Performs professional work as a school health nurse promoting the maximal physical, social, emotional, and educational growth of children and adolescents who attend Cleveland County Schools, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Public Health Nurse Supervisor II. The normal work schedule includes Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00pm with a 30-minute lunch.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Utilizes nursing skills to perform health assessments for students, identify health concerns, implement, and evaluate the health care plans, medical treatments, procedures, accommodations, and any other nursing services. Participates in establishing, reviewing, and implementing school health policies and protocols in cooperation with school personnel and the School Health Nursing Supervisor. Serves as liaison between the school, the student, and local service agencies (public health, social services, mental health, etc.) and private providers. Supervises the care given to students by those who are assigned to provide such care under the school health program, including private duty nurses, school health assistants, school staff, health career students, or volunteers. Participates in the development and implementation of the school's emergency crisis plan, by sharing nursing knowledge of potential effects and necessary responses to various crisis situations.
Maintains complete and accurate nursing documentation. Collects data related to student services and prepares reports for the school system, the State School Nurse Consultant, and others as needed or required.
Advocate for health rights for students and schools. Serves as counselor for health concerns of students, family, and staff. Serves as an educator for school staff and that community regarding health concerns and community concerns.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Considerable knowledge and skill in the application of the nursing process, nursing principles, and nursing practices in the delivery of health care to children and adolescents. Considerable knowledge of common health problems affecting school age children and adolescents including but not limited to: medical diagnoses, current treatments, and essential components to include in student health care plans. Ability to research and collect information about the less common or rare health problems encountered. General knowledge of school organization and operation, and policies that affect school nursing practice. Knowledge of and ability to apply principles and practices of public health, and to look at the whole student in the context of family, classroom, and school. Knowledge of the community, its resources and organizations (who to contact) and the ability to access/coordinate these as needed. General knowledge of current social, economic, and environmental issues (problems) affecting the health of children and adolescents. Ability to plan, facilitate, and coordinate services between the school, public health center, and other community providers and agencies. Ability to deal tactfully and professionally with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions. Ability to work independently and efficiently. Ability to interact effectively with children and adolescents to enlist their cooperation and to maintain effective professional relationships. Ability to develop and maintain accurate record of services provided and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions. Ability to plan, coordinate, and supervise the work of others. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:
Graduated from a 4-year College or University with a B.S. Degree in Nursing and 1 year of Nursing experience.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 30 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires sitting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
National Certification in School Nursing (NCSN) is a requirement. As of July 2017, if the nurse in this position is not already certified at the time of hire, she/he must work toward being nationally certified in school nursing within three years. License to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the N.C. Board of Nursing. Valid driver's license.
This position is a part of a Health and Human Services Department. By General Statue 166A-19.3, Departments of Health and Human Services are agencies that are a part of the State Emergency Response Team for occurrences or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made accidental, military, paramilitary, terrorism, weather-related, public health, explosion-related, riot-related cause, or technological failure or accident, including, but not limited to, a cyber incident, an explosion, a transportation accident, a radiological accident, or a chemical or other hazardous material incident. In the event that the State Emergency Response Team is activated, this position will be required to participate if deemed necessary.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Cleveland County application must be submitted to the Cleveland County Human Resources Department online at www.clevelandcounty.com.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Selection will be by structured interview. Applications will be reviewed to select the best qualified applicants for admission to a structured interview.
Cleveland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer