School Nurse

This professional school nursing position is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating comprehensive school health services. You will work to maximize in-class time by reducing health-related absenteeism, eliminate or minimize health problems that impair learning, promote student independence, and foster awareness of healthy behaviors among students, staff, and the community.

Clinical Setting

You will serve students in a school setting, working with children and adolescents ages 5-18. You will function independently under state and local education agency guidelines and policies without on-site supervision, working in a self-directed and clinically autonomous capacity.

Responsibilities

• Apply nursing practice to the unique and diverse needs of individuals, groups, and populations within the school
• Serve as a medical resource and health and safety advocate for students and staff
• Conduct health assessments, develop healthcare plans, implement healthcare services, and perform case management, referral, and follow-up for students
• Identify healthcare needs, safety concerns, and available health services and resources
• Provide instruction, counseling, training, and guidance on health maintenance and communicable disease prevention
• Serve as a direct link between students, families, healthcare providers, and community agencies to ensure access to health services and continuity of care
• Collaborate with families, school staff, and outside agencies to identify and manage health-related barriers to student learning
• Educate, delegate, train, and supervise unlicensed personnel in safely delivering healthcare services to students with special needs
• Accurately record services rendered and maintain secure student health records
• Identify health-related barriers to learning, including at-risk behaviors and financial, cultural, or economic factors
• Identify health and community resources and coordinate services for students and staff
• Promote, implement, and uphold the values and ethics of the nursing profession and professional standards as established by the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act
• Follow federal, state, and local health practice statutes, district policies, procedures, and administrative guidelines

Required Qualifications

• Registered nurse (RN) license currently active in North Carolina
• One of the following educational pathways:
• RN working toward a baccalaureate degree in nursing or health-related field, with attainment of the baccalaureate degree and national school nurse certification within 3 years of hire date
• Baccalaureate-prepared RN in nursing or health-related field working toward national school nurse certification, with certification completed within 3 years of hire date
• Current North Carolina driver's license
• Ability to perform school nurse duties and responsibilities satisfactorily
• Knowledge, skill, and ability to meet the requirements of the school nurse position

Preferred Qualifications

• RN experience in public health
• RN experience working with children and adolescents ages 5-18

Onboarding and Training

• Newly hired nurses must attend state-sponsored School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities training and follow-up

Physical Demands

• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, scanners, copiers, and calculators
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body
• Must have mobility to carry out school nurse responsibilities and duties as listed
• Position usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree

Reports To

Director of Student Support Services