SCHOOL NURSE- HEAD START

Education:           Bachelor’s Degree (RN, BSN)

Qualifications:    A current, active and unrestricted North Dakota Nursing License. Minimum of one (1) year experience in public health, community health, school health or pediatric nursing.  First Aid and CPR instructor credentials (or obtain in the first 6 months of hire).

Job Goal:             School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students.  Facilitate positive parent and student responses to development; promote health, safety and wellness for families, students, and staff; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with families, staff, and community partners to build student and family capacity for adaption, self-management, self-advocacy and learning.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Function as a health resource and liaison among students, staff, families, health care providers concerning health promotion and wellness.
2. Provide short-term care to students with an injury or illness prior to notifying the parent/guardian should the student need to be sent home or need further medical attention.
3. Administer medication to students according to school policies and guidelines.
4. Provide short-term care to staff if medical needs arise.
5. All nursing actions will be in accordance with the scope of practice of the North Dakota Board of Nursing, Grand Forks Public Schools policies and procedures, the Head Start Performance Standards, ECKLC, Child Care Aware, Caring for Our Children, and stay up to date on health requirements.
6. Provide yearly staff training/education to include, but not limited to, universal precautions, medication administration, medications, staff wellness, Individualized Health Plans and Action Plans.
7. Establish and continue to build community health partnerships.
8. Ensure First Aid kits in classrooms and vehicles and fully stocked and replenished as necessary.
9. Maintain the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), HIPPA and Head Start Performance Standards.
10. Maintain student health records and plans, including health, dental, and nutrition history.  
11. Assume responsibility for monitoring student immunizations as required by law as students enroll in the program.  Notify parents of needed immunizations and provide resource lists of community immunization clinics.
12. Ensures annual standing orders for medications are signed annually by the Health Officer, Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education, and the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.
13. Coordinates health screenings, new student registration, vaccinations for the District.
14. Collaborate with the Child Nutrition Program staff to accommodate dietary needs of children.
15. Perform Mantoux test on all staff, student teachers and regular volunteers at the beginning of every year.
16. Maintain and update all health policies, procedures and health forms.
17. Supervise school nurses and provide yearly performance appraisals.  
18. Other duties as assigned.

When assigned to Head Start:

1.      Coordinate health screenings, that include, physical exams, vision, height, weight, hemoglobin, lead, immunizations and nutrition, within 90 days of each child’s enrollment.  As well as provide resources to assist families in establishing medical and dental homes.

2.      Assist families with follow-up on any medical, dental, or nutritional needs.

3.      Provide health education for the following areas:  nutrition, dental health, and general health topics to parents and students. 

4.      Obtain weekly playground safety checklists, report to the Head Start Director and follow-up as necessary on concerns.

5.      Complete health and safety checklists twice a year, follow-up on findings and report concerns to the Head Start Director and Safety and Security Manager.

6.      Conduct hearing and vision assessments within 45 days of program entry and ensure necessary follow-up. 

7.      Provide reports as required by the Head Start Performance Standards; this includes, but is not limited to monthly health system management reports, the Program Information Report (PIR) and aggregate health data for the Annual Report.

8.      Coordinate at least two Health Advisory Committee meetings per year with community partners and utilize HAC members as needs arise.

9.      Conduct yearly Health and Safety self-assessment reports and participate in the Head Start Community Assessment every five years. 

10.  Participate in North Dakota Head Start state trainings, meetings and learning communities.

Work Environment and Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; occasionally walk and stand. The ability to hear and see in order to communicate effectively as well as communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties; Maintain mental capacity, allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.  

Terms of Employment:  8 hrs/day; Monday through Thursday; 32-hour work week with occasional evening and weekend time, 9-month calendar (August – May)

Evaluation: Job performance will be evaluated by the Director of Head Start.