School Nurse

1 month ago

Wynne, United States Wynne School District Full time
  • Role:

The school nurse is a registered professional nurse working in the school setting who strengthens and facilitates the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children. The major focus of school nursing services is the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems. The school nurse is uniquely qualified in preventative health, health assessment, and referral procedures.

  • Qualifications:

    1. Possession of a current license to practice professional nursing in Arkansas.
    2. Three years of experience as a professional registered nurse.
    3. Certification as required by the Arkansas Department of Education.
    4. A Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is required. If a candidate does not have a BSN degree, he/she must be matriculating in a program to gain a BSN when applying.
  • Functions:

  1. Provide health assessments
    1. Obtains a health and developmental history.
    2. Screens and evaluates findings for deficits in vision, hearing, scoliosis, growth, etc.
    3. Observes the child for development and health patterns in making a nurse assessment and nursing diagnosis.
    4. Identifies health findings, which do not fall within the normal range. Assists with physical examinations when conducted in the school.
  2. Develops and implements a health plan
    1. Interprets the health status of pupils to school personnel.
    2. Initiates referrals to parents, school personnel and community health resources for intervention, remediation, and follow through.
    3. Provides ongoing health information to parents, school personnel, and health agencies.
    4. Recommends and helps to implement modifications of school programs to meet student's needs.
    5. Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of students.
  3. Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
  4. Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
  5. Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with chronic health problems, including the administration of medication.
  6. Participates in home visits to assess the family's needs as related to the child's health.
  7. Develops procedures and provides for crisis intervention for acute illness, injury and emotional disturbances.
  8. Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventative immunization programs, early detection, surveillance and reporting of contagious disease.
  9. Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning.
  10. Provides information on health.
    1. Provides health information to assist students and families in making health-related decisions
    2. Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching persons to become more assertive health consumers and to assume greater responsibility of their own health
    3. Provides information to adolescents concerning health problems in order to encourage responsible decision-making practices
    4. Serves as a resource person to the classroom teacher and administrator in health instruction and as a member of the healthcare team
  11. Acts as a resource person as needed in promoting health careers.
  12. Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practices.
  13. Assists in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for the school unit.
  14. Support the COVID Coordinator, students and staff members of any other pandemic/epidemic disease which arise
  • Coordination:

  1. Interprets school health services to school personnel.
  2. Plans, implements, and supervises school health screening programs in accordance with state and district requirements and recommendations. Provides follow-up services when indicated.
  3. Interprets diagnosis report finding, and helps students and parents accept responsibility for diagnosis and treatment.
  4. Serves as a health liaison between school, home, and the community. Makes home visits as needed.
  5. Encourages parents to maintain current immunization protection as recommended by the Department of Human Services and Arkansas Department of Health.
  6. Participates in health aspects of sports screenings, building screenings at all grade levels, and may be asked to assist in kindergarten pre-registration.
  7. Helps school personnel recognize departures from appropriate behavior and growth patterns; helps students and staff adjust student programs when necessary to accommodate health needs of students.
  8. Serves as a resource person to school personnel. Participates selectively in classroom instruction under the supervision of the teacher.
  • Requirements:

  1. Attend the annual school nurse update sponsored by the Department of Education in its entirety.
  2. Read and comply with the faculty handbook and student handbook.
  3. Read and comply with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities guidelines.
  4. Get to know the key people. For example: administration, faculty, physical education personnel, secretaries, custodians, and bus drivers.
  5. Obtain a private area for assessment/counseling, with proper ventilation, lighting, heat, telephone, filing, and resource material.
  6. Meet with teachers to acquaint them with the health program, health services offered, and classroom emergency procedures for first aid.
  7. Set up first aid kits.
  8. Set up a daily log to list those students who visit the nurse's office or need special attention.
  9. Set up a daily log for those students who take daily medication and PRN medication.
  10. Review students' health records and inform school personnel of special health problems and possible safety hazards. This is an excellent time to have handouts ready for the faculty in such areas as epilepsy/seizures, diabetes, asthma, etc.
  11. Plan to attend faculty meetings.
  12. Keep lines of communication open between nurse and teacher, nurse and administration, nurse and parents, and nurse and guidance department.
  13. Participate in the preparation of the school health services inventory and budget.
  14. Develop a full year plan for scheduled health activities including accommodated mandated reporting.
  15. Join your professional organization with the Arkansas Association of School Nurses.
  16. Prepare reports monthly/annually. It is extremely important to document school nursing activities. This documentation provides both the superintendent and school board with information to support the need for school nursing.

Administration:
  1. Responsible for maintaining and updating cumulative health records.
  2. Helps develop/revise school health policies, procedures and standing orders.
  3. Prepares inventory needed for school health supplies.
  4. Reviews, revises and implements emergency policies, including in-service health and safety programs for personnel.
  5. Prepares first aid kits for each building.
  6. Organizes, instructs, and supervises school health volunteers or assistants.
  7. Reports regularly to the principal and superintendent on school health activities.
  8. Prepares statistical reports for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Wynne School District Cycle Reports.
  9. Implements the school medication policy and procedure
  10. Any other duties as assigned by building administrators or superintendents

  • Director of Nursing

    3 weeks ago

    Wynne, United States River Ridge Rehabilitation and Center Full time

    We are seeking an experienced, positive and motivating individual for our Director of Nursing (DON) position. Director of Nursing Qualifications: Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Registered nurse with a current license in Arkansas . Two years experience in geriatric long term care. *B.S. Degree in nursing preferred. Ability to...