Nurse Nurse

Job Description:

ACES nursing department is seeking a full-time school nurse to work within our Agency, serving students with multiple disabilities and physical challenges. Opportunity to work with a dynamic interdisciplinary team, in a behavioral and therapeutic school setting.

Job Brief:

The school nurse functions as an integral member of interdisciplinary school teams, manages the school health office, oversees school health services and serves as a liaison between school personnel, family and community healthcare providers. The nurse uses accepted standards of practice to assess, manage and treat student health issues, according to established plan of care, medication or treatment authorization and in compliance with department procedures agency policies and district regulations and statues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assessment

• Obtains appropriate health history relevant to students presenting complaint and past medical history, during intake process and with the onset of new or unresolved health issues
• Performs appropriate and accurate physical exam relevant to the students presenting complaint and past medical history. Analyzes history and physical exam data to determine acuity of situation and appropriate interventions
• Obtains data regarding new or chronic health concerns that have a real or potential negative impact on students educational participation and achievement

Care Coordination

• Works with interdisciplinary team to revise and update active health problem list
• Identifies student specific interventions used to address physical and emotional health problems
• Uses appropriate clinical protocols and evidence-based practice as a basis to care planning
• Identifies realistic and appropriate health outcomes for individual student health problems that impact educational achievement

Nursing Interventions

• Collaborates with school staff, administrators, supervisors, students, family and health care providers to implement, evaluate and revise plans to achieve expected health outcomes
• Provides and coordinates medication administration and medically indicated treatments for students
• Provides care coordination with families and multiple community providers to help ensure that student healthcare needs are addressed on an ongoing basis or as needed
• Implements state mandated health screening programs, including referral for abnormal findings and immunization requirements
• Participates in identification, assessment and referral of student to protective service agency when appropriate
• Maintains individual student health records in accordance with state regulations and utilizes an electronic health record for documentation of health related assessments and plans
• Promotes a healthy school environment by addressing physical and emotional safety issues of the school community, including infection control and injury prevention
• Provides health education in individual and group settings, in areas including self-care, nutrition, exercise, smoking prevention, oral health, infection control, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy prevention and parenting, as appropriate for student population
• Facilitates effective transition strategies to assist students adaption to new schools, programs and educational opportunities
• Participates or acts as a resource for interdisciplinary student-centered meeting, school safety and crisis committees and other relevant groups

Knowledge of:

• Normal child and adolescent development
• Common pediatric health issues, pediatric assessment, management and current treatments
• District regulations and statues, agency policies, SDE guidelines
• Key concepts of Family-Centered Care, including cultural competency and development of family/professional partnerships
• Role and responsibility as a mandated reporter

Skills in:

• Problem-solving and utilizing the nursing process in routine and new situations
• Addressing the physical and emotional needs of students by being approachable, using effective communication skills, and actively participating in team work
• Basic computer and software use

Ability to:

• Prioritize, organize, and meet deadlines
• Keep track of various issues, projects and responsibilities
• Maintain appropriate ethical considerations, including therapeutic boundaries and confidentiality
• Work independently and collaborate effectively with RN
• Identify and seek appropriate resources to meet professional learning needs
• Document in a timely manner, using clear, concise, complete professional language