NewBrook Elementary School serves 81 students K-5 from four neighboring towns of Brookline, Newfane, Townshend and Jamaica, Vermont.  Our school benefits from an excellent staff and a supportive community.  As a rule, NewBrook students are resilient, hardworking and curious and their families are involved in their school lives.  Our staff is dedicated, child-centered and well-trained; they work together with purpose and are devoted to their jobs and to the children and families that we serve.  We offer a wide and balanced array of specials classes and have a dedicated PTO, an active Farm-to-School program (that includes a substantial vegetable garden) and excellent after-school programming. Our teachers habitually incorporate technology in the classroom and our students benefit from 1:1 computing.

We hope to hire a person to work as a long-term substitute for our school nurse, who will be away from January 2 to April 4, 2025.  

WINDHAM CENTRAL SUPERVISORY UNION

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: School Nurse

REPORTS TO: Principal

APPROVED BY: Superintendent of Schools

UPDATED: 5/2021

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

POSITION OBJECTIVES: To manage the school health service program including needs assessment, coordinated and comprehensive school health education planning and implementation of all health related programs. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Assumes an active role in the establishment of a coordinated school health action committee to develop goals, objectives and action steps.
• Identifies health needs of the school student population and ensures that appropriate interventions are initiated in a timely manner for students in need of services.
• Implements written board policies, administrative protocols and state regulations for the clinical services and programs addressing health issues (e.g., immunizations, medication administration, services for children with special health care needs, school wide injury prevention programs) and special program groups (e.g., overweight prevention, asthma management, eating disorders, smoking cessation, substance abuse prevention/cessation and violence prevention). 
• Implements computerized documentation systems at both the individual student and programmatic level.  
• Uses data systems to review trends in health status indicators, make adjustments in the health service program, and provide the required aggregate data for local and state agencies.
• Provides consultation to the health education staff, physical educators, and other administrative and teaching staff.
• Participates in interdisciplinary teams (e.g., crisis, child abuse, emergency planning) to ensure that integrated systems are in place which address the comprehensive health needs of the student population.

• Provides instruction in and carries out communicable disease prevention and infection control based on current guidelines for universal precautions, prevention of Bloodborne pathogens exposure, and hazardous medical waste disposal.  Participates in and provides in-service training programs, (e.g., Act 51, first aid, CPR, defibrillation, Bloodborne Pathogens).

• Ensures that there is an emergency care plan in place which is communicated to all staff and is closely coordinated with community emergency care protocols.
• Collaborates with school administrators and teachers to promote a physically and psychologically healthy school environment. 
• Orients, assigns and supervises qualified personnel to implement the school health program.
• The school nurse performs the following:

• Verifies immunizations and physical examinations and conducts vision, hearing, blood pressure and scoliosis screening as required.
• Assumes responsibility for selection and referral of students in need of medical and dental care.
• Reports to parents, school personnel, physicians, clinics, and other agencies on school medical matters.
• Maintains up-to-date cumulative health records on all students.
• Assumes authority and administers first aid in accordance with established first aid procedure in the absence of a physician, for the care of a student or staff member who has suffered injury or emergency illness.

• Supervises and/or directs the administration of students' specialized health needs, such as toileting, catheterization, and tube feeding of severely disabled students when needed.
• Develops and implements communication strategies to keep parents informed of office visits and medication distributed.
• Communicates and exchanges information with parents/guardians by way of parent education workshops, and newsletters. Communicates with specific parents and guardians on an as needed basis.
• Advises on modification of the educational program to meet health needs of individual students.
• Authorizes exclusion and readmission of students in compliance with Board policy on infectious and contagious diseases.
• Advises teachers on health matters, particularly regarding screening for student health defects.
• Assists school personnel in establishing and maintaining sanitary and safety conditions standards in schools.
• Attends committee meetings and conferences regarding health services and health curriculum. 
• Takes active role in school-based crisis team.
• Prepares medication and supplies for field trips according to student health needs.
• Maintains confidential student health records.
• Maintains confidentiality of all students and staff.
• Provides annual health screenings to students as needed.
• Informs teachers, on an as-needed basis, of individual student health concerns.
• Actively participate in WCSU Counseling and Nursing PLC.
• Participate in school transition process, including student screening and parent interviews.
• Participate in school committees to support positive school culture and student social and emotional health.
• Participates in and contributes to school initiatives. 
• Support School and District efforts to become Trauma-Transformed, including developing strategies for students and adults to overcome barriers to their learning and success.
• Support School and District initiatives.
• Communicate medical alerts to staff on an as needed basis.  
• Develop procedures and communication, as needed,  to ensure medical and health safety needs of students and staff are met.  
• Manage the facilitation of the Foodbank, backpack programs or the like, as needed.
• Provide puberty and health education as requested by administration. 
• Participates in the 504 Team.  Manages medical 504 plans as requested by administration. 
• Other duties, as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:  Receives direct supervision from the School Principal. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises other nursing staff and administrative support personnel in the health office.

QUALIFICATIONS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, in addition to the following:

• Education and Experience.  Holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing plus a minimum of four years of clinical experience which includes community health and/or pediatrics as well as a minimum of three years in school nursing.

• Certifications and Licenses.  Holds or is eligible to hold a valid Vermont Professional Educator’s License with a school nurse or associate school nurse endorsement; maintains certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.
• Language Skills.  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

• Mathematical Skills.  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

• Computer Skills and Experience.  Ability to effectively use a student database.  Word Processing experience required.
• Reasoning Ability/Mental Requirements.  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills.  Ability to communicate courteously, efficiently and effectively with a variety of individuals, including students, faculty, administrators, parents, and representatives of outside organizations.  Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with peers, subordinates, supervisors, parents, and outside agencies.

• Additional Competencies.  The individual in this position must possess the following:

• Dependability – being reliable, punctual, responsible and fulfilling obligations.
• Self-Control – maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Stress Tolerance – accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Cooperation – being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Concern for Others – being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Attention to Detail – being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Integrity – being honest and ethical.
• Adaptability/Flexibility – being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Independence – guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Social Orientation - preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.