School Health RN

General Statement of Job: This position provides skilled professional nursing care and treatment for students in assigned school s . This position implements the medical components of an integrated school health program, reporting and functioning under the auspices of the Health Care District School Health Nursing Supervisor for all clinical and employee issues. The School Health Registered Nurse will be under the general supervision of the school-based Principal for non-clinical matters. The role of the School Health Registered Nurse is to advance the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement of the students. The School Health Registered Nurse will individualize care to students providing nursing diagnoses and interventions for students in cooperation with the parent(s) or guardian. Employees in this class perform duties in accordance with established regulations, policies, nursing standards, and medical instructions

Essential Functions:

• Maintains appropriate certifications, licenses, and continuing education credits
• Provides a student-centered approach to care for all students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 in the school setting.
• Provides first aid and injury care to students with urgent health needs.
• Manages health room (first aid, office, medical) supply inventory and equipment
• Plans and provides preventative care and well student services for student population.
• Provides nursing assessments to students, and counseling, including referrals to students and parents.
• Provides triage and treatment (as needed) to students with symptoms of potential communicable disease.
• Maintain infection control and use of PPE as directed per School Health guidelines. Manages students with chronic health problems, providing school-based services related to student-specific health care plans.
• Develops individualized health care plans for students with chronic health conditions as needed using the nursing process.
• Serves as a team member with other school-based staff, professionals, students and parents in developing and implementing individual Education Plan (IEPs) for ESE students and 504 plans for eligible students.
• Initiates, develops and maintains student health records utilizing the electronic School Health medical record system.
• Provides information concerning programs available for children with chronic health problems or disabling, and/or terminal illnesses.
• Liaises with hospital-based staff for students receiving long term hospitalization with a view to transitioning to hospital homebound care, prior to re-entry into school.
• Administers medications and provide treatments to students prescribed by a licensed health care provider with parental consent in accordance with established protocols and care plans.
• Identifies high-risk students and liaises with school administrator and staff in the coordination of school- based care and activities requiring health-related support.
• Works closely with the School District Data Processors providing guidance and technical assistance in the identification of students that are non-compliant with established immunization and health assessment requirements.
• Counsels' parents on child-specific health needs referring to health care provider or community agencies as needed.
• Conducts state mandated health screenings and provides follow-up case management related to vision, hearing, body-mass-index (BMI), and scoliosis screening outcomes and reports.
• Reviews and maintains student health records per established HCD guidelines.
• Initiates, develops, and maintains student health records utilizing the electronic School Health medical record system.
• Serves as a health resource person to students, parents, guardians or foster parents and school personnel.
• Develops and conducts group education sessions and/or educational messages, bulletin boards or articles in cooperation with school staff and established HCD guidelines.
• Travel to alternate school locations during scheduled work hours to perform nursing services, as needed School assignments may change based on the needs of the program.
• Provides direct supervision, training, delegation and oversight to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) who are providing health care services within the School Health Program.
• Provides education and training to school staff on medication administration as well as chronic and life-threatening conditions.
• Liaises with parents and provides follow-up for students failing scoliosis, vision and hearing and/or BMI screenings.
• Monitors the school environment including the school campus for health and safety issues advising school administrators of potential risks to students in a timely manner.
• Actively participates on School-Based Team contributing essential nursing/medical information relative to student progress and success.
• Records compliments, grievances, complaints and risk occurrences in the Event Reporting system.

Emergency duties may be required that includes assisting community or hospital-based organizations or staffing emergency community shelters. Staff may be directed to perform other emergency duties based on clinical experience including, but not limited to, responses to threats or disasters, man-made or natural.

Additional Duties:

• While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the program, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.
• Functions as health consultant to school personnel.
• Provides in-services for school personnel.
• Precepts and mentors newly hired registered nurses and nursing students temporarily assigned to particular school health rooms.

Access to reliable transportation required.

This job description reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a complete description of all the work requirements and expectations that may be inherent in the position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position. Management of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County reserves the right to assign duties not listed herein as necessary to accomplish the goals of the organization.

Education:

• Associate's degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited nursing institution required. Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred.

Experience:

• No Registered Nurse experience necessary. New Graduates are welcome to apply.
• One (1) year of experience in pediatric nursing, emergency room, community health, acute care and/or school health nursing is preferred.

Certification:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association required upon hire.
• First Aid Certification from either American Red Cross or the American Heart Association is required within 30 days of hire and will be offered on-site.
• National Certified School Nurse (NCSN) preferred

Licensure:

• Current State of Florida Registered Nurse license (unrestricted) required.