District Nurse

School Health Services Manager / Coordinator
The school nurse follows school health policy and procedures and:
 Assures the district is in compliance with mandated health service activities.
 Coordinates and participates in the establishment, review, and implementation of school health services,
policies and procedures.
 Reviews and updates all standard forms for the school health program.
 Assures that such policies and related procedures adhere to legal and regulatory requirements and ethical standards of nursing practice.
 Documents, complies and provides data for required school health and state reports.
 Assures that school health services and activities are appropriately documented according to professional
school nurse standards.
 Implements communicable disease control in the school, including monitoring, surveillance and
participates in disease prevention and outbreak management within the school.
 Serves as the health care consultant for school personnel, students and their parents/families.
 Provides professional health leadership to administrators and school staff.
 Monitors staff that provide health services, including delegated procedures, medication administration, diabetic care management, other related mandated activities, and initiating individual care plans.
 Coordinates the establishment of guidelines, procedures and training in First Aid/CPR/Basic Emergency
Response Team for schools and staff. School nurse does coordination; health associates provide guidance
at individual schools.
 Assists the building principal in evaluating the health associates.
 Implements a system for the identification of students with chronic/acute health care needs and reviews
student enrollment forms with health information.
 Works in collaboration with special education teachers, principals, parents and associate professionals to
coordinate health services for children with Special Needs.
 Coordinates wellness clinics, flu vaccine administration clinics for staff, and coordinates vaccine
administration clinics for students in conjunction with County Health providers as directed by the state.
 Author of Individual Health Plans (IHP) for Medicaid reimbursement for the district. In addition,
complete any other required paperwork for Medicaid reimbursement (including medical codes and
diagnosis) and keep these on file for the length of time required by law.

B. Case Manager and Direct Care Provider
In this role, the school nurse addresses the health needs of individual students or small groups of students.
 Identification of students with special health care needs.
 Develops and monitors individual health care plans (IHP’s) for students who need health procedures performed during the school day, as well as for students who may require adaptation of the health-related learning environment or classroom schedule.
 Provides case management and collaborates with staff, students and families to promote self-management and optimal care during school hours.
 Provides training for staff regarding chronic illnesses experienced by students at school
 Coordinates on-the-job training for new health associates.
 Functions as a health resource for chronically ill students and their families.
 Provides consultation and recommendations in the planning and development of health accommodations for section 504 eligible students.
 Coordinates screening programs and immunization review and follow-up for the district.
 Orders supplies and equipment necessary for health offices in all schools in the district.

C. Collaborator / Advocator
The school nurse collaborates with school system employees, community providers/resources, and student families.
 Functions as the liaison between the school and local health service agencies/providers and community
resources.
 Serves as interpreter of health mandates, recommendations and trends to school personnel.
 Collaborates with other student services personnel to prevent health problems from becoming reasons for educational failure.
 Provides guidance and support to families in finding and using treatment services.
 Seeks out local and other resources that may be utilized in the school setting.

D. Educator for School and Community Concerns
The school nurse serves as a school health education partner and provides services such as:
 Conducting in-service training for school personnel on health issues.
 Providing classroom health instruction/serving as a resource to increase the existing teaching staff’s capacity to achieve the school’s health education goals.
 Participating in the development and implementation of health promotion activities.
 Helps lead the district Wellness Committee.

Skills related to this important role include the ability to:
 Maintain confidentiality concerning student and employee records and other materials which must be kept confidential by law.
 Plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others
 Deal tactfully with others and exercise good judgment in appraising situations
 Make independent and timely nursing decisions and to triage
 Secure the cooperation and respect of students, faculty and staff
 Obtain needed information and promote effective working relationships
 Collect data to direct evidence based practice
 Accurately record services rendered
 Interpret and explain records, reports, activities, health care plans, accommodations and medical interventions
 Identify health related barriers to learning (i.e., at risk behaviors, financial, cultural, economical etc.)

E. Education and Professional Collaboration
The school nurse:
 Attain statement of professional recognition, if eligible.
 Collaborate with other Iowa school nurses as opportunities present.