Head Start- Nurse

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse supports Chattanooga Head Start by planning and providing medical and dental services for children at designated centers. The role coordinates screenings, referrals, follow-up, and documentation to help meet federal Head Start and Early Head Start Performance Standards. In coordination with Family Support Advocates, the Nurse maintains comprehensive, confidential records of children’s health information and services. The Nurse coordinates completion of medical and dental exams, vision, hearing, and growth screenings, and develops Individual Health Plans for children with chronic conditions in collaboration with families and healthcare providers. The position also supports families in accessing community health resources, communicates screening results and follow-up information, and assists with appointment scheduling. The Nurse provides support to the Health Coordinator and program committees, may provide health training at evening parent meetings, and travels to program sites as needed. This is a non-exempt position based at the Head Start Administrative Office in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 7.5 hours per day for 240 days per year; schedules may vary with assignments and projects. The position is grant-funded, and the program is subject to reapplication every five years. Employment requires an LPN or RN license and is subject to pre-employment screenings and periodic ongoing checks and examinations.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited LPN program is required; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Current LPN or RN licensure in Tennessee, or a Compact State License in the state of residence; licensure must be maintained throughout employment.
Maintain a minimum active LPN/LVN license in good standing throughout employment.
Knowledge of child and family health, prevention concepts, diseases and disease processes, Head Start Performance Standards, health and human development, community health, and nursing principles, practices, and procedures.
Knowledge of HIPAA/FERPA laws as they relate to student records.
Intermediate knowledge of computer applications and word-processing software in a Windows environment, and ability to learn other technology and software.
Ability to recognize health and child-safety problems; exercise professional judgment; maintain strict confidentiality; and work effectively in a team environment.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, children, parents, and other agencies; communicate effectively; follow oral and written directions; write correspondence independently; make routine decisions; and adapt to change.
Ability to work with databases and spreadsheets and to work creatively and skillfully with children.
Ability to sit for extended periods, use a computer terminal, standard office equipment, and telephone, and hear and speak at normal levels, including by telephone.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach overhead, grasp, push, pull, and lift or carry up to 20 pounds to waist height.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Ability to support children’s health and safety, including direct supervision of children and/or prompt and effective response during emergencies at a Head Start center.
Successful completion of required pre-employment screenings, including background check, drug screening, lift test, TB screening, physical examination, Hepatitis B titer, and fingerprinting; ongoing requirements include periodic physical reexamination and fingerprint clearance every five years.

Nice To Haves

Graduation from an accredited RN program is preferred.
Interest in learning skills such as hearing and vision testing.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with Family Support Advocates to ensure children complete physical and dental exams within 90 days of enrollment.
Work with Health Technicians to facilitate vision, hearing, and growth screenings within 45 days of enrollment, in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards.
Develop and maintain Individual Health Plans for children with chronic medical conditions, collaborating with parents and healthcare providers and training staff on implementation.
Monitor classroom first-aid kits for completeness and ensure medications are stored correctly and documented in ChildPlus.
Obtain and review children’s medical histories and immunization records to ensure they are up to date.
Maintain comprehensive, strictly confidential health records for enrolled children.
Use ChildPlus to monitor health requirements, track follow-ups, and generate required reports.
Communicate with parents about children’s health status and provide education and follow-up information after screenings.
Assist families with referrals to community health resources and with scheduling medical and dental appointments.
Occasionally provide health-related training and support during evening parent meetings.
Provide technical support to the Health Coordinator for parent meetings, the Head Start Policy Council, and advisory committees.
Perform duties within the professional scope of practice for an LPN to support the Head Start/Early Head Start Health component.
Drive to various sites as needed to transport supplies or perform health-related services.
Meet attendance requirements, maintain effective working relationships, complete essential functions in a timely manner with or without reasonable accommodation, and perform other duties as assigned.