School Nurse

Job Summary

The School Nurse position at MT. BLUE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT - RSU 9 is full-time during the school year only. The major focus of school nursing services includes the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems.

Qualifications

• Possession of a current license to practice professional nursing in the State of Maine.
• Three (3) years' experience as a professional registered nurse.
• Certification as required by the Department of Education.
• A baccalaureate degree is required for all nurses hired after 2010.

Performance Responsibilities

• Provides health assessments.
• Obtains a health and developmental history.
• Screens and evaluates findings for deficits in vision, hearing, scoliosis, growth, etc.
• Observes the child for development and health patterns in making a nursing assessment and nursing diagnosis.
• Identifies health findings which do not fall within the normal range.
• Assists with physical examinations when conducted in the school.
• Develops and implements a health plan.
• Interprets the health status of pupils to school personnel.
• Initiates referrals to parents, school personnel and community health resources for intervention, remediation, and follow through.
• Provides ongoing health information to pupils, parents, school personnel and health agencies.
• Recommends and helps to implement modifications of school programs to meet students' health needs.
• Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of pupils.
• Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
• Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health Individualized Educational Plan (I.E.P.).
• Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with chronic health problems, including the administration of medication.
• Participates in home visits to assess the family's need as related to the child's health.
• Develops procedures and provides for crises intervention for acute illness, injury and emotional disturbances.
• Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventive immunization programs, early detection, surveillance and reporting of contagious diseases.
• Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning.
• Provides information on health.
• Provides health information to assist students and families in making health related decisions.
• Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practices.
• Aids in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for the school unit.
• Maintains and updates cumulative health records.
• Helps develop/revise school health policies, procedures and standing orders.
• Prepares the budget for school health supplies.
• Reviews, revises and implements emergency policies, including in-service health and safety programs for personnel.
• Organizes, instructs, and supervises school health volunteers or assistants.
• Reports regularly in writing to the principal and superintendent on school health activities.
• Prepares statistical reports for the Department of Educational and Cultural Services and Department of Human Services for the superintendent's signature as required.
• Implements the school medication policy and procedure.
• Interprets school health services to school personnel.
• Plans, implements, and supervises school health screening programs in accordance with state and district requirements and recommendations.
• Provides follow-up services when indicated.
• Interprets appraisal findings, and helps students and parents accept responsibility for diagnosis and treatment.
• Serves as a health liaison between school, home, and the community.
• Makes home visits as needed.
• Encourages parents to maintain current immunization protection as recommended by the Department of Human Services.
• Participates in the health aspects of kindergarten pre-registration.
• Helps school personnel recognize departures from appropriate behavior and growth patterns; helps students and staff adjust student programs when necessary to accommodate health needs of students.
• Serves as a resource person to school personnel.
• Selectively participates in classroom instruction under the supervision of the teacher.
• Reports To: Principals and Assistant Principals.

Evaluation

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board’s Policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.