Nurse - GSCA

JOB TITLE: School Nurse

Part-time, 190 days

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, is responsible for promoting and maintaining the health and wellbeing of all students by providing health services such as nursing assessments and nursing treatment, first aid, counseling and emergency care. Reports to the Principal at the school level and works collaboratively with other district nurses and trainers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitors, evaluates and treats physical/medical conditions of students; confers with physicians as needed for proper treatment of injuries/illnesses; refers all severe health problems to parents for further diagnosis and remedy; refers continuing health problems to outside community sources.
• Administers prescription and non-prescription medications as directed by the physician and parent, in compliance with S.C. Board of Nursing policy, the S.C. Nurse Practice Act, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and the S.C. Department of Education recommendations.
• Follows established procedures and protocols for emergency medications.
• Obtains and maintains student immunization records; prepares S.C. certificates of immunization under the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC); prepares DHEC immunization reports as required.
• Communicates with parents concerning the health of their child(ren); provides instruction for proper medical care.
• Monitors homebound students and follows up in an appropriate manner as needed. Makes home visits as necessary.
• Serves as an active member of the school’s Learning Support Services (LSS) team and supports LSS initiatives.
• Assists other LSS team members in assessing students’ physical and emotional wellbeing. Assists in identifying and reporting suspected child abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. Assists in crises, such as student bullying/harassment, student suicidal ideation/threat/attempt, student danger assessments, student death, and other crisis issues.
• Is responsible for the control of communicable diseases and reporting diseases to the Horry County Health District Epidemiology Nurse. Utilizes the S.C. DHEC childcare and school age children exclusion list to determine when to exclude a student from school.
• Maintains a log of students excluded from school for communicable diseases.
• Conducts periodic vision, dental, hearing, blood pressure and other screenings as needed.
• Makes referrals to appropriate medical resources or other agencies as needed. Follows up with individual cases and monitors students.
• Follows up with parents to determine if barriers exist for referral completion. Assists parents to overcome these barriers, as needed.
• Uses the nursing process in the assessment, intervention, planning, and evaluation of student health and injury needs. Develops Individualized Health Care Plans and Emergency Action Plans, and coordinates care for students with chronic health conditions that require medications, treatments, procedures, and/or monitoring while at school.
• There are students whose treatments, procedures, or monitoring is complicated and/or lengthy, requiring several contacts with the school nurse during the day; they are needed to prevent death or disability on an emergent basis, and/or the student has a medically fragile health condition.
• Reviews and revises the Individualized Health Care Plan and/or Emergency Action Plan as needed on an on-going basis.
• Assists administrators and teachers in the planning and instruction of the health curriculum.
• Instructs students on proper health practices including nutrition, exercise, human growth and development, reproductive health, and general health. Serves as a classroom guest speaker on health- related topics as requested.
• Provides training for health room assistants and/or first aid providers. Conducts staff training to promote awareness of illness and disease symptoms. Provides training for faculty and staff on the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis, severe bleeding, administration of emergency medications, and other emergencies as needed.
• Provides training for faculty and staff to assist students with routine medications and administration of emergency medications while on field studies.
• Complies with Federal OSHA regulations on Bloodborne Pathogens and Horry County’s Exposure Control Plan.
• Conducts Bloodborne Pathogen training programs for new employees and acts as a resource person for questions and points of concern. Coordinates with the school’s principal for an annual update on Bloodborne Pathogens for faculty and staff.
• Identifies “at risk” personnel according to the Richland Two Exposure Control Plan and offers the  Hepatitis B vaccine at no cost to the employee.
• Maintains confidentiality of personally identifiable data on students  and staff.
• Maintains confidential records of HBV vaccinations, training programs, exposure incidents and follow-up opinions of the district’s health care professionals.
• Maintain and monitor the yearly physical forms and consent forms as established by the CIF and the FUHSD Board of Trustees.
• Attends various school based and/or district-based meetings, such as Intervention Assistance Team (IAT),
• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, 504 Plan meetings, Homebound meetings, or other meetings as requested by school administration.
• Provides appropriate assistance with medical/health conditions of staff as needed on an emergency basis.
• Uses various tools and equipment, such as an AED, audiometer, stethoscope, otoscope, thermometer, scoliometer, audio/visual equipment, first aid supplies, CPR shield, protective clothing, tourniquets, etc.
• Maintains a wide variety of paper and electronic records. Enters student health information into an electronic health record (EHR). Documents health room visits, medication administration, and nursing procedures into the student’s individual EHR. Maintains other health records (IHP/ EAP, crisis logs, etc.), accident reports, immunization records, health forms, communication with parents, etc. Submits annual reports on student aggregate data per S.C. Department of Education requirements.
• Interacts with school staff and administration, students, parents, physicians, healthcare professionals, caseworkers, psychologists, etc.
• Orders health room supplies as needed.
• Willingly performs other duties as assigned or requested.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Two years recent nursing and experience, preferably in school nursing, public health nursing, or community health nursing with children; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Current CPR/AED certification.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge in the promotion and maintenance of physical and emotional health.
• Knowledge of the proper practices, methods and procedures required for providing healthcare.
• Knowledge of methods for detecting illness, injury and disease.
• Knowledge of proper health screening methods and procedures.
• Knowledge of appropriate referral methods.
• Knowledge of all local and state regulations and standards pertaining to school healthcare programs.
• Knowledge of pediatric/school nursing practices.
• Knowledge of all records and reports which must be completed as required by the school and/or state.
• Knowledge of the equipment, machines, tools and supplies used in providing proper healthcare.

