School Nurse - Tuftonboro Elementary School at Huggins Hospital in WOLFEBORO, New Hampshire

Job Description:

Under the general supervision of the Nurse Manager, is responsible for appropriate student health assessments and daily care of students health needs. The School Nurse acts a health liaison between students, families, physicians and the community. The School Nurse facilitates the educational process by pro-actively managing health issues for students and promoting an atmosphere of health and well-being.

The School Nurse Program is a year round program to support community needs via a mutually beneficial agreement in which Huggins Hospital employs registered nurses who are placed within the Governor Wentworth Regional School District (GWRSD) during the school year and work within nursing departments at Huggins Hospital during school breaks including summer months when there is an influx of seasonal residents and vacationers in the community and hospital.

Professionalism:

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and/or participating in professional societies.
• Participate in organizational meetings as deemed necessary
• Adheres to the standards of profession as outlined by the School Nurses Association and American Nurses Association.

Clinical Competency:

• Demonstrates nursing proficiency in alternative nursing role at Hugging Hospital. Plans, evaluates, directs and renders care, re-evaluates clinical outcomes according to established evidenced based standards set forth by professional nursing organizations and within the scope of practice as set forth by the NH Board of Nursing.
• Demonstrated proficiency and skill in the performance of school nursing functions
• Promotes student health by engaging in activities that foster a healthy and safe school environment. This includes following infection prevention guidelines and participating in emergency planning, drills and other preparedness activities for the school.
• Obtain health and developmental histories along with any medical information pertinent to the educational process and record the information on the student's health history.
• Administer first-aid and emergency care to students. Complete accident reports and notify the parents of any injuries.
• Safe administration of medication prescribed by a physician, and over the counter medications provided that is parental permission. Medications must be stored in appropriately labeled pharmacy bottle.
• Conduct health screenings such as: Growth (Health and Wright), Head Lice, Vision, Hearing, and Scoliosis and notify parents of referral if there are any discrepancies found.
• Maintain health records including a current Immunization Record in accordance with the New Hampshire State Requirements and a current health physical for any students entering the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.
• Evaluate and monitor the control of communicable diseases by way of immunization clinics, early detection, observation, and reporting of these diseases in accordance with the New Hampshire State Guidelines.
• Provide health counseling to students and act as a medical resource to staff concerning subjects relating to illness and disease prevention, nutrition, hygiene and dealing with chronic illnesses.
• Identify and meet the educational needs of students in conjunction with the Health Teacher regarding health matters by providing educational resources and confidential conferences as appropriate.
• Demonstrate and practice the safety guidelines established by the Governor Wentworth Regional School District in regards to universal precautions, CDC Guidelines, and State and Federal Laws.
• Collaborate with community health organizations and act as a liaison between parents, the school, State and local health agencies, and the community.
• Communicates in a timely and effective manner with the school's Principal, Teachers, Parents, Primary Care Providers and Hospital resources as necessary.

Patient Advocacy:

• Plan and implement nursing care to meet the needs of individual students with chronic health problems and disabilities. Act as the health consultant for children who have an Individualized Educational Plan
• Utilizes appropriate resources for non-English speaking patients, healthcare illiterate patients, hearing and sight impaired patients and caregivers. Clearly communicates to the patient and family at an appropriate level of comprehension
• Takes proactive steps to recognize and report suspected abuse/neglect, including, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual abuse, and spousal abuse. Reporting identified cases to supervisor and appropriate State of NH mandated authorities.

Quality:

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and/or participating in professional societies.
• Ensures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards. Making recommendations for adjustments in patient care as necessary.
• Adheres to Infection Prevention standards. Consistent in following CDC, State of NH DHHS, Huggins Hospital and GWRSD infection prevention plans. Practices universal precautions, hand hygiene and equipment disinfection before and after each student interaction. Proper and safe use of PPE (mask, shield, goggles, gloves, gowns) when indicate.
• Actively participates in departmental continuous survey readiness activities, departmental collateral duties, quality reviews and performance improvement projects.

Organizational Expectations:

• Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift

• HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality

• Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect

• Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.

• Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement:

• Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings

• Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes

• Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

• Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers

• Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress

• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word

• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication

• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner

• Familiarity with computer and other business machines

Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited nursing program. A Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred.

Experience: Two years (2) year of clinical nursing or experience as a school nurse is preferred

License and Certification: NH state nursing license (RN or LPN), BLS required

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