issues as appropriate.
• Acts as member of the eligibility/child study team and assists with formulating an appropriate health care plan for special needs and medically fragile students at the assigned school.
• Maintains compliance with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) / Individualized Health Care Plans (IHP) and may perform specialized nursing care such as catheterizations, suctioning, and tracheotomy care.
• Serves as a resource to teachers and staff at the assigned school regarding the health needs of students and recommends modifications of the student’s educational program/environment as necessary.
• Participates in school based committees regarding the health and wellness of students to include crisis team and the substance abuse team.
• Provides health educational materials and presents at workshops to students, staff, and parents/guardians on such topics as first aid, sound health/nutrition, eating disorders, Bloodborne pathogens, and proactive strategies for achieving and maintaining good health in children.
• Ensures that sanitary standards of the school’s health clinic are being met and maintains OSHA standards regarding Bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious body materials.
• Assists school personnel with inspecting the assigned school for health/medical hazards; and recommends appropriate corrective action.
• Maintains proper documentation and health records on all students within the assigned school, prepares/submits reports as required, and utilizes the nursing components of the ESIS computer system.
• Complies with laws, regulations, protocols, and School Board policies/procedures as they apply to school health services.
• Requisitions needed supplies and equipment for the health clinic at the assigned school.
• Models nondiscriminatory practices in all activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduated from an accredited school of professional nursing with some work experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.
• Licensed, or eligible for licensure as a RN by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
• Current CPR certification.
• Knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, and techniques within a public school environment to include knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, child growth/development, basic pharmacology, medical terminology, and infection control measures.
• The ability to organize a clinic and supervise staff.
• The ability to manage the health of students and exercise judgment in the application of nursing care.
• The ability to perform/interpret health screenings and physical examinations.
• The ability to maintain comprehensive health records, prepare clear/concise medical reports and use appropriate computer systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents/guardians, and outside agencies.