School Nurse

Job Description

Newton Health and Human Services Department School Nurse Job Description

Definition:

The School Nurse is responsible for a comprehensive school health services program. Clinical expertise, management skills and an ability to work with students, families, and a range of disciplines within the school and community are required. Responsibilities include both mandated and non-mandated school health services.

Minimum Requirements:

Registered nurse

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Nursing experience in a school, community or pediatric setting

MA DESE licensure as a school nurse or license eligible

Essential Duties:

Promote and protect the optimal health status of school age children with a model of prevention, early intervention, referral and primary care.

Quality Health Care:

• Deliver care to students, staff and visitors based on the nursing process.
• Communicate health information to parents in a timely manner.
• Communicate health information to staff who have a"need-to-know"
• Conduct vision, hearing, posturaland BMI screening according to city policy and state regulations.
• Manage a Medication Administration Program according to city policy and state regulations.
• Provide ongoing health counseling with students, parents and school personnel.
• Develop and implement Individualized Health Care Plans.
• Participate in IEP and 504 plan development.
• Provide case management services.
• Collaborate with students, families, school staff, the community and other providers in providing student care.
• Collaborate with students, families, school staff and providers to manage students with concussions.

• Be alert to warning signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues including depression and suicidality and make referrals, participate in screening and follow established procedure.

• Confirm student eligibility for sports participation

• Assist students and families to obtain health care insurance

Public Health Care:

• Promote and assist in the control of communicable diseases.
• Review immunization status for all students to ensure compliance with MA DPH regulations.
• Report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

Health and Safety Leadership:

• Plan and implement school health management protocols.
• Maintain a Substitute School Nurse Reference binder.
• Develop procedures for emergency management of injuries/illnesses
• Conduct annual medical emergency response drill.

• Conduct annual staff training for allergy recognition, auto-injector epinephrine administration, standard precautions and infection control measures.

• Provide health education and serve as a resource to school staff for health instruction.

• Engage in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practice.
• Manage health supplies inventory and annual ordering.
• Maintain a professional and safe health room.
• Actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning.
• Acts as a resource in promoting health careers.
• Serve on the school-based safety team.
• Act as site leader for Public Access Automated Emergency Defibrillation (AED) Program.
• Serve on the school-based Wellness Committee.
• Collaborate with school staff to develop safety/evacuation plans for students with special health care or mobility needs.
• Maintain MA Board of Registration of Nursing and MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licensure.

Documentation:

• Maintain a daily record of all health room visits.
• Maintain cumulative health records for all students.
• Document each time care is planned or delivered to a student.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• 
  The City may hire any nurse who does not hold a DESE professional support personnel license as a school nurse, at the time of hire, on steps 1 through 5 of the Bachelor's Degree and DESE Licensure salaty scale, with the exception that the CITY may hire above step 5, upon consultation with the MNA.

Company Description

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

• Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
• Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
• Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
• Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
• Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
• Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 457 Deferred Compensation plans
• Metro Credit Union
• Verizon Wireless discount
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
• City Retirement (Mandatory)
• Weekly Direct Deposit
• Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees