What are the responsibilities and job description for the 12-Month Public Health Nurse II / LPN School Health Nurse Extender position at Forsyth County (NC)?
Forsyth County Department of Public Health is searching for a Nurse to join the team. The current student-to-nurse ratio in Forsyth County exceeds state-recommended levels, increasing demand for nursing services and limiting the ability to provide adequate care, follow-up, and preventive interventions. In addition, the complexity of student health needs continues to rise, including increased prevalence of chronic conditions, mental health concerns, and medically fragile students requiring daily nursing support. To address these challenges, the program is implementing a flexible and innovative staffing model through a consolidated posting, allowing positions to be filled at either the Registered Nurse (PHN II) or Licensed Practical Nurse (School Health Nurse Extender) level based on candidate qualifications and program needs. This approach ensures the ability to adapt staffing to meet real-time service demands, optimize team-based care delivery, and maintain safe and appropriate levels of clinical oversight.
This is a 12-month position with year-round employment. Summer responsibilities may include participation in Extended School Year (ESY) programming, immunization initiatives, program planning, and staff training. School Health Nurses also play a key role in preparing for the upcoming school year by reviewing, organizing, and updating student medical forms and provider orders, and collaborating with families and healthcare providers over the summer to ensure required documentation and care plans are in place prior to the return of students and staff. The School Health Nurse may conduct home visits to follow up with parents regarding student health concerns. All Public Health Nurses are required to work 2–4 immunization clinics per year outside of normal working hours to increase vaccine compliance rates for students attending the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and may be required to provide emergency response in the event of an emergent public health situation. The nurse assists with the investigation and monitoring of communicable diseases within assigned schools and may support outbreak response efforts across Forsyth County.
Registered Nurse (RN) Applicant:
This position provides a unique opportunity to deliver meaningful, community-based nursing care within the school setting. The School Health Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for assessment, clinical decision-making, and oversight of student health services for those with acute and chronic health needs. Responsibilities include conducting health assessments, triaging illness and injury, developing and managing individualized healthcare plans, coordinating care with families and healthcare providers, and providing health education to students and staff. The RN also provides clinical leadership within the school setting, including delegation and supervision of nursing tasks to appropriate personnel, and ensures care is delivered safely and in alignment with nursing standards and public health guidelines.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Applicant:
This position provides a unique opportunity to deliver meaningful, community-based nursing care within the school setting. The School Health Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides direct patient care to students with acute and chronic health needs under the direction of a Registered Nurse. Responsibilities include medication administration, treatment of illness and injury, support for students with chronic conditions, and implementation of established healthcare plans. The LPN assists with health screenings, daily clinic operations, and ongoing monitoring of student health needs, while communicating changes in condition to the supervising RN. This role is focused on hands-on care delivery and consistent support for students throughout the school day.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, 7:30 am - 3:30 pm, or 8:00 am - 4:00 pmThe ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Registered Nurse (RN) Applicant:
-Considerable knowledge of and skill in the application of nursing theory, practices, principles, and techniques employed in public health and school health settings
-Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health, including prevention, population health, and health promotion
-Considerable knowledge of available community resources and organizations, and the ability to coordinate services to support student health and reduce barriers to care
-Working knowledge of current social, economic, and environmental factors impacting student and community health
-Ability to perform comprehensive health assessments, triage acute and chronic health conditions, and make sound clinical decisions in a dynamic school environment
-Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized healthcare plans and coordinate care across providers, families, and school staff
-Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise, and delegate nursing tasks in accordance with scope of practice and regulatory standards
-Ability to provide clinical leadership within a team-based care model, including oversight of delegated tasks and support of LPN practice
-Ability to communicate effectively, deal tactfully with others, and exercise sound judgment in assessing situations and making decisions
-Ability to secure cooperation from students, families, and staff; elicit relevant health information; and maintain effective working relationships
-Ability to maintain accurate documentation, interpret medical records, and apply provider orders within the school setting
-Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with program protocols, clinical guidance, and public health standards
-Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school personnel, healthcare providers, and community partners
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Applicant:
-Knowledge of and skill in the application of practical nursing techniques and procedures within public health and school health settings
-Knowledge of basic public health principles, including prevention, health promotion, and supporting population health initiatives
-Working knowledge of available community resources and the ability to assist in connecting students and families to services
-Working knowledge of social, economic, and environmental factors impacting student and community health
-Ability to recognize and respond to changes in student condition and provide care for acute and chronic health needs within scope of practice
-Ability to safely perform nursing tasks and procedures, including medication administration and treatments, as directed by a Registered Nurse or provider
-Ability to implement established healthcare plans and follow clinical guidance provided by the supervising RN
-Ability to communicate effectively with the supervising RN regarding student status, changes in condition, and care needs
-Ability to function effectively within a team-based care model under the direction of an RN
-Ability to communicate effectively, deal tactfully with others, and maintain positive relationships with students, families, and staff
-Ability to maintain accurate documentation of care provided and follow established protocols and procedures
-Ability to work with a degree of independence in day-to-day tasks while adhering to supervision, program protocols, and scope of practice
-Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school personnel, healthcare providers, and community partnersRN Requirements:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a B.S. Degree in Nursing which includes a public health nursing rotation and one year of professional nursing experience in specialty area; or
Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and two years of professional nursing experience in specialty area assigned.
