Substitute Nurse

Responsibilities

The Substitute School Nurse is responsible for covering the nurse’s office at BART when the full‑time nurse is off‑site. This per‑diem/hourly position reports to the Principal and includes program nursing services, collaboration, and professional practice.

Nursing Services

• Collaborate with the parent/guardian and student, where appropriate, to develop and implement an individualized health care plan for the student.
• Develop a nursing diagnosis and care plan with specific goals and interventions, coordinating school nursing actions with other providers and school personnel, and implement plans to improve health and educational status.
• Provide medically prescribed interventions, including medication administration (based on Massachusetts regulations), and care to ill children on a daily basis.
• Responsible for the safe dispensing of medication and for creating and overseeing a medication delegation program.
• Respond to frequently encountered health issues; collaborate with school counselors and assist with crisis interventions as needed (e.g., adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, death of a family member, suicide) and respond to child neglect or abuse issues as required by Massachusetts statute.
• Provide first aid to injured children and staff; provide everyday care of acutely ill children; and manage children with communicable disease.

Collaboration

• Establish a process to identify students at risk for physical and psychosocial problems, communicate health needs to other school personnel as appropriate, and establish a referral system using both internal and community resources.
• Participate as a team member, with parental consent when indicated, in sharing information with other team members about children with special health care problems that affect learning and growth; act as an advocate for the student and family when appropriate.
• Include the student and parent in the team conference whenever possible and appropriate.

Professional Practice

• Apply appropriate nursing theory as the basis for decision‑making in the school setting while expanding knowledge and skills in response to student health needs and participating in research.
• Demonstrate current knowledge in areas such as:
  • Professional issues in school nursing
  • School and community health
  • Communicable disease control
  • Growth and development
  • Health assessment
  • Special health conditions, both chronic and acute
  • Injury prevention and emergency care
  • Health counseling, health education, and promotion
  • Current adolescent issues

Qualifications

• Ability to handle unforeseen challenges and acute health‑related situations within a dynamic organization.
• Valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Massachusetts.
• Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, AED, and First Aid from a recognized provider (e.g., American Heart Association).
• A team player with a sense of humor and dedication to working with a diverse, creative school community.