Certified School Nurse

Description

Our Mission, Vision, & Model of Care

At Union Community Care, our purpose is to spark equity through patient-led healthcare that welcomes and strengthens our communities by integrating body, mind, and heart.

We envision vibrant and healthy communities supported by inclusive healthcare that embraces each member’s unique culture, needs, and values, and emboldens them to make healthful choices that fuel their well-being and the well-being of others.

We believe in whole health. This means we address and heal disease but equally important, we work at the causes of the causes, the social ills that must be addressed to achieve true equity.

We listen, learn, and embrace the complex lives and unique strengths of our patients, and we work hard to break down all barriers to care. This means we look through a grassroots lens. We connect with our communities because we are our communities. Each of us is a neighbor, a friend, a family member, and together, we are a trusted community health center.

Qualifications

JOB SUMMARY

The Certified School Nurse is an integral member of the multidisciplinary care team for School-Based Health Centers. Together with School Leadership, Clinicians, Medical Assistants, social assistance, behavioral health and external partners, the Certified School Nurse will perform nursing duties as outlined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Education to advance the health of children and youth within schools. The Certified School Nurse will help develop care plans and strategies to provide linkages for various health and social needs of patient population. The Certified School Nurse leverages telehealth (phone or video), to connect students to Clinician evaluation, assessment and diagnosis, as neded.

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES

1. Develops and maintains a comprehensive school health services program for students, following the guidelines of the PA School Code, PA DOH Regulations, the Division of School Health guidelines, PA DOE Regulations, and school district policies.
   1. Assists with school administrators, school physicians and dentists in planning and organizing the school health program. Consults with schooladministrators to establish, review and revise policy and procedures for a comprehensive school health program. Schedules dental and physical exams in collaboration with members of health services team.
2. 1. Provides up-to-date information for use of school personnel on such subjects as the growth and development pattern of children, first aid practice, accident prevention, communicable disease regulations and assists in evaluating the content material used for health teaching, and offer assistance in providing sources of information.
   2. Uses data collected to help plan and evaluate the school health program.
   3. May serve on district advisory health councils.
3. Provides direct services to students, using the nursing process to provide care to the school community in accordance with current medical practice and nursing standards, relevant statutes, and regulations.
   1. Performs and/or oversees mandated screenings and completes referrals and follow-up where applicable.
   2. Manages and controls acute and chronic disease. Carries out policies and procedures for the control of communicable diseases, in collaboration with the PA Department of Health.
   3. Provides first aid for illness or injury to students and documents nursing assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
   4. Establish health care plans for students with special health care needs and update them as needed.
   5. Where applicable, directs 504 Service Agreement development and participates in IEP meetings.
   6. Reviews and monitors student immunization status. Makes appropriate referrals to up-date immunizations when indicated.
   7. Provides health teaching and counseling.
   8. Maintains comprehensive health records on each child and records of school nursing services.
   9. Assists in interpreting the health needs of individual children to parents and teachers and assists families in utilizing community resources for improving the health of their children.
   10. Administers medications and performs procedures according to physician orders and school policies and procedures. Ensures physician orders for individual student medications and/or treatments comply with requirements for administration.
   11. Informs teachers of health conditions of pupils which may affect behavior, appearance or scholastic performance.
4. Facilitates an organized system of coordinated care for students.
   1. Collaborates with agencies within and outside of the school community to insure continuity of service and care of students, including working with Clinicians and dentists to coordinate medical and dental examinations with the school program.
   2. Identifies high risk children to needed services, including students presenting with signs of child abuse.
   3. May actively participate as a member of Suicide Prevention, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Smoking Cessation programs or activities.
   4. May actively participate in the Student Assistance Program; Child Study Team; individual education program meetings for exceptional students with medical or developmental problems;
5. Promotes a safe and healthy school environment.
   1. Plans with school administrative, maintenance and sanitation personnel for the environmental needs of the school group, and advises school officials of environmental adjustment necessary to meet the needs of physically challenged individuals.
   2. Plans for first aid services and instructs personnel responsible for giving first aid.
   3. Applies appropriate nursing theory and evidence-based practice as the basis for decision making in the school setting. Contributes to the body of school nurse knowledge through participation in needs assessments and/or research.
   4. Promotes good safety practices, both within and outside of school buildings. May serves as a member of Safe School Committee(s).

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Current PA Registered Nurse license

Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN)

Certification as School Nurse

CPR/AED certification

Background/experience preferred in pediatric nursing, community health nursing, critical care nursing, medical-surgical nursing and/or emergency room nursing. Minimum 3 years prior experience required.

Knowledge of current Child Abuse Law

Required State and Federal clearances

English proficiency required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

In order to fulfill the requirements of this position, duties 1-4 are considered essential functions of the job.

ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT

This position is required to participate in mandatory all staff meetings, team meetings and trainings.