School Nurse (2024-2025 SY)

Position Type:
Health Services and Nursing/School Nurse

Date Posted:
10/16/2024

Location:
Itinerant/Districtwide
(High-Needs School)
2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
SCHOOL NURSE
DISTRICTWIDE

Position Purpose:

• To provide assessment, screening, planning, intervention, evaluation, counseling, management and/or referrals concerning the health and medical care needs of students for the purpose of minimizing absences due to illness, maximizing educational opportunities, and creating a healthy school climate.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of and ability to apply clinical therapeutic models of patient care with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approach;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply professional nursing theory, practice and ethics;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply quality standards, procedures and protocols;
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic difference;
• Knowledge of basic first aid and CPR;
• Knowledge of basic neurology;
• Knowledge of child development and human development;
• Knowledge of common childhood infectious diseases and chronic and acute health conditions;
• Knowledge of community resources that support children and families;
• Knowledge of current medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects;
• Knowledge of medical, therapeutic and psychiatric nursing interventions and methods;
• Knowledge of nursing related technology, such as insulin pumps, nebulizers, gastronomy tubes;
• Knowledge of pediatric nursing;
• Knowledge of special needs children, special education, and students with disabilities.

Essential Functions:

• Works collaboratively with health care providers, students parents, school district staff and community agencies to ensure access and continuity of care for students.
• Assists in the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive school health program.
• Collects information about the health development status of students for compliance with state immunization regulations and Board of Education policies.
• Conducts school programs of immunization, physical examinations, and sight and hearing testing.
• Performs nursing assessment for students who are ill or injured; applies appropriate theory as basis for providing first aid, nursing care, intervention and referrals for those students.
• Evaluates nursing care provided and changes plan of care as necessary.
• Implements Board policy with respect to the exclusion and readmission of students in connection with certain infectious and contagious diseases (e.g., Tuberculosis).
• Maintains accurate records and documentation in accordance with state and federal law, and Board of Education policies.
• Develops individual health care plan (ICHP) when needed with specific goals, nursing diagnosis, and interventions delineating school-nursing actions unique to students' needs and for incorporation into the student's individualized educational plan (IEP).
• Intervenes as guided by the nursing care plan to implement nursing actions that promote, maintain or restore health, prevent illness and effect rehabilitation.
• Serves as a member of school teams as designated health care professional (e.g., Crisis Teams, PPT, Section 504).
• Provides guidance, counseling and health education to students, parents and employees as necessary.
• Reports to parents, school district personnel, physicians, clinics, and others as needed to meet student health needs.
• Provides instruction and training regarding the Heimlich Maneuver, Blood Borne Pathogen training, the school district's Emergency plan, and with regard to providing care for students, including students with disabilities.
• Contributes to nursing and school health through innovations in theory; practice and participation in research, including narrative and statistical reports.
• Provides medical assessment to school district employees as requested.
• Provides health education to students as requested.
• Notifies the appropriate person or agency of student's injury/illness in accordance with Board policy as necessary.
• Confers with parents, students and school district staff and professionals to interpret health and developmental assessments.

Additional Duties:

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by supervisors or other administrators.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment:

• Uses medical equipment to provide health care to students/staff, including, but not limited to, blood glucose monitor, stethoscopes, thermometers, sphygmomanometers.
• Uses personal computers.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, first aid, illnesses and injuries, nutrition, and related areas.
• Ability to diagnose and provide care for ill or injured students.
• Ability to convey appropriate medical information to school district staff or medical professionals to ensure a proper maintenance in the school setting.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed for position.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, the Internet, Outlook, electronic mail).
• Ability to problem solve job-related issues.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and students with special needs.
• Ability to follow oral and written orders from supervisors, administrators, physicians, and to coordinate work with principal, teachers and others.
• Ability to describe orally and in writing school health services provided, issues and concerns regarding school health.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.

Safety Requirements:

• Adheres to all applicable professional safety standards and practices in the nursing field, including requirements set forth in federal and state law, and Occupational Safety and Health regulations.
• Implements Board Policy regarding Blood Borne Pathogens and other Board policies regarding the medical or health care of employees and students.

Travel Requirements:

• Frequent travel between schools may be required.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards:

• Work in standard school building environment.
• Exposure to body secretions, blood borne pathogens, medicine and medicinal supplies, illnesses and diseases.

Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Functions for this position.

Qualifications Profile:

• Any combination of education, licenses, certifications and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry or related science area, with coursework in growth and development, health assessment, public or school health, crisis intervention and health education.
• Master's degree in related field preferred.
• Must meet qualifications of a school nurse as defined in state regulations.
• Successful experiences working with pediatric population, preferably in a community or school setting desirable.

License or Certificate:

• Registered professional nurse, designated as R.N. as defined and determined by state law, and currently licensed in the state.
• Current certification in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Education and Experience:

• Registered Professional Nurse (RN) License;
• BS or BA degree in nursing or related field from an accredited college or university;
• Five years' Pediatric/adolescent experience
• Current/updated physical assessment skills (preferably pediatrics);
• CPR/AED certification.
• BSN or MS in nursing with prior school nurse experience;
• Background in community health and multicultural/diverse experience;
• NCSN certification preferred
• Fluency in Spanish and English preferred.

Continuing Education Requirements:

• A school nurse must participate in at least ten hours of board-approved professional development activities or programs every two years.
• CPR/AED certification may also be required for this position.

COMPENSATION: Per Health Care Employees contract

Both candidates from within the system and candidates from outside the system will be considered.
Apply at
www.norwalkps.org/applynow
Click "Employment"

NORWALK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Norwalk Board of Education to ensure equal educational opportunity for all students and to prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, creed, age, marital status, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, transgender status or physical and mental disability in the school district's educational program and activities; and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, marital status, national origin, gender pregnancy, veteran status, gender identity or expression, transgender status, sexual orientation or physical and mental disability.

10.17.2024