Quick Look

The School Nurse applies nursing practice to the unique needs of individuals and populations of schools.  The school nurse promotes and implements the standards of school nursing practice as established by the profession.

The purpose of school nursing is to enhance the educational process by maximizing the health and well being of students.  The school nurse accomplishes this trough the modification or removal of health related barriers to learning and through the promotion of an optimum level of wellness. 

The school nurse will diagnosis and treat the human responses to actual and potential health problems related to the school age child in the school setting by using the nursing process.

Although the school nurse works with the essentially well child, the practice includes children with acute and chronic illness, injury, handicapping conditions and developmental disabilities.  The functions, which characterize school nursing: include health education, emergency care, illness and injury prevention, community relations, faculty and administrative responsibilities.

The school nurse assumes a leadership role in planning, implementing and evaluating the school health services program in the school.  School nursing practice requires a high degree of collaboration through planning and sharing with others in the school, family and community.  Through this collaboration process, the special abilities of professionals are utilized to optimally benefit the student.

ROLE OF THE SCHOOL NURSE

1.     Physical identification of students with health problems and the necessary follow-up to insure the proper medical care.

a)     Screening for vision, dental, hearing and scoliosis.

b)    Screening for Special Education students, reviewing confidential folders, obtaining necessary medical information and attending MDT meetings.

c)     Supervise the evaluation f immunization records.

d)    Notify teachers of students with health problems.

e)     Confer with parents/guardians as necessary.

f)      Process referrals.  (Student health checks vision applications and VSP, Child Protective, etc.).

g)      Counseling students with health problems including child abuse and neglect.

2.     HEALTH EDUCATION

a)     Teach classes in health education as mandated by the NRS.

b)    Teach optional as time permits.

c)     Serving as a consultant in health matters to teaching faculty.

d)    Train and supervise health assistants with regard to special health needs of students.

3.      EMERGENCY CARE

a)      Supervise the school's emergency plan.

b)    Implement plan for health care services for accidents and emergencies.

4.     SPECIALIZED PROCEDURES

a)     Supervise and train personnel who perform specialized procedures.

ASSIGNMENTS

1.     Organizes and implements screening programs for vision, dental and scoliosis at grade levels specified in Health Services Program. 

2.     Assists the principal in implementing an emergency care program in h school, including providing first aid kits, and supplies, identifying training needs and developing procedures.

3.     Identifies and provides services to those pupils with health problems, including referral for treatment, follow-up, consultation with teachers, other school personnel, parents and health agencies.

4.     Will assist in supervising specialized procedure personnel if on is assigned to a student requiring a specialized procedure.  (eg. Tracheal suctioning, cleaning intermittent catheterization, etc.)

5.     Offers health counseling and education to students.

6.     Acts as a health resource person to teachers who provide health education.

7.     Supervises health assistants in the performance of their health-related duties and assists in their evaluation.  Additional training may be necessary for health aides in specialized settings.

8.     Administers and interprets TB skin tests when appropriate.

9.     Processes referrals for student health evaluations.

10. Maintains and/or supervises the maintenance of health records on all enrolled students.

11. Participates in MDT and IEP meetings when appropriate.

12. Promotes the role of the school nurse and the school health program by educating the site administrator and staff.  The goals of the school health program must be clearly identified by the school nurse.

13. Fulfills other related responsibilities and duties as designated by the

BASIC PHILOSOPHY

The School Nurse will provide health services to children served by the Humboldt County School District, in accordance with Nevada State Law and Humboldt County School District Policies.  Such services will be rendered for the evaluation, improvement, and protection of the health of students and school personnel.  Health services will support the fullest possible educational opportunity by minimizing absences due to illness and creating a climate of health and well being in each school in the Humboldt County School District.

"A hundred years from now it will not matter the sort of house I lived in, what my bank account was or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."    Anonymous