School Nurse

Definition:

The School Nurse is responsible for a comprehensive school health services program. Clinical expertise, management skills and an ability to work with students, families, and a range of disciplines within the school and community are required. Responsibilities include both mandated and non-mandated school health services.

Minimum Requirements:

Registered nurse

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Nursing experience in a school, community or pediatric setting 

MA DESE licensure as a school nurse or license eligible

Essential Duties:

Promote and protect the optimal health status of school age children with a model of prevention, early intervention, referral and primary care.

Quality Health Care:

• Deliver care to students, staff and visitors based on the nursing process.
• Communicate health information to parents in a timely manner.
• Communicate health information to staff who have a "need-to-know"
• Conduct vision, hearing, postural and BMI screening according to city policy and state regulations.
• Manage a Medication Administration Program according to city policy and state regulations.
• Provide ongoing health counseling with students, parents and school personnel.
• Develop and implement Individualized Health Care Plans.
• Participate in IEP and 504 plan development.
• Provide case management services.
• Collaborate with students, families, school staff, the community and other providers in providing student care.
• Collaborate with students, families, school staff and providers to manage students with concussions.
• Be alert to warning signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues including depression and suicidality and make referrals, participate in screening and follow established procedure.
• Confirm student eligibility for sports participation
• Assist students and families to obtain health care insurance

Public Health Care:

• Promote and assist in the control of communicable diseases.
• Review immunization status for all students to ensure compliance with MA DPH regulations.
• Report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

Health and Safety Leadership:

• Plan and implement school health management protocols.
• Maintain a Substitute School Nurse Reference binder.
• Develop procedures for emergency management of injuries/illnesses
• Conduct annual medical emergency response drill.

 Conduct annual staff training for allergy recognition, auto-injector epinephrine administration, standard precautions and infection control measures.

 Provide health education and serve as a resource to school staff for health instruction.

•  Engage in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practice.
• Manage health supplies inventory and annual ordering.
• Maintain a professional and safe health room.
• Actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning.
• Acts as a resource in promoting health careers.
• Serve on the school-based safety team.
• Act as site leader for Public Access Automated Emergency Defibrillation (AED) Program.
• Serve on the school-based Wellness Committee.
• Collaborate with school staff to develop safety/evacuation plans for students with special health care or mobility needs.
• Maintain MA Board of Registration of Nursing and MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licensure.

Documentation:

• Maintain a daily record of all health room visits.
• Maintain cumulative health records for all students.
• Document each time care is planned or delivered to a student.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

*The City may hire any nurse who does not hold a DESE professional support personnel license as a school nurse, at the time of hire, on steps 1 through 5 of the Bachelor's Degree and DESE Licensure salary scale, with the exception that the CITY may hire above step 5, upon consultation with the MNA.