Job Description

PURPOSE: To work under the direction of and collaboratively with the certified school nurse in the delivery of health services and provides health services to students and, where appropriate, staff in the absence of the certified school nurse.

FUNCTIONS:

1. Follows all laws, Board Policies, regulations, rules and procedures, and complies with the instructions and/or directives from his/her supervisor(s).
2. Confers with the certified school nurse at regularly scheduled intervals and as needed.
3. Depending upon assignment may work independently in assigned school settings.
4. When authorized, works the additional hours necessary outside of the normal work day and/or year for the completion of tasks inherent to the position.
5. Establishes an effective working rapport with all other staff and maintains a positive relationship with the school district's internal and external publics.
6. Helps develop and maintain a comprehensive school health services program for students in collaboration with the certified school nurse, school administrators, school physicians, and dentists.
7. As is appropriate, consults with the certified school nurse and school administrators to establish, review and revise policies, regulations, and procedures that are related to a comprehensive school health program.
8. Applies appropriate nursing theory and evidence-based practice as the basis for decision making.
9. Helps arrange and may assist with state-mandated physical examinations, dental examinations, and immunizations.
10. Assists with state-mandated health screenings and completes referrals and appropriate follow-up where applicable.
11. As is appropriate, helps ensure that reports required by the school district; PA Dept. of Health; PA Dept. of Education; and other appropriate agencies are properly prepared and submitted.
12. Helps in the facilitation of an organized system of coordinated care for students.
13. Performs clerical duties as directed by the certified school nurse.
14. When appropriate, provides direct services to students and, where appropriate, staff.
15. Under the auspices of the Certified School Nurse, and as appropriate, administers medications and performs procedures according to physician orders and school district policies, regulations, and procedures, ensuring physician orders for individual student medications and/or treatments comply with requirements for administration.
16. Helps plan for the emergency care of ill and/or injured students and staff and notifies and confers with the principal and certified school nurse regarding any serious injury or illness.
17. Provides first aid for illness or injury to students and documents nursing assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
18. Contacts parents/guardians regarding an injured or ill student or, when necessary, under other circumstances.
19. Assists in the management and control of acute and chronic disease and implements policies and procedures for the control of communicable diseases in collaboration with the PA Department of Health.
20. Assists in the review and monitoring of student immunization status, helps make appropriate referrals to up-date immunizations when indicated, and, as is appropriate, helps address student immunization needs.
21. Uses information from health assessments to help identify health problems and to make appropriate referrals with the necessary follow-up.
22. Assists in interpreting the health needs of individual children to parents/guardians and applicable staff and assists families in utilizing community resources for improving the health of their children.
23. Helps maintain comprehensive health records on each child and records of school nursing services.
24. As is appropriate, acts as a liaison between school, home, and community and works cooperatively with community health organizations in the coordination of services as is appropriate.
25. Helps identify community health resources and/or to guide parents/guardians to their use.
26. As is appropriate, collaborates with agencies within and outside of the school community to help ensure continuity of service and care of students, including working with private physicians and dentists to coordinate private medical and dental examinations with the school program.
27. As is appropriate, collaborates with applicable school staff with regard to identified school environmental needs and advises school officials of possible environmental adjustments necessary to meet the needs of physically challenged individuals.
28. As is appropriate, functions as a member of teams such as, but not limited to, CAN (Counselors, Administrators and Nurses) or CAIN (Counselors, Administrators, IST, and Nurses): SAFE (Schools Against Fearful Environments); SERT (School Emergency Response Team); SHARE (Student Help and Referral; Instructional Support Team (IST); Student Intervention Response (SIR) Team; Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team, Individual Transition Plan (ITP) team, Section 504/Chapter 15 team, grade-level team, and as a member of his/her department.
29. Promotes a safe and healthy school environment.
30. Promotes good safety practices, both within and outside of school buildings, and may serve as a member of school safety-related committee(s) and the wellness committee.
31. Serves as a resource person to help facilitate the learning of positive health and wellness behaviors for students and staff.
32. As is appropriate, provides health-related instruction and counseling to students and staff and provides up-to-date information for use by staff on such subjects as the growth and development pattern of children, first aid practice, accident prevention, communicable disease regulations, and, when applicable, assists in selecting and/or evaluating the content material used for health-related instruction.
33. May participate in and, as is appropriate, arrange for and/or deliver staff development and/or training programs for school personnel in first aid, emergency care procedures, and/or current health issues.
34. Helps plan for the delivery of first aid and other health-related services and, as is appropriate, instructs appropriate personnel responsible for providing first aid or other health-related services.
35. Attends all required meetings.
36. Meets professional obligations and grows professionally by maintaining such certifications required for him/her to perform in his/her assigned position and remains abreast of current developments in his/her assigned area(s).
37. Helps maintain an educational setting that is positive, safe, orderly, inviting, respectful, supportive, inclusive, flexible, physically appropriate (e.g., ventilation, temperature and light), and supportive of learning.
38. As is appropriate, assists with curriculum development in health-related areas.
39. Assists in interpreting the social, emotional, and physical health needs of the students to parents/guardians, staff, and other appropriate persons (with necessary consent when applicable).
40. Maintains accurate and comprehensive records of school nursing services.
41. Maintains contemporary professional awareness and promotes personal professional growth through participation in professional development activities.
42. Protects the rights of individuals by maintaining an ethical approach to health services activities in the schools.
43. Helps maintain a safe school environment by properly reporting dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, accidents, and/or injuries.
44. Advocates for students by properly reporting suspected cases of abuse, neglect, postural defects, poor health, poor eyesight and/or hearing, contagious disease, and/or learning deficiencies.
45. Assists in developing those areas of the school district's budget pertinent to his/her assignment.
46. Performs the work described herein without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself or others.
47. Performs other duties and related tasks as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Has the ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
2. Possesses valid RN or LPN licensure for practice in Pennsylvania.
3. Experience in providing nursing to school-age children is preferred.
4. Has skills in reading/writing that are sufficient to carry out assigned clerical functions.
5. A working understanding of available services on a local, state, and national level that could benefit students, parents/guardians and staff is preferred.
6. Possesses effective communication, judgmental, planning, organizational, problem-solving, and human relations skills.
7. Must possess and display the ability to follow directives and adhere to the established chain of command.
8. Has the ability to drive and possesses a valid driver's license.
9. Must be dependable, punctual, flexible, appropriately attired, neat in appearance, and able to manage time appropriately.
10. Must maintain a professional demeanor and image.
11. Must be courteous to students, staff, and the general public.
12. Must possess adequate interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to work independently and/or on a team.
13. Displays a working knowledge of applicable health services models, philosophies, practices, and theories.
14. Possesses necessary technology-related knowledge and individual computer/technology-related skills.
15. Provides evidence of professional growth and development by keeping current in the field.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.
2. Must be able to move about the work area to access materials, file cabinets, machinery, etc.
3. Must be able to operate equipment relative to his/her position for use and simple service or repair.
4. Must be able to travel between school district buildings and other job-related locations as necessary.
5. Must be able to withstand changes in environmental conditions inside and outside of the work facility, and to adapt to these changes.
6. Must be able to access all work areas and locations.
7. Must be able to lift as required.
8. Must be able to push a wheel chair with occupant.

This position description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees in this position will be required to perform any other duties requested by their administrator(s) and/or supervisor(s).

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.