School Nurse

Tacoma Public Schools•Central Administration Building (CAB) 601 S 8th St., WA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Tacoma Public Schools is seeking a dedicated School Nurse to implement, manage, deliver, and monitor school health services in assigned schools and programs. This role ensures compliance with professional nursing standards, aims to provide the fullest possible educational opportunity by minimizing student absence due to illness and fostering a climate of health and well-being. The School Nurse will collaborate with various stakeholders, oversee student health information, and provide health education programs. This is a Districted Deployed assignment, subject to change based on District needs, and is anticipated to support Birney, Manitou Park Elementary Schools, and serve as a Float School Nurse.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
School Nurse Certification
Washington State Registered Nurse license
Washington State ESA School Nurse certificate
First aid and CPR certificates prior to starting employment
Valid Washington State driver’s license and access to personal transportation
Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance
Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment
Knowledge of basic first aid and health care practices and procedures, basic symptoms of communicable and other childhood diseases.
Knowledge of basic principles of human growth and development.
Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding students in special education.
Knowledge of professional nursing standards, practices and procedures.
Knowledge of the proper storage, administration and dispensing of over the counter and prescription drugs, including controlled substances.
Skill in assessing and identifying student health problems and ability to interpret these problems to parents and school staff.
Skill in demonstrating sensitivity to the special needs of students and showing interest in working with children.
Skills that are well developed in human relations required for communicating and dealing with diverse Students.
Skill in exercising patience when conveying information to students having difficulty with verbal and written communications.
Skill in oral and written interpersonal communication.
Skills with efficient and effective use of personal computer and applicable software.
Ability to communicate competently with tact and to listen effectively
Ability to act as a liaison with health care professionals and community agencies.
Ability to model healthful practices and good mental health attitudes.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to perform duties in accordance with established guidelines, local, state, and federal laws.
Ability to stay calm under adverse circumstances and to calm others under stress.
Ability to understand and perform the specific medical processes following developed oral and written protocols and procedures.
Ability to plan and organize work.
Ability to work without direct supervision within the guidelines of policy and procedure using discretion and good mature judgment.
Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable and regular attendance.
Ability to physically transfer students, according to proper procedures.
Ability to walk, run, stoop, bend, squat, crawl, and lift up to 25 pounds, and team lift up to 50 pounds, carry, and position injured students.
Ability to fulfill the needs of the job having physical strength and dexterity.
Ability to monitor and control student behavior.
Ability to understand and address students with special needs.
Ability to work with student(s) of all ages with varied and diverse needs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multi-cultural diverse, socio-economic setting.
Ability to participate, in a cooperative and collaborative manner as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Two years of pediatric, community health nursing, health education, nurse practitioner, or school-based nursing experience
Membership in professional organizations

Responsibilities

Appraises, promotes, and protects the optimal health status of students and staff; gives relevant health instruction and information to individual students and staff.
Assists in the development of District health and education curricula and integrating health concepts into the total curricula.
Participates in the development of objectives, standards, and procedures in the school health program and in planning, implementing, and evaluating health services.
Assesses the physical and emotional health of students as related to the educational process.
Manages health concerns within the scope of school nurse practice.
Initiates referrals for further diagnosis and treatment of identified health needs and provides follow up.
Coordinates and implements health screenings mandated by law and District policy, including referral and follow up.
Communicates student health concerns that may impact learning to appropriate staff with parent and/or student consent.
Obtains a health and developmental history for students, as necessary.
Uncovers health problems through screening, observations, and interviews; makes appropriate referrals and follow-up.
Maintains and performs data entry to ensure up-to-date cumulative health records for all students.
Prepares reports necessary to carry out the activities of the school health program.
Assists in maintaining all student immunization information; appraises and monitors immunization status of each student.
Provides individual and/or group health counseling to students, parents, and school personnel.
Serves as an advocate and resource for the health rights of students and as a professional liaison between the school, family, and the health community.
Assists students and parents in obtaining adequate medical, dental, and mental health care.
Maintains confidentiality regarding student and family information.
Promotes positive health practices through individual contacts and in the classroom.
Serves as a resource to classroom teachers; models healthful behaviors.
Identifies students showing evidence of abuse and/or neglect and reports to the administration and proper law enforcement agencies as required by District policy and state law.
Participates in school/community programs, including but not limited to, those relating to substance abuse and child abuse, which may include education, case finding, intervention, referral, and follow up.
Performs professional nursing tasks as needed, including, but not limited to, emergency services and supportive care for both staff and students.
Provides direction to school staff regarding student and/or staff health issues, e.g., communicable disease control and dispensing of medications.
Provides lead direction to Health Room Assistant Nurses, Health Clerks, and Office Professionals; delegates health services responsibilities.
Instructs and evaluates the work performance of health room volunteers; acts as a preceptor for nursing students.
Performs initial and re-evaluation of Special Education health appraisals and parent interviews.
Contacts physician to obtain health impairment statements.
Works as a member of the multidisciplinary assessment team to assess student health status and make appropriate recommendations for modifications of students’ individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans.
Provides for the health needs of medically fragile children in the least restrictive environment in accordance with IEP and 504 requirements.
Develops student health care plans as needed.
Administers first aid care in accordance with established guidelines for ill, medically fragile, and injured students.
Follows up with parents and school personnel regarding school emergencies.
Develops protocol and monitors safe administration of medication as mandated by state law and District policy.
Delegates tasks and presents training to staff including, but not limited to, administration of medication, tube feedings, clean intermittent catheterization, basic coverage/ first aid in the health room, and Careplan review/training.
Requisitions and replaces health supplies and equipment.
Oversees maintenance of a sanitary and safe environment in the health room.
Assists in maintaining order and discipline in the health room.
Cooperates with administrators, school custodians, and other staff to identify school safety and sanitation needs.
Assists with the development and implementation of improvements.
Initiates and/or participates as appropriate in research and data collection related to education and health care services.
Completing District, state and federal reporting, as necessary.
Performs nursing procedures as needed, e.g., clean intermittent catheterizations, tube feeding, trach suctioning, administering medications requiring a licensed professional, diabetic care, and delegation.
Provides delegation, training, and supervision as appropriate in alignment with District, state, and federal requirements.
Maintains professional competence through continuing education activities.
Maintains nursing license, ESA certification, and first aid and CPR certifications.
Keeps appraised of current legislation pertaining to School Nurse Practice.
Maintains membership in professional organizations, preferred.
Attends building staff meetings.
Participates in staff development training as assigned.
Performs related duties as assigned by the building principal and/or Administrator of Health Services.
Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.