School Nurse (Per Diem)

Bradley School seeks a Per Diem School Nurse to provide nursing care for students during the school day. Reporting to the Medical Director and site Clinical Director, you will focus on student and school health issues that affect student safety and ability to learn, utilizing the nursing process and consistent with Bradley Hospital quality standards and Rhode Island school health regulations.

Clinical Setting

You will work in an alternative school setting serving students with various emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as developmental disabilities. The role requires standing, walking, and occasional lifting of students.

Responsibilities

Health Services

• Participate in development of school health standards, policies, and procedures
• Conduct nursing assessments of student immunization, tuberculosis, and lead exposure status
• Offer screenings for vision, hearing, dental, and scoliosis per Rhode Island School Health Regulations
• Reinforce positive self-health management measures
• Perform individual nursing assessment and intervention for stabilization and resolution of student urgent health concerns related to illness, injury, or altered health status
• Manage nursing care for students with chronic or ongoing health problems in cooperation with students, parents, and community health care providers, including medication administration
• Provide nursing management for students with medically fragile conditions such as diabetes and asthma
• Refer students to community providers for diagnosis and resolution of deviant health findings
• Communicate student health status to parents and school personnel as needed
• Educate school personnel and students in appropriate health management measures, including administration of emergency medications such as Epi-pens or glucagon IM
• Offer health coaching for non-acute health problems as determined by the student's clinical team
• Participate in student admission by facilitating appropriate medical paperwork including medication forms and OTC forms
• Participate in weekly medical rounds with Team Leaders and Medical Director
• Serve as a health consultant and make recommendations within the school team regarding student health needs and health issues affecting school performance
• Develop and implement Individual Care Plans and Emergency Care Plans for students with specific health needs such as allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma, and diabetes
• Maintain confidential cumulative and current health records for each student

School Health Environment

• Assess school physical facilities and activities for safety features or hazards
• Keep data on school-related injuries involving students and staff
• Promote control of communicable diseases
• Maintain first aid kits for school field trips
• Collaborate with school staff regarding school, home, and community health issues affecting students and school personnel
• Make recommendations for improvement of the school health environment

Health Education

• Participate in health curriculum planning and evaluations in accordance with current Rhode Island Educational Standards for teaching health
• Provide individual and class health instruction for students as needed
• Serve as a health information resource and consultant for teachers and clinicians by suggesting materials and activities that support and enhance the health education curriculum
• Provide health information for school personnel through in-service training programs

Required Qualifications

• Current license to practice professional nursing in Rhode Island
• Experience in the practice of nursing, preferably within a school setting or with children and adolescents
• Ability to work with administration, colleagues, parents, and students in high-stress situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of psychiatric, behavioral, and developmental conditions in children and adolescents

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background and experience working with students with various emotional and behavioral disorders
• Experience with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders