SIA - School Nurse (Substitute)

SIA - School Nurse

Spokane International Academy is seeking an experienced nurse to oversee the health and well-being of our student population at both the Primary, Middle, and Secondary academies in a substitute capacity. Spokane International Academy is a rigorous, K-12th grade, international school that empowers all students with academic skills, essential habits for success, and the global competence necessary to complete advanced courses in high school and college in order to become leaders who can powerfully transform their communities. The position requires a self-motivated, team-oriented professional who truly enjoys working with young people and values education. This person will report directly to the Director of Operations, and works in a part time, non-regular capacity.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Essential Job Functions:

This professional school nursing position within SIA is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating school health services that:

• Maximize the quantity of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health-related absenteeism
• Eliminate or minimize health problems that impair learning
• Promote the highest degree of independent functioning possible

More specifically, the school nurse:

• Identifies the health care needs of a specific student population and availability of health services/resources
• Plans and implements services to meet those health care needs.
• Assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of services and health care plans
• Collaborates with a wide variety of school systems and professional disciplines to enhance the educational process and promote an optimal level of wellness for students, families, and staff

Without on-site supervision, the school nurse functions independently under state and agency guidelines and policies. Work is self-directed and clinically autonomous. Supervision may be exercised over substitute nurses, volunteers, unlicensed personnel, licensed personnel.

A. School Health Services Manager/Coordinator

• Assures SIA complies with mandated health service activities
• Coordinates and participates in establishing, reviewing, and implementing school health services, policies, and procedures. Policies and procedures are reviewed annually and changes are made as needed
• Updates all standard forms for the school health program
• Assures that such policies and related procedures adhere to legal and regulatory requirements and ethical standards of nursing practice
• Develops and coordinates quality improvement activities for the school health service component of the school health program
• Documents, compiles, and analyzes data for required reports on school health services such as immunization reports, etc.
• Assures that school health services and activities are appropriately documented according to professional school nurse standards
• Implements communicable disease control in the school, including monitoring, surveillance, and participating in disease prevention and outbreak management within the school
• Serves as the health care consultant for school personnel, students, and their parents/families
• Provides professional health leadership to administrators and school staff
• Develops training for, trains, and monitors staff that provide health services, including delegated procedures, the administration of medication to students, and other health-related mandated activities. Includes diabetic care managers (DCM), Blood-borne pathogen training, medication training, and initiating individual care plans
• Coordinates the establishment of guidelines, procedures, and training in the First Aid/CPR/First Responder Program for schools and staff
• Participates in the development of the school’s emergency health and crisis plan if consulted
• Where applicable, directs, monitors, and evaluates aides, assistants, volunteers, and unlicensed and/or licensed personnel assigned to the school health program (Vision screening, DCMs, medications)
• Implements a system for the identification of students with chronic/acute health care needs; works in coordination with the Exceptional Children’s program; reviews student enrollment forms with health information
• Works in collaboration with the Director of Special Services and medical providers to coordinate health services for children with special needs

B. Case Manager and Direct Care Provider for Students with Special Health Care Needs and Those Needing Health Services

• Identification of students with special health care needs
• Development of emergency action plans for students at risk of medical crises at school or during a school function
• Development of and monitoring of individual health care plans (IHP’s) for students who need invasive procedures performed during the school day, as well as for students who may require adaptation to the health-related learning environment or classroom schedule
• Provision of case management and active collaboration with staff, students, and families to promote self-management and optimal care during school hours
• Provision of training for staff regarding chronic illnesses experienced by students at school
• Functioning as a health resource for chronically ill students and their families
• Provision of consultation to members of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, Child Study Committee, or other multidisciplinary team on health-related concerns
• Provision of consultation and recommendations in the planning and development of health accommodation plans for section 504 eligible students
• Determination of tasks that may be appropriately delegated to licensed or unlicensed persons, on a student-by-student basis, and the provision of training for these people for these tasks
• Provision of periodic health appraisals of students with identified or suspected health problems
• Coordination of immunization review/follow-up for the school.
• Perform hearing, vision, and other health screenings. Develop care plans for 504 and IEPs for students with diagnosis and medical care during school hours.
• Consult with teachers and school administrators regarding student care. Prepare orders for supplies and equipment necessary for nurses’ office
• The school nurse will give medication(s) on an as-needed basis if trained personnel are not available

C. Collaborator/Advocate

• Functions as the liaison between the school and local health service agencies/providers and community resources
• Serves as an interpreter of health mandates, recommendations, and trends to school personnel through written materials, meetings, etc.
• Collaborates with other student services personnel to prevent health problems from becoming reasons for educational failure
• Provides guidance and support to families in finding and using treatment services
• Collaborates with community agencies to provide resources for students and their families by serving on committees, task forces, etc.
• Seeks out local and other resources for use in the school setting

D. Counselor for Health Concerns of Students and their Families and the Staff

• Provision of health counseling for students and their families to maximize classroom participation
• Promotion of health through education and counseling; 5-8th grade growth and development; other programs as requested by staff
• Interpretation of students’ health needs to school personnel and facilitation of understanding of and adjusting to changes and limitations

Job Qualifications

• Required: Registered nurse, currently licensed in Washington state
• Required: Nationally certified school nurse or registered nurse working toward national school nurse certification, to be completed within 3 years of hire date
• Required: BSN/BS or more advance nursing education (required to take certification exam).
• Highly Recommended: A minimum of 3 years RN nursing experience dealing with young children and adolescents (ages 5 – 18)
• May Hire: Registered nurse working toward baccalaureate degree and national school nurse certification with the stipulation that both be completed within 3 years of hire date.

Non-discrimination Statement:

Spokane International Academy does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator: Jacqueline Pariseau, 509-209-8730, pariseau@spokaneintlacademy.org; Address: 777 E Magnesium Rd. Spokane, WA 99208