RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. The nurse accomplishes this by implementing strategies that promote the health and safety of students and staff using strong skills in critical thinking, decision-making, communication, individual and classroom education, and child advocacy in the following manner:

• Provides nursing care and manages all medical emergencies for all students and staff.
• Administer daily and PRN (as needed) medications as prescribed by the student’s physician.
• Promotes healthy habits among students through individual and group health education in the classrooms and at school assemblies.
• Screens medical records for identification, assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of student’s health concerns impacting student education.
• Updates and checks students’ medical records quarterly regarding immunization, food allergy, and other health problems.
• Encourages parental responsibility about the health concerns of children and supports students/families to achieve the highest quality of life as understood by them.
• Assess the mental health needs of students, provide interventions, and refer to appropriate school staff or community agencies.
• Maintains a healthy and safe environment in the school through the identification of health and safety concerns in the school environment.
• Controls infection among students through community education on healthy practices, early identification, and keeping sick children at home.
• Refers students, staff, and family to appropriate community health agencies and sets up appointments for staff when needed.
• Educate staff on health issues and assist in CPR/First Aid training during workshops.
• Promote students’ eye and dental health through education and developmental screening.
• Advise individual school staff regarding health issues and concerns and orient new staff on community health agencies.
• Maintain student confidentiality within the legal, regulatory, and ethical parameters of health and education.
• Delivers care in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to student diversity in the school community.
• Develops profession through continuing education: workshops, school nursing journal subscriptions, and conferences.
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Head nurse.