Primary Purpose 

Support student success by promoting, protecting, improving, and maintaining student, staff, and community health through a comprehensive school health program. The RN, with a focus on patient safety, is required to function within the parameters of the legal scope of practice and in accordance with the federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations, and policies, procedures and guidelines of the employing health care institution or practice setting (BON, 15.28, TAC 217.11).

Qualifications  

Education  

Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university

Valid registered nurse license from the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners

Certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct vision and hearing screening

Certified to perform Acanthosis Nigricans screening

CPR certification

Special Knowledge/Skills

Current practical working knowledge of nursing procedures and techniques relevant to children

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to organize and coordinate campus clinic

Ability to work independently to implement district policies and procedures

Ability to learn and use computer and willingness to learn and use software applications

Willingness to attend workshops to acquire new skills

Experience

School nursing experience preferred

Minimum of 2 years nursing experience required

Major Responsibilities and Duties

1. Provides HEALTH SERVICES by:

   • Performing comprehensive nursing assessment on students

   • Using clinical reasoning based on established evidence-based practice outcomes and research for decision making and comprehensive care

   • Synthesizing comprehensive data to identify problems, formulate goals and outcomes, and develop nursing plans of care for patients, families, populations, and communities

   • Providing safe, compassionate, comprehensive nursing care to patients, families, populations, and communities through a broad array of health care services

   • Evaluating, reporting, and documenting patient outcomes and responses to interventions and determines if interventions were effective and any modifications are necessary

   • Administering medications and treatments according to school district policies and the RN scope of practice (BON, 15.28, TAC, Rule 217.11)

   • Assigning task and activities to other nurses

   • Delegating tasks to UAPs

   • Reporting any concerns related to child abuse (physical or mental) to administrators, law enforcement, and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

   • Participating in the educational process in determining health care needs and services in the school setting in the SST, Section 504, and ARD Special Education processes

2. Establishes SCREENING PROGRAMS by:

   • Conducting annual vision, hearing, height, weight, Acanthosis Nigricans, and spinal screening of students in specific grades as designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), including referrals as needed

3. Manages the SCHOOL CLINIC by:

   • Managing clinic budgets

   • Ordering supplies and equipment

   • Maintaining cumulative/individual health records both written and electronic

   • Reporting clinic activity statistics periodically

4. Provides HEALTH COUNSELING by:

   • Providing resource and referral information for community agencies and services to students and faculty and staff

   • Conferring with students, parents, and faculty/staff concerning health needs of individual students

   • Counseling with school personnel regarding individual health concerns

5. Establishes procedures for COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL by:

   • Enforcing and monitoring immunization status of students according to TDSHS requirements

   • Implementing and enforcing school district communicable disease policies

   • Reporting communicable disease cases as required by TDSHS

6. Provides EMERGENCY FIRST AID care by:

   • Assessing the severity of injuries and taking appropriate action

   • Performing first aid procedures effectively and efficiently

   • Anticipating changes in patient conditions and responding accordingly to include emergent care

   • Submitting school district accident reports periodically

7. Promotes HEALTH EDUCATION by:

   • Reviewing, recommending, and obtaining resource materials for students and  faculty/staff

   • Planning and implementing health/wellness activities

   • Teaching health related topics in the classroom as requested

   • Conducting emergency preparedness training in the event of a medical emergency

   • Conducting health awareness training to educate staff for safe school practices

   • Develops and implements teaching plans to address health promotion

8. Stay up-to-date professionally through the selection of quality staff development opportunities for personal growth.

9. Research district policy, precedent, and current practices prior to taking action.

10. Participate as an effective team member who contributes to district, department, and content goals.

11. Demonstrate integrity and ethics.

12. Display proficient levels of technology applications.

13. Utilize time wisely for effective management of job responsibilities.

14. Maintain punctuality in daily work times, appointments, and meetings.

15. Meet task completion deadlines established by supervisor.

16. Maintain friendly customer-service-driven interactions with all stakeholders, students, teachers, administrators, and co-workers.

17. Work cooperatively with co-workers and supervisors to ensure that the goals of the school/department are met.

18. Maintain a positive and professional tone in all communication (i.e. email, written, and verbal).

19. Perform other related duties and accept other responsibilities as assigned.

20. The RN, in compliance with BON’s Standard of Nursing Practice (TAC, Rule 217.11), assigns those aspects and activities to the LVN that are within the LVN’s educational preparation and demonstrated competency to provide.

21. The RN must be prepared to seek out other RNs to include district Lead Nurses or other health care providers when student conditions or situations exceed the RNs level of competency or experience to ensure student safety.

22. The RN monitors, coordinates, and evaluates the provision of health services necessary to meet individual student health needs essential in achieving educational objectives.

Working Conditions

Mental Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress

Physical Demand/Environmental Factors

Exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases; frequent standing, stooping, bending; moving medical equipment and other clinic materials

Term:   187 days