School Nurse (Full time)-Mary Lynch Elementary School

Department: Nursing | Reports to: Principal/Sr. Nursing Administrator

About the Role

The School Nurse is responsible for direct and indirect nursing care to enhance the wellbeing, academic success, and life-long achievements of students. The School Nurse facilitates positive student responses to normal development, promotes health and safety, intervenes with actual and potential health problems, provides case management services, and actively collaborates with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy, and learning.

Responsibilities

• Assess and evaluate students’ health, pertinent family history, and home factors; counsel students, parents, and school personnel about health problems and issues.
• Maintain health records, conduct required research, and evaluate school health programs.
• Coordinate health resources of school, home, community, and allied health agencies/hospitals by making necessary arrangements, maintaining records, notifying and counseling students, parents/guardians, and health personnel.
• Develop an individual health care plan as needed and coordinate with other providers and school personnel. Initiate a plan of care with students and family to best meet individual needs.
• Provide emergency care for all students and staff on school premises in the event of injury or sudden illness.
• Administer prescribed and approved medications to students with parent/guardian and physician consent.
• Perform mandated screenings in vision, hearing, scoliosis, and height and weight as deemed appropriate by state and city departments of public health.
• Document pertinent information in student records in accordance with Standards of Practice and safeguard documentation utilizing HIPAA and FERPA regulations.
• Conduct home visits to initiate or follow up on the health care needs of students.
• Prepare regular written reports for supervisor, MDPH, and other relevant agencies.
• Notify appropriate individuals (e.g., parents, staff, physicians) of immediate and potential health-related concerns.
• Participate in school health-related activities as deemed appropriate for school nurses by principal/supervisor.
• Provide information about health and disease prevention in cooperation with health education programs within Springfield Public Schools.
• Promote healthy programs in collaboration with coalitions, associations, CDC, and Department of Public Health.
• Act as a resource in health education to students and families and refer to appropriate help agencies when necessary.
• Initiate, promote, maintain, and implement programs for the recognition, prevention, and control of disease, including giving immunizations.
• Provide sport physical clearance coverage as needed.
• Responsible for providing the optimum quality of health care to students.
• Participate in direct and indirect nursing care, health maintenance, teaching, counseling, collaborative planning, and rehabilitation.
• Promote student and family education to involve them and significant others within the school system to establish and implement health goals.
• Conduct self in a professional manner as evidenced by appropriate attire, punctuality, and indication of strong work ethic.
• Report and be administratively accountable to Nursing Administration and the building principal for provision of health services in the building.

Requirements

• Current valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
• Minimum of one to two years of child health, community health, or other related field. Three years of responsible professional experience in school nursing or a related field preferred.
• Current certification in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
• Must be DOE certified or certifiable by the Department of Education in educator category, Nurse, All Levels. (DOE certification eligibility currently requires a minimum of a BSN).

About Our District

Springfield Public Schools is a cultural gem in Western Massachusetts committed to providing a learning environment that opens the doors of infinite possibilities to our amazing students and staff. We strive to equip each of our approximately 24,000 students with learning experiences that enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. We are the 3rd largest district in Massachusetts, with over 44 languages spoken and over 60 countries represented by both students and staff.

We foster a positive and professional environment in our schools and worksites where people feel valued, respected, supported, seen, and heard. Our students and staff share their ideas and perspectives, learning from and appreciating each other. We are a district committed to equity and excellence.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries based on the School Nurse (RN) Salary Schedule.
• Numerous cutting-edge professional development opportunities for all staff.
• Support from instructional leadership specialists and effective educator coaches for lesson planning, data analysis, and management.
• Career advancement opportunities and investment in “Grow our Own” and educational pipeline programs to help staff achieve a college degree or certification pathways.