School Nurse PRN

About the Role

This position serves in a lead capacity to promote healthcare and provide medical assistance to students and staff within Hamilton County Schools.

Responsibilities

• Act in a professional, respectful, and welcoming manner at all times.
• Create a customer-focused climate and provide quality services and support to schools and stakeholders.
• Comply with applicable district, state, and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Enhance the education process by maximizing the health and well-being of school-aged children and adolescents, focusing on prevention of illness/disability and early detection/correction of health problems.
• Provide direction, guidance, training, and assistance to employees; troubleshoot and resolve problem situations.
• Dispense approved and/or prescribed medications appropriately to students and maintain appropriate medical records.
• Develop and implement protocols and procedures for responding to student illness and injuries, including special interventions for acute illness, severe injury, emotional disturbance, and communicable diseases.
• Recommend modifications to school programs to meet health needs and assist in evaluating program effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with established school health guidelines, safety, and infection control procedures.
• Provide routine and emergency medical care to students within prescribed boundaries of training, certification, and policies.
• Promote and protect the optimal health status of students, including those with acute/chronic illnesses, injuries, handicapping conditions, and developmental disabilities.
• Observe students for developmental and health patterns, provide initial diagnoses, and initiate referrals to parents, school personnel, and community health resources.
• Assist in the control of communicable diseases through audits of immunization records, early detection, surveillance, and reporting.
• Coordinate referrals to outside health services and participate in health education initiatives.
• Provide ongoing health counseling to students, parents, and school personnel.
• Maintain, evaluate, and interpret cumulative health data to accommodate individual student needs.
• Participate in home visits to assess family needs related to a child’s health.
• Provide direct health education and counseling to assist students and families in making health-related decisions.
• Provide instruction or recommendations regarding OSHA, CPR, and other health-related needs.
• Monitor inventory of department equipment and supplies.
• Participate as a health team specialist on the Assessment Team and/or IEP-Team for students with health disabilities.
• Supervise clinical observations/experience for nursing students.
• Communicate with supervisor, employees, other departments, school officials, parents, physicians, and community organizations to coordinate work activities.
• Maintain a current RN license after employment; failure to do so may result in disciplinary action, up to termination.
• Follow proper channels to report impending problems or unusual events.
• Ensure assigned areas are safe and collaborate with school staff, students, parents, and stakeholders.
• Adhere to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment to manage data and perform clerical tasks (e.g., answering calls, typing, copying, filing).
• Operate equipment and instruments associated with school health work activities.
• May operate a motor vehicle to travel to various schools.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Four-year degree with coursework emphasis in Nursing preferred.
• Three years of experience in nursing, preferably in a school, pediatric, adolescent, or public health environment.
• Must possess and maintain licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Tennessee or a compact state.
• Must possess and maintain valid CPR and First Aid certification.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with students, educators, employees, community members, parents, and stakeholders.
• Ability to utilize a computer and other technology to enter and retrieve data.

Pay

Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience, following the Grade F-H Salary Scale.