School Nurse:  Itinerant Nurse

REPORTS TO:   Principal/Director of Health Services

DEPARTMENT:  Student Services

POSITION OVERVIEW

Special School District (SSD) nurses are committed to supporting our students by modifying, managing, and/or removing health-related barriers to learning. You will champion our mission by ensuring all students have access to both general and special education by providing the care they need throughout their school day. 

You should consider applying for this position if your values align with Special School District's core values of equity, commitment, and collaboration and you believe every student deserves the resources and support required to help them learn. Nurses are expected to be committed to and have a deep understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and for that commitment to be evident in their work. 

CLASSIFICATION

• Exempt  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists with the development and implementation of the comprehensive health education curriculum
• Provides technical assistance to administrators and participates on committees to ensure best practice in development of health care policies and procedures
• Assists with the development and implementation of infection control programs for students and staff
• Participates in professional development activities (internal and external)
• Provides instruction, education and support for students to help them take responsibility for health-related conditions enabling them to provide as much self-care as feasible and age-appropriate
• Maintains a current list of health resources and referrals for parents
• Advocates for children with special needs to ensure that they have access to necessary medical care and equipment as well as the full continuum of community resources

Collaboration

• Informs teachers of physical or health conditions which should impair the learning process according to Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), American Nursing Association (ANA), and National Association of School Nurses (NASN) of nursing standards
• Acts as liaison between education and medical personnel, especially in regard to special education placement
• Provides health component of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for medically involved students
• Visits homes to monitor children with chronic illness/disease when necessary and if possible
• Participates in the multidisciplinary reevaluation of students with medical concerns
• Attends nurse staff meetings
• Acts as a resource to student/family regarding health matters
• Participates in development and implementation of Coordinated School Health Program
• Attends faculty meetings as needed
• Serves in buildings other than the one assigned, if necessary
• Assists in identification of safety and health hazards at school site and makes recommendations to appropriate administrators
• Identifies conditions that might interfere with a healthy learning environment and communicates concerns to appropriate administrators
• Assists development of health services policies and procedures
• Advises building administrator about occupational, safety and sanitary hazards

Compliance

• Utilizes the nursing process for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to care for injured or ill students or staff for acute, chronic or emergent health concerns
• Provides first aid and emergency care for students and staff who become ill or injured at school
• Maintains health room, including supplies (school nurse) or makes sure sites have adequate supplies for minor injuries and infection control (early childhood itinerant nurse)
• Initiates and maintains current individual student health records (paper and digital)
• Maintains record of students and staff served, including complaint, assessment, plan of treatment and outcome 
• Submits monthly reports by the 5th of each following month
• Monitors student health through appropriate screenings as recommended by state and district guidelines and physician orders
• Excludes students/staff as recommended by Missouri Department of Health (MO DOH) guidelines in Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases R11-99 and district policy
• Optimizes health of students using early detection assessment intervention and prompt treatment/referral for potentially chronic problems
• Refers students with abnormal screenings for further evaluation - follows up on referrals with letters, phone calls, and resources to assure resolution of concerns
• Prevents outbreaks and spread of all diseases through consistent enforcement of existing laws and school policies
• Supervises administration of and/or administers medication according to SSD and component district policies and delegation guidelines
• Follows Board of Education policies and procedures regarding nursing care to students with special health care needs according to professional nursing standards, the Missouri Nurse Practice Act, NASN Standards of School Nursing, ANA standards, and Code of Ethics for nurses
• Enforces immunization laws and regulations at federal, state, and local level
• Carries out state-mandated responsibilities to report suspected cases of child abuse/neglect, drug abuse, or other instances when intervention may be indicated
• Prepares and submits reports for state or county DOH, the superintendent, executive directors, directors, principals, and/or lead nurse as requested
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in health services preferred
• Two years experience in public health, emergency room, pediatrics, pediatric psychiatry, or experience with individuals with disabilities preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Current Missouri License as Registered Nurse

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES 

The requirements described below 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.

Communication Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and policy and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one and before groups.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to collect and graph skill programming and behavior data, add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to problem-solve and apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written and/or oral diagram form.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate, stand, move and walk at a brisk pace, sit, and use hands and arms to handle, feel and reach.  The position requires the ability to accompany students anywhere on school premises.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop or kneel and occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.  Additionally, the employee must be physically able to implement all Board of Education Policies, District procedures, and to perform Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training and techniques. The employee must be physically able to react and intervene quickly during crisis situations, such as but not limited to the following circumstances: student elopement, physical altercations involving students, or any situation that requires physical intervention to maintain student safety.  Yearly NCI training with participation in physical intervention strategies is a requirement for the job.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this job description 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.

EEOC STATEMENT

Special School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for the position applied for without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law. To request an ADA Accommodation, please contact our Director of ADA and Accessibility for Staff

314-989-8299. For TTY, contact RelayMO711 or 1-800-735-2966.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary

$67, 191 to $79, 217 / based on education and experience

Benefits

• Group benefits plans for medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
• Enrollment in Missouri public school retirement systems
• Staff Health Clinics
• Paid holidays
• 13 PTO days per year
• Employee assistance program
• Healthcare spending account

EVALUATION

• The employee will be evaluated periodically.

Board Approved Date:  September 2002

Revised:  May 2012, August 2013, October 2020