Position Title:      School Nurse (Registered Nurse)
Department:       Operations and Student Services

SUMMARY: 

Assists in meeting the health needs of students according to district policies and within the guidelines of the SC Board of Nursing.  This job is distinguished from similar jobs by the following characteristics: Receives general direction from the designated site principal and is responsible to the supervisor of school nurses in the development of district nursing procedures and plans.  School principals may supervise and evaluate the nursing/non-clinical performance only.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:   

• Uses nursing processes to assess and monitor students and/or staff who present with complaints of illness or injury and act accordingly; manage students with chronic illnesses; collaborate with parents, primary care providers, school staff, and administration as s needed to promote the optimum well-being and safety of students.
• Conducts periodic vision, hearing, dental and blood pressure screenings; provides referrals to parents for students when screenings indicate physical or medical problems.
• Administers medications and treatments to students per physician order and parent authorization. Maintains proper, legal documentation.
• Trains, documents the competency of, and evaluates Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs) designated by the principal to assist with medications and/or perform delegated nursing procedures.
• Bills for Medicaid reimbursement using Healthmaster software when direct nursing services are rendered to a Medicaid eligible student with a consent/release of information signed by the parent/guardian on file in accordance with the DHHS LEA provider manual and the South Carolina Department of Education.
• Reviews student immunization status; maintains accurate and current immunization documentation in compliance with state law, submits required reports to SC DHEC. Attends annual immunization update.
• Serves as a resource pertaining to annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training according to OSHA-BBP 29 CFR 1910.1030 and Aiken County Public School District OSHA-BBP Exposure Control Plan. Identifies employees classified at occupational risk for exposure according to Aiken County Public School District OSHA-BBP Exposure Control Plan and administers Hepatitis B vaccine to approved personnel.
• Works with local DHEC epidemiology nurse to track reportable communicable diseases.
• Attends Special Education meetings as requested by school administration.
• Develops and implements Individual Health Care Plans (IHP) and Emergency Action Plans for children with special health needs.
• Interacts with school staff and administration, students, parents, and healthcare professionals, etc.
• Prepares paper and electronic records and reports, such as health room visits and treatments given, medicine administration records, accidents reports, immunization records, medical alert forms, and referral forms.
• Maintains confidentiality of personally identifiable data on students and staff.
• Assists in identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Instructs students in proper health practices including nutrition, exercise, and general health.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional development and continuing education.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned by the Nursing Supervisor or Principal

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of two years recent nursing experience in school nursing, public health nursing, or community health nursing with children preferred.

                                                                                                                                      Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

Current, valid licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of South Carolina; must maintain current certification in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR/AED) from a recognized provider (e.g. American Heart Association)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Not applicable

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  

Ability to read and comprehend verbal and written instructions, correspondences, memos, and work place policies.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, families, and students.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in units of measurement, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to analyze information and use logic to address work related issues and problems. Ability to quickly assess employee, departmental, and administrative needs and provide timely feedback.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies. Ability to use clinic/medical equipment; possess basic pharmacological knowledge. Ability to assess emergency situations and act accordingly. Knowledge of universal precautions/procedures and ability to teach others. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to operate a personal computer and related software and standard office equipment. Willing attitude to be a part of the school team; strong sense of professionalism; other skills and requirements expected by the nursing supervisor and the school administrator include management and organizational ability, common sense, motivation and positive attitude.  Familiar with the South Carolina Nurse Practice Act and the National Association of School Nurse’s scope standards of school nursing practice. Ability to work independently, with limited supervision. Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, district employees and the school community. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; moderately heavy physical exertion is frequently required.  The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as furniture or boxes of materials.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stoop, kneel, and crouch; sit, stand, walk, talk, listen and/or reach with hands and arms as well as use hands to operate equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and depth perception. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work conducted in a school health room and/or classroom environment with exposure to discomforting and potentially dangerous conditions such as diseases, medications, and blood/body fluid exposure; frequent contact with ill students.  Limited travel is required.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

8 Hours/92.5 Days

Nurse Salary Pay Scale

The terms of employment detailed in this job description are based on full time employment during the school year.  Conditions of employment adjusted for part time employees or individuals who are hired for less than an entire school year.

EVALUATION: 

Performance of this job evaluated annually according to Board Policy.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:

The information contained in this job-description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.