Substitute Nurse

Job Summary:

The Substitute Nurse will work closely with the school to promote the educational development of students through good health and safety. The nurse will be an advocate for nutrition, physical education, health education, and life skills, as well as staff wellness, family, school, and community partnerships, healthy and safe environments, social and emotional well-being, and health services for students.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in the development and implementation of district school health policies and procedures.
• Comply with all school board policies.
• Demonstrate leadership by working cooperatively and communicating accurately and effectively with colleagues, supervisors, and administrators.
• Implement policies and procedures regarding control of communicable disease in accordance with regulations of the State of New Mexico Department of Health.
• Keep records and delegate record-keeping duties to health assistants as necessary.
• Maintain documentation and reports of activities as required by New Mexico PED Annual Report. Submit report annually.
• Participate in and help develop educational plans (e.g., IEP, IHP, and 504).
• Help with instruction and staff training on health-related issues (e.g., hand hygiene, puberty, etc.).
• AED monitoring.
• Authorize and document the justification for exclusion and readmission of students in connection with infectious, contagious, and nuisance diseases.
• Supervise and delegate duties of the health assistant as per New Mexico Board of Nursing regulation.
• Administer and/or delegate to unlicensed personnel and/or health assistants.
• Arrange for emergency transportation of students and staff as needed.
• Ensure daily health room coverage during students' lunchtime and recess.
• Carry out routine student health screenings as required by New Mexico PED School Health Manual and Board Policy.
• Utilize the NM State PED School Nurse's Health Manual as the standard of care.
• Make appropriate referrals based on data obtained from assessment and screening procedures.
• Follow up on student health problems and make home visits as needed.
• Monitor students taking daily medication at school and ensure proper documentation as per district policy.
• Coordinate school health functions with those of the city, county, and state agencies.
• Maintain professional licensure requirements by participating in in-service trainings, workshops, conferences, and continuing education.
• Plan for and monitor health office resources (i.e., finances, personnel, facilities, health program, and time management) for which he/she is responsible.
• Participate in student registration to ensure proper health records are obtained (i.e., current immunization records, medication authorizations, and health histories).
• Responsible for ensuring the continuing education/training of the health assistant.
• Perform health-related tasks as deemed appropriate by his/her administrator.
• Medicaid Billing.
• Immunization reports as required by NMDOT.

Qualifications:

• Valid certificate as a School Nurse as established by the Public Education Department.
• Current professional registered Nurse's license issued by the New Mexico Board for Nursing.
• Interest in working with students.
• Stability, maturity, and ability to recognize limitations and to accept and utilize supervision and consultation.
• Knowledge of clerical work, including computer skills and office procedures.
• Confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain sound working relationships with school personnel, students, and community.
• Current CPR certificate and first-aid training as provided by the school.
• Must complete a finger-print background check.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of computer-based health records systems.
• Knowledge of Data Driven Instructional Practices and Professional Learning Communities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position clinically supervises the following positions: Health Assistant Educational Assistant.

Confidentiality:

Due to the sensitive nature of this position and access to financial information, the highest degree of confidentiality is required.

Qualification Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to eligible individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Please see Qualifications.

Communication and Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures and governmental regulations.
• Ability to assist with preparation of reports and correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, peers, and community.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, peers, and community; ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Ability to use computers and other technology to accomplish job responsibilities.
• Ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently and follow verbal directions.
• Ability to work around congested areas. Ability to work a flexible work schedule around job responsibilities.

Analytical and Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in written, verbal, or diagram form, and deal with abstract variables.

Temperaments:

• Ability to teach others, work with people, and influence people in their opinions, attitudes, and judgments.
• Ability to perform a variety of duties.
• Ability to work with people who express conflicting opinions.
• Ability to solve problems, make sound judgments, and reach conclusions.
• Ability to express personal feelings professionally, and perform effectively under stress.

Physical Attributes:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, talk, or hear and use hands to finger, handle, type, or feel.

The employee may occasionally sit, climb, or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and reach with hands and arms.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Health and Safety:

• Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions.
• Knowledge of safety, food handling, communicable diseases, and contagious diseases.
• First Aid and CPR.

Equipment and Materials Handled:

• First aid materials.
• Must know how to properly operate and learn all multimedia equipment, and other current technologies.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The employee must possess and maintain a current driver's license.

The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff.

Certificates Licenses:

Must possess a New Mexico School Nurse's License from New Mexico Public Education Department.

Must possess a New Mexico Registered Nurse's License.

Terms of Employment:

Appropriate placement on the Salary Schedule and the Aztec School District Calendar.

Evaluation:

Performance of duties will be evaluated at least annually in accordance with Aztec School Board Policy.

Physical Rating Level:

This position will require the employee to function at a Medium physical capacity as defined by Worker's Compensation Statutes.

Medium physical capacity indicates the ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally or up to 25 pounds frequently.

Physical Requirement Details:

Work Actions

Finger Dexterity

C

Sitting

F

Standing

F

Walking

F

Repetitive Motions

Hand

Right:

F

Left:

F

Both:

F

Foot

Right:

F

Left:

F

Both:

F

Grasping:

Hand

Right:

F

Left:

F

Both:

F

Fine Manipulation:

Hand

Right:

F

Left:

F

Both:

F

Use of Head and Neck

Static

F

Flexing

F

Rotating

F

Work Positions

Bending

F

Squatting

F

Crawling

R

Climbing

F

Reaching

F

Vision

C

Activities

Unprotected Heights

R

Driving Automotive Equipment

R

Around Machinery

R

Temperature Extremes

R

Noise and Vibration

R

Hazards

R

Dust, Fumes, Odors, Chemicals

R

Balance and Coordination

R

Definitions:

R = Rarely = 1% to 9% of an 7.5 hour day

O = Occasionally = 10% to 33% of a 7.5 hour day

F = Frequently = 34% to 66% of a 7.5 hour day

C = Continuously = 67% to 100% of a 7.5 hour day

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work expected.

They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this job classification.