POSITION SUMMARY

The School Nurse is responsible for coordinating, collaborating, planning for, and providing direct services to ensure that the school’s health program, as defined by the Pennsylvania School Code, School District Policies, and the PA Department of Health Division of School Health Regulations is carried out according to the specifics in the law.

The goals of the School Nurse are to maintain and improve the health status of students, thus enabling them to profit fully from their educational experiences; and, to promote optimum health status and lifestyles for all students through the joint efforts of the home, school and community.

MACS has a culture of respect and kindness. The School Nurse is expected to exhibit respect and kindness for all staff, students and families while maintaining school expectations both behaviorally and academically. The School Nurse serves as a partner with the teachers and administration to work in support of the benefit of all MACS students. Regular and predictable attendance are essential functions of this position.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides direct professional nursing services, first aid, illness, and emergency care to students in accordance with current medical practice and nursing standards, relevant statutes, and regulations
• Delegates nursing and other health services to licensed personnel, as necessary
• Identifies health problems, makes referrals for diagnosis and treatment, develops educational modifications, provides follow-up and evaluation, and maintains appropriate documentation
• Reviews and monitors student immunization status and makes appropriate referrals to update immunizations when necessary
• Maintains comprehensive health records on each child and records of nursing services
• Performs and/or oversees State and Federal mandated screenings and completes referrals and provides follow-up for deficits in vision, hearing, growth and development, and other physical impairments. Monitors and ensures school is in compliance with all mandated screening requirements.
• Ensures that all reports required by the school district, PA Department of Health Division of School Health, and the PA Department of Education are accurately completed and submitted
• Orders and maintains school health supplies, as needed
• Provides counseling and follow-up services to students with disabilities as delineated in the IEP/504
• Follows up with homebound students needing related health care services
• Initiates, encourages, and participates in health education programs for children
• Develops the medication protocol to safely store, administer, document, and monitor the effectiveness of the medication given at school (and in accordance with physician orders and school policies and procedures)
• Manages and controls acute and chronic disease. Carries out policies and procedures for the control of communicable diseases, in collaboration with the PA Department of Health
• Attends professional development activities
• Ensures regular and predictable attendance on a daily basis
• Other duties as assigned

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Current PA Registered Nurse License is required
• Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN) is required
• Current PA School Nurse PK-12 Certification is preferred (or willingness to enroll in and complete the required program)
• CPR certification is required
• Previous experience as a school nurse is preferred
• Background and experience is preferred in pediatric nursing, community health nursing, critical care nursing, medical-surgical nursing and/or emergency room nursing
• Knowledge of current Child Abuse Laws is required
• Required state and federal background clearances
• Commitment to urban education and a belief that all students should be held to high academic standards
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, teamwork and leadership skills
• High physical and emotional energy
• Strong technology skills
• Excellent time management and multi-tasking skills with the ability to “wear many hats”
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

WORKING CONDITIONS

The working conditions of a School Nurse include:

• Very high levels of social interaction, with daily and consistent work with children, parents, and other teachers.
• Communicating with people face-to-face on a daily basis, as well as communication through phone, e-mail, letters, and memos.
• Working very near others, within a few feet or less, which may result in exposure to diseases and infections, such as colds and influenza.
• Exposure to loud sounds and high noise levels on a regular basis.
• Responsibility for the health and safety of the children in their school.
• Being placed in conflict situations where parents and students might become angry or unpleasant.
• Working as part of a team of educators.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The School Nurse is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, bend/stoop, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.