SPED School Nurse at Olathe South High School

POSITION TITLE: School Nurse - Special Education

DEPARTMENT: Health Services

STATUS: Certified Exempt - Contract

HOURS OF WORK/CALENDAR: 8 hours a day / 187-day calendar

POSITION SUMMARY:

The position is responsible to provide direct nursing services to students and staff members to maximize health, wellness, and safety in the school community and to strengthen and facilitate the educational process by modifying or removing health related barriers to learning while working with the building inter-disciplinary team. This position's primary focus is the provision of school nurse services to students receiving Special Education services, especially those with complex medical conditions. All duties are implemented according to the health policies established by the Olathe Board of Education and the State of Board of Education.

This position reports and is administratively accountable to the building administrator and to the Director of Health Services in matters of provision of health services in the building and/or district.PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop practices that facilitate wellness and allow students to enroll and remain in school.

• Initiate and maintain individual student health records adhering to documentation standards.

• Identify and monitor communicable disease outbreaks and enforces state immunization mandates as defined by local school policy.

• Oversee health screenings, identifies those requiring referral and assist as needed with access to health services.

• Assist in the identification of health services and resources available to students and families within the community.

• Communicate to student's optimal health practices that promote healthy attitudes, behaviors, and developmentally appropriate independence in care.

• Manage health room visits by assisting with decision-making, intervening with actual and potential health problems.

• Provide individual teaching on health care consumerism including healthy lifestyles, risk- reducing behaviors, developmental needs, activities of daily living, and preventive self-care.

• Manage and supports chronic health conditions and collaboratively develops Individualized Health Plan (IHPs) to optimize student's readiness to learn.

• Identify health related modifications needed at school that also promote inclusion in the classroom.

• Administer and monitor physician ordered medications and/or treatments.

• Integrate health services into IEP and Section 504 plans as appropriate, including Individual Health Plans (IHPs).

• Provide and/or appropriately delegate health care procedures.

• Assist with emergency and disaster preparedness and monitoring of the school physical environment.

• Develop and implement appropriate strategies, behavior supports, and consequences directly related to health needs.

• Reflect on professional practices in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines, relevant statutes, rules and regulations, and local policies and standards to identify strengths, opportunities for improvement, and professional growth priorities.

• Participate in and applies knowledge gained from ongoing professional growth opportunities.

• Establish and maintain professional communication with all stakeholders which is ongoing, timely, and respectful with consideration given to professional confidentiality.

• Support district curriculum, instructional objectives, instructional strategies, and instructional materials and assessments.

• Create a caring, trusting, personal climate conducive to learning.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Baccalaureate degree in Nursing

• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Kansas State Board of Nursing

• Minimum of three years nursing experience

• Basic Life Support Certification

• Computer literacy and competency in use of existing technology

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough understanding of nursing practices and procedures, including but not limited to assessment, planning, implementation of care, infection control, and emergency response practices.

• Understanding of and ability to work within the Kansas Nurse Practice Act.

• Strong English verbal and written communication skills, including active listening, emotional intelligence, customer relations, and conflict management skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to build rapport to assist distressed individuals and multiple-building staff members while interacting in a non-judgmental manner with culturally and socio-economically diverse populations.

• High degree of motivation, responsibility, and confidentiality.

• Ability to work effectively and establish and maintain collaborative professional relationships.

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Strong team focus and willingness to not only accept other duties as assigned but motivation to seek out ways to assist.

• Ability to compile, organize, analyze, and report data, and to work independently with minimal supervision and attention to detail in a fast-paced, stressful work environment.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ability to use sound judgment.

• Proficiency with use of technology including MS Office 365 (i.e., Excel, Outlook, Word, Teams) for data entry, records maintenance, and report production.

• Proficiency in use of Excel to analyze data and generate weekly reports.

• Ability to use discretion, maintain HIPAA and FERPA confidentiality standards and demonstrate ethical conduct.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The position requires the performance of medium work- exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects including lifting materials and equipment. The position requires close visual acuity to perform functions such as but not limited to reading, computer work and data analysis. This position generally involves viewing a computer screen about 50 percent of the time. The position includes frequent lifting, standing, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, climbing, balancing, walking, talking, hearing, grasping and repetitive motion, occasional reaching, feeling, stooping, kneeling, standing, crouching, and/or crawling, and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in generally hazard free environment and a clean atmosphere.

IMPORTANT EMPLOYMENT STATEMENTS

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The District reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.

The Olathe Public Schools prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity in its programs, activities or employment as required by applicable federal and state laws.

CLEARANCES REQUIRED: Criminal Justice Fingerprint, Background Clearance, TB Test