To provide public health nursing to the residents of Davidson County. This is a (10) month per year position. This position is funded until June 30, 2028.
This professional nursing position (school nurse) within a public health department is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating school health services that: 1) maximize the quantity of in class time by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism, 2) eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning and 3) achieve the highest degree of independent functioning possible. More specifically, the school nurse: 1) identifies the health care needs of specific student populations and the availability of health services/resources, 2) plans and implements services to meet those healthcare needs, 3) assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of the services and health care plans and 4) collaborates with a wide variety of school system and professional disciplines to enhance the educational process and the promotion of an optimal level of wellness for students, families and staff. The school nurse functions independently under state and agency guidelines and policies without on-site supervision. Work is self-directed and clinically autonomous. Limited supervision may be exercised over volunteers and/or unlicensed personnel. Employee works under regular supervision of the PHN Supervisor I.
School nurse serves in the roles as program manager/coordinator, case manager/direct care provider, collaborator/advocate, educator and counselor for the assigned school(s).
School nurse addresses system-wide health services issues that affect the entire school population, i.e., population focused care.
Coordination and participation in the establishment, review and implementation of school health/services policies and procedures.
Assurance that such policies and related procedures adhere to legal and regulatory requirements and ethical standards of nursing practice.
Assessment, planning and evaluation of the health services component of the coordinated school health program.
Implementation of communicable disease control in the school, including monitoring, surveillance and participating in disease prevention and outbreak management within the school.
Serving as the health care consultant for school personnel, students and their parents/families.
Provision of professional health leadership to administrators and school staff.
Assurance that school health services and activities are appropriately documented.
Documentation, compilation and analysis of data for required reports on school health services.
Development and training of staff who provide health services, including the administration of medication to students.
Participation in the development of the school’s emergency health and crises plan.
Where applicable, directing, monitoring and supervising aides/assistants/volunteers assigned to the school health program.
Development of a system for the identification of students with special health care needs.
School nurse addresses the health needs of individual students or small groups of students.
Identification of students with special health care needs.
Development of emergency action plans for students at risk of medical crises at school or during a school function.
Development of and monitoring of individual health care plans (IHPs) for students who need invasive procedures performed during the school day, as well as for students who may require adaptation of the learning environment of classroom schedule.
Supervises the case management of students with complex health needs.
Provision of health related consultation as a member of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team.
Provision of consultation and recommendations in the planning and development of accommodation plans for Section 504 eligible students.
Determination of the tasks that may be appropriately delegated to unlicensed persons on a student by student basis and the provision of training of these people for those tasks.
On-going supervision of delegated staff to assure that they can safely and effectively perform the tasks.
Manages the training for staff regarding chronic illnesses experienced by students at school.
Functioning as a health resource for chronically ill students and their families.
Provision of periodic health appraisals of students with identified or suspected health problems.
Initiation of referrals and follow-up for students with identified or suspected health problems.
Manages the screening programs and immunization review/follow up for the school system.
Function as the liaison between the school and local health service agencies/providers.
Interpret health mandates, recommendations and trends to school personnel through written materials, meetings, etc.
Collaborate with other student services personnel to prevent health problems from becoming reasons for educational failure.
Provision of guidance and support to families in finding and using treatment services.
Collaborate with community agencies to provide resources for students and their families through serving on committees, task forces, etc.
Seek out local and other resources for use in the school setting.
Support the development and on-going functioning of the School Health Advisory Committee.
Participation with other school personnel in developing workshops for teachers, assistant and other staff on health-related topics.
Conducting of in-service training for school personnel on health issues.
Provision of classroom health instruction to increase the existing teaching staff’s capacity to achieve the school’s health education goals.
Participation in the development and implementation of health promotion activities.
Provision of health counseling for students and their families to maximize classroom participation.
Development and/or facilitation of health-oriented support groups.
Promotion of health through education and counseling.
Interpretation of students’ health needs to school personnel and facilitation of understanding of and adjustment to changes and limitations.
Respond to Community Emergencies in accordance with Health Department Response Plan and as otherwise directed.
Dependent on the availability of other Health Department funding, the staffing need in personal health and the availability of this staff member, this position may temporarily staff vacancies in the summer months (due to vacations, medical leaves, vacant positions).
Any other responsibility within the scope of nursing practice as assigned by supervisor.
Community, including community as a system and aggregates as clients
Counseling and crisis intervention
Case finding, case management and advocacy
Program management, including personnel supervision
Family theory, assessment and intervention
Leadership, networking and collaboration
Ethnic and cultural sensitivity and competence
Contemporary health and psychosocial issues that influence children
Health care delivery systems and the concepts of primary health care
School as a non-traditional health care setting
School health law
Special education legislation and services
Scope of school nursing practice
Development, management and evaluation of school health programs
Environmental health within the school community
Plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others
Deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations
Make independent and timely nursing decisions and to triage
Secure the cooperation and respect of students, faculty and staff
Elicit needed information and to maintain effective working relationships
Record accurately services rendered and to interpret and explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions
