Description

ISP Nurse Role Profile

Purpose of Role

The school Nurse serves in a pivotal role to provide expertise and oversight for the provision of school health services.   Using clinical knowledge and judgment, the school nurse provides health care to students and staff. Performs health screenings and coordinates referrals to the medical home or private healthcare provider if necessary. The purpose of this role is prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems for students.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Nurse Key Responsibilities

• Examine students upon admission to the nurse station
• Diagnose and treat students as per the diagnosis in line with school policies and procedures
• Provide health assessments
  • Obtains a health and developmental history
  • Screens and evaluates findings for deficits in vision, hearing, scoliosis, growth, etc.
  • Observes the child for development and health patterns in making a nursing assessment and nursing diagnosis
  • Identifies health findings, which do not fall within the normal range
  • Assists with physical examinations when conducted in the school
• Develops and implements a health plan
  • Interprets the health status of pupils to school personnel
  • Initiates referrals to parents, school personnel and community health resources for intervention, remediation, and follow through
  • Provides ongoing health information to pupils, parents, school personnel and health agencies
  • Recommends and helps to implement modifications of school programs to meet students' health needs
  • Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of pupils
• Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students
• Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health individualized educational plan (I.E.P.)
• Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with chronic health problems, including the administration of medication
• Participates in home visits to assess the family's needs as related to the child's health
• Develops procedures and provides for crises intervention for acute illness, injury and emotional disturbances
• Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventive immunization programs, early detection, surveillance and reporting of contagious diseases
• Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning
• Provides information on health
  • Provides health information to assist students and families in making health-related decisions
  • Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching persons to become more assertive health consumers and to assume greater responsibility for their own health
  • Provides information to adolescents concerning health problems in order to encourage responsible decision-making practices
  • Serves as a resource person to the classroom teacher and administrator in health instruction and as a member of the health curriculum development committees
• Coordinates school and community health activities and serves as a liaison person between the home, school, and community
• Acts as a resource person in promoting health careers
• Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practices
• Assists in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for the school unit, including in-service health and safety programs for personnel
• Maintaining and updating cumulative health records
• Prepare the budget for school health supplies
• Prepare first aid kits for each building
• Organize, instruct, and supervise school health volunteers or assistants
• Prepare statistical reports for the Department of Health as required
• Plans, implements, and supervises school health screening programs in accordance with state and district requirements and recommendations. Provides follow-up services when indicated

General duties include:

• Inform parents when a student visits the school clinic
• Maintain a log of all students who visit the school clinic, including student name, time in, complaint, time out and time, if the child is sent home
• Notification to parents in advance for routine check-ups and vaccinations
• Maintain records of all the medical requirements at the clinic. Stock to be ordered in advance to ensure the availability of all medicines, bandages, equipment’s etc.
• Ensure the clinic is kept clean and hygienic at all times
• Ensure the clinic is locked when not in use
• Ensure all medications are secure and no risk presented to students

Covid related duties include:

• Nurse is responsible for managing the isolation room and following government guidelines for referring and reporting COVID-19 cases (suspected as well as actual) within the school
• Students are referred to the nurse if they display COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, and headache, for further screening as per the DoH guidelines
• Nurse is responsible for contacting the DoH number 800 1717 to report the case
• If a child shows symptoms when taking the school bus, the bus attendant should immediately inform the Nurse who will coordinate with the Transport Coordinator at the school who should immediately communicate with the school Leadership team and parents/guardians

Health and Safety

• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities
• Assist in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct
• Ensure that, all the necessary health and safety rules and procedures are being followed
• Maintain an awareness of all the health and safety measures to be taken when in school

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
• Nursing license from local government authority

ISP Leadership Competencies

You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.

1. Takes an active part in leading their school or region; is cooperative and a genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues to solve problems and maximise opportunities.

1. Learning & Getting Better. Continually demonstrates personal commitment and passion for learning and getting better using evidence and feedback; supporting others in their continual learning, development and growth.

1. Innovation Leadership. Is good at creating an environment where ideas for learning initiatives and services are generated and is able to motivate and inspire others through the process of creation through to completion.

1. Outcome driven. Can be counted on to find solutions. Is consistently looking to exceed goals and is focused on KPIs.

1. Can deal with setbacks and challenges calmly and effectively.

1. Community Focus. Is committed to meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our students and their families.

1. Integrity & Ethical Management. Has the ability to work ethically and with integrity; helps others feel valued; upholds and models the ISP Vision, Purpose and Principles.

1. Leading & Inspiring Others. Supports, encourages and inspires students, colleagues and teams so that they give their best.

1. Understanding People. Is a very good judge of talent, can objectively articulate the strengths and motivations of people inside or outside the organisation.

1. Influencing & Communication. Consistently informs, influences and inspires students, parents and colleagues through timely and effective communication.

1. Responds and adapts to changing circumstances; manages and solves problems by providing solutions in a climate of ambiguity.

1. Strategic, Commercial & Financial Awareness. Has the ability to apply understanding of the business and industry to improve effectiveness and profitability.

1. Planning & Decision Making. Makes decisions on the best course of action and then plans, organises, prioritises and balances resources to achieve the desired outcome.

1. Diversity & Equity. Has the sensitivity, awareness and skill to understand the values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures that supports all children and adults to learn and work effectively.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

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