Skills/Effort:

• Ability to interpret and apply school policies and procedures as well as local and state laws and regulations pertaining to healthcare.
• Ability to integrate school health service programs with other private and public healthcare delivery systems in the community.
• Ability to assess, evaluate and monitor the health and development status of students through appropriate screening techniques.
• Ability to identify students needing further diagnosis and treatment, and to provide appropriate referrals and/or obtain further assistance from outside doctors.
• Ability to maintain all required forms, records and reports.
• Ability to provide healthcare counseling and training to students, staff and parents.
• Ability to assist in identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.  
• Ability to interact in a professional and positive manner with staff, students, parents and all other groups and individuals involved in the activities of the job.

Additional Physical, Cognitive, and Other Requirements:

• Duties involve work in school environment that includes standing, walking, stooping, reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling, and sedentary duties.
• Duties may involve tasks that require skill, adeptness and speed in using the hands, fingers, and/or limbs.
• Must be able to talk, read and hear, and effectively perceive and exchange information in a variety of oral, written and/or printed formats.
• Must be able to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals and medical reference books, health records, etc.
• Requires the ability to apply judgment and complex logic in defining problems, collecting information, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Must be able to prepare documents, reports, correspondence, etc. in correct form including proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Duties require successful adaption to stressors, emergencies, volatile situations, tight deadlines, etc.
• Must be able to record and exchange data, follow or deliver detailed verbal or written instructions, and make presentations to varied groups, including students.
• Must possess the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, determine decimals and percents, and apply statistical analysis.
• Must be able to compare and analyze information in numeric or symbolic form, and appropriately process color, depth and spatial relationships.
• Must have sufficient hand, eye and foot coordination to effectively use and/or operate medical or office equipment, items, and supplies.
• Duties of the job require routine keyboard operations and the frequent use of computer monitors and related equipment.
• Duties may involve the pushing, pulling and/or lifting of items weighing up to 50 pounds and the exertion of between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis.

Working Conditions:

• Work is conducted in a health room, classroom, and/or other school or school-related environment with exposure to discomforting and potentially dangerous conditions such as diseases, medications, and blood/body fluid exposure; frequent contact with ill students.
• Moderately heavy physical exertion is occasionally required to lift and move objects weighing up to fifty pounds.
• Must be physically able to perform CPR/AED services in a crisis situation, as well as to perform other nursing duties requiring bending and moderate lifting.
• Limited travel is required.
• Job requires the operation of standard office equipment.

Responsibility:

• No budgetary responsibility.
• Provides responsible supervision to students in the health room.

 DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

This job description is not intended as a complete listing of job duties. The incumbent is responsible for the performance of other related duties as assigned/required.

Grand Strand Charter Arts is the first performing and visual arts school in Horry County. Grades served will be 8-11 in Year 1, 8-12 in Year 2, and 7-12 in Year 3. 

www.grandstrandcharterarts.org