Must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
LPN Requirements:
Possession of current North Carolina license to practice as a Practical Nurse
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A higher education level may be considered as a substitution for all or part of the experience requirement.
Individuals hired without a rotation through a public health department as part of the educational requirement will be required to complete Introduction to the Public Health Nursing course within one year of hire.
This is a 12-month position with year-round employment. Summer responsibilities may include participation in Extended School Year (ESY) programming, immunization initiatives, program planning, and staff training. School Health Nurses also play a key role in preparing for the upcoming school year by reviewing, organizing, and updating student medical forms and provider orders, and collaborating with families and healthcare providers over the summer to ensure required documentation and care plans are in place prior to the return of students and staff. The School Health Nurse may conduct home visits to follow up with parents regarding student health concerns. All Public Health Nurses are required to work 2–4 immunization clinics per year outside of normal working hours to increase vaccine compliance rates for students attending the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and may be required to provide emergency response in the event of an emergent public health situation. The nurse assists with the investigation and monitoring of communicable diseases within assigned schools and may support outbreak response efforts across Forsyth County.
Registered Nurse (RN) Applicant:
This position provides a unique opportunity to deliver meaningful, community-based nursing care within the school setting. The School Health Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for assessment, clinical decision-making, and oversight of student health services for those with acute and chronic health needs. Responsibilities include conducting health assessments, triaging illness and injury, developing and managing individualized healthcare plans, coordinating care with families and healthcare providers, and providing health education to students and staff. The RN also provides clinical leadership within the school setting, including delegation and supervision of nursing tasks to appropriate personnel, and ensures care is delivered safely and in alignment with nursing standards and public health guidelines.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Applicant:
This position provides a unique opportunity to deliver meaningful, community-based nursing care within the school setting. The School Health Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides direct patient care to students with acute and chronic health needs under the direction of a Registered Nurse. Responsibilities include medication administration, treatment of illness and injury, support for students with chronic conditions, and implementation of established healthcare plans. The LPN assists with health screenings, daily clinic operations, and ongoing monitoring of student health needs, while communicating changes in condition to the supervising RN. This role is focused on hands-on care delivery and consistent support for students throughout the school day.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, 7:30 am - 3:30 pm, or 8:00 am - 4:00 pmThe ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Registered Nurse (RN) Applicant:
-Considerable knowledge of and skill in the application of nursing theory, practices, principles, and techniques employed in public health and school health settings
-Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and practices of public health, including prevention, population health, and health promotion
-Considerable knowledge of available community resources and organizations, and the ability to coordinate services to support student health and reduce barriers to care
-Working knowledge of current social, economic, and environmental factors impacting student and community health
-Ability to perform comprehensive health assessments, triage acute and chronic health conditions, and make sound clinical decisions in a dynamic school environment
-Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized healthcare plans and coordinate care across providers, families, and school staff
-Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise, and delegate nursing tasks in accordance with scope of practice and regulatory standards
-Ability to provide clinical leadership within a team-based care model, including oversight of delegated tasks and support of LPN practice
-Ability to communicate effectively, deal tactfully with others, and exercise sound judgment in assessing situations and making decisions
-Ability to secure cooperation from students, families, and staff; elicit relevant health information; and maintain effective working relationships
-Ability to maintain accurate documentation, interpret medical records, and apply provider orders within the school setting
-Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with program protocols, clinical guidance, and public health standards
-Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school personnel, healthcare providers, and community partners
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Applicant:
-Knowledge of and skill in the application of practical nursing techniques and procedures within public health and school health settings
-Knowledge of basic public health principles, including prevention, health promotion, and supporting population health initiatives
-Working knowledge of available community resources and the ability to assist in connecting students and families to services
-Working knowledge of social, economic, and environmental factors impacting student and community health
-Ability to recognize and respond to changes in student condition and provide care for acute and chronic health needs within scope of practice
-Ability to safely perform nursing tasks and procedures, including medication administration and treatments, as directed by a Registered Nurse or provider
-Ability to implement established healthcare plans and follow clinical guidance provided by the supervising RN
-Ability to communicate effectively with the supervising RN regarding student status, changes in condition, and care needs
-Ability to function effectively within a team-based care model under the direction of an RN
-Ability to communicate effectively, deal tactfully with others, and maintain positive relationships with students, families, and staff
-Ability to maintain accurate documentation of care provided and follow established protocols and procedures
-Ability to work with a degree of independence in day-to-day tasks while adhering to supervision, program protocols, and scope of practice
-Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school personnel, healthcare providers, and community partnersRN Requirements:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a B.S. Degree in Nursing which includes a public health nursing rotation and one year of professional nursing experience in specialty area; or
Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing and two years of professional nursing experience in specialty area assigned.
Must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
LPN Requirements:
Possession of current North Carolina license to practice as a Practical Nurse
---
A higher education level may be considered as a substitution for all or part of the experience requirement.
Individuals hired without a rotation through a public health department as part of the educational requirement will be required to complete Introduction to the Public Health Nursing course within one year of hire.
Salary : $60,445 - $69,493