Substitute School Nurse 

Essential Job Function:

The WHRSD Substitute School Nurse provides preventive and supportive health services to facilitate the student’s optimal physical, mental, emotional and social growth/ development in the educational setting. The School Nurse provides nursing services to allow students with health care needs to successfully access education. The WHRSD School Nurse supports the education process by working to assure the health of the entire school community. 

 

Qualifications:

• Possess a valid license to practice as a registered nurse in Massachusetts.

 

• Maintain current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) /automated external defibrillator (AED) and first aid.
• Other related qualifications as required/approved by the Superintendent of Schools.
• Reports to:Nurse Leader

 

Supervised by: Building Principal or designee

 

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

 

Knowledge of:

• Nursing process as the basis of nursing care in the school environment: assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, intervention and evaluation.
• Laws and regulations related to nursing and school nursing found in the Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act and the regulations of the MDPH.
• Current trends in nursing and in the field of school health.

 

Ability to:

• Participate cooperatively in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the comprehensive school health program (health services, health education and the school environment).
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with students, parents, administrators, and other school personnel.
• Establish an organized school health clinic and perform daily activities while managing time appropriately.
• Collaborate with other members of the school nurse team.
• Demonstrate knowledge of relevant clinical areas (i.e. child development, communicable illness, pharmacology, etc.) to enable decision-making in nursing practice.
• Use a computer and various software applications as needed to perform daily nursing tasks/duties and documentation.
• Maintain a documentation system for continuity and accountability with accurate up-to-date student health records.
• Serve as a member of pertinent committees, i.e. crisis team, support groups. 
• Participate in professional development activities in the field of school nursing and maintain certification and licensure.
• Evaluate and assess the health needs of students and staff.
• Provide first aid to injured students and staff.
• Provide assessment, treatment and referral of acutely ill students and staff.
• Provide medically prescribed interventions, including medications, according to regulations of the MDPH.
• Monitor each student’s mandated health requirements. 
• Maintain, evaluate and interpret cumulative health data to accommodate

individual needs of students. 

• Manage cases of communicable illness according to protocols of the MDPH.
• Assist families in accessing resources for immunizations, physical examinations, or other health care needs.
• Implement and coordinate MDPH mandated health screening programs (i.e. vision, hearing, scoliosis, growth exams, and BMI).
• Accurately compile state mandated reports.
• Initiate referral to parents, school personnel or community health resources for intervention, remediation and follow through of health screening results.
• Plan for health care, emergency protocols, and school based adaptations for students with special health needs:

Provide emergency consultation and training to staff.

Identify students with health related needs and develop Individualized Health Care Plans (IHCPs) and Emergency Plans (EPs).

• Attend interdisciplinary meetings acting as an advocate for the student and family when appropriate and, with parental consent, share information with team members about students with health care problems which affect learning and growth.
• Communicate health needs of students to other school personnel as appropriate.
• Document and communicate daily school health  clinic activities for substitute nursing staff to ensure that the healthcare needs of students are always met. 
• Communicate with outside educational agencies housed within the WHRSD regarding special health care needs of those students in their programs.
• Serve as a resource person for students, families and staff members regarding health issues and needs.
• Participate as a member of the I.E.P. or 504 team and assists in identification and education of students with special health needs which affect learning and total growth.
• Coordinate school and community health activities and serve as a liaison health

professional between the home, school and community.

• Engage in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change

agent for school health programs and school nursing practices.

• Provide consultation in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for

the school district.

• Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor or the Superintendent of Schools.