RN Community School Health Nurse (DC Public Schools)

The Community Health Nurse (CHN) will be expected to travel to schools in their cluster and/or may float to other schools as operationally needed. Provide services for students with medical treatments and/or procedures that require the expertise of a nurse, as needed. Provide comprehensive school health nursing services to school-age children, individuals, families and communities in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention while safeguarding their integrity and recognizing their right to make their own decisions. Interpret students immunization needs. Continue to expand clinical base of nursing knowledge and skills. Will perform a variety of selective individual health assessments and initiate the referrals identified, defects, and perform subsequent follow-up. Participate in the local school level assessment team process for special education and make recommendations relative to students' health care needs, where applicable. Will provide case management of students with special needs, as applicable. Will orient, instruct and implement planned observational experiences for newly hired staff. Will be an advisor for less experienced staff. All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, CSS/CN Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. CSS supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large. When traveling to schools in their cluster, will create, maintain and sign off IHPs, enter orders and treatments into the EHR as appropriate, as well as assist in generalized care of the school-aged child, as needed. Will participate in 504 meetings, IEP meetings, and any multidisciplinary meetings as appropriate. May assist fellow health suite staff with organizing day-to-day activities, which may include, but are not limited to: screenings, assessment of student conditions, organization of health suite space and files, referrals, and other health suite duties and responsibilities as requested by the Nurse Manager. Appraise and address the needs of the general student population, students with chronic and acute health problems and special education students with multi-handicaps. Perform a variety of selective individual health assessments and initiate the referrals on identified health needs and perform subsequent follow-up. Will provide technical direction and guidance, training, and document competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses/Health Technicians, as appropriate to the school setting.

Minimum Education
A.A. Graduated from an approved school of nursing. (Required)
BSN (Preferred)
B.S. Graduated from an approved school of nursing. (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
1 year Registered Nurse (RN) experience in community health, ambulatory care, school health or other related fields. (Preferred)

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse in Washington DC Upon Hire (Required)Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) Upon Hire (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the total school program including trends relating to school health as well as developmental patterns and needs of school age children.
Knowledge of data collection techniques for analysis of health needs.
Knowledge of a wide variety of medical conditions, diagnoses, and specific diseases.
Ability to provide health counseling to patients and families with a wide variety of health problems.
Demonstrates sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds.
Demonstrates effective conflict resolution skills.
Must be able to lift 50lbs
Must be able to climb a full flight of stairs
Must be able to kneel down and perform CPR/life-saving clinical interventions

Functional Accountabilities
Nursing Process

• Manage acute, complex, chronic and communicable health problems, such as neurological conditions, hypertension, asthma and diabetes in schools and clinics.

• Contribute to individualized plan of care and execute plan to utilize resources as needed.

• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team in the school setting.

• Documentation is complete based on school health standards.

Communication

• Utilize verbal and non-verbal communication with school age child/families and all members of the healthcare team.

• Counsel, teach, collaborate, and coordinate with other disciplines to deliver a comprehensive family health service.

• Communicate effectively and constructively with management, staff, stakeholders and partners.

• Demonstrate accountability for work

• Share and seek knowledge and provide feedback to others

Plan of Care

• Identify ongoing education of school-age child/families based on plan of care.

• Evaluate school age child/family response to education and document progress toward goals.

Professional Development

• Identify own learning needs and seek opportunities to meet those needs.

• Participate in school health educational activities, as necessary.

• Participate in school health committees or projects, as necessary.

• Seek opportunities for professional growth and development.

Leadership Skills

• Develop organizational and prioritization skills necessary to complete assignments within acceptable timeframe

• Delegate tasks to ancillary staff and delegate within team appropriately.

• Support management decisions and contribute to a positive work environment.

• Lead by example for fellow healthcare team.

• Participate in quality improvement activities, as necessary.

• Identify performance improvement opportunities.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes.

• Plan, organize and prioritize work

• Make appropriate decisions, use critical thinking and sound judgement

• Organize and use resources efficiently

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, partners and coworkers

Health Education /Education

• Assist students, families, the school staff and community to achieve optimal levels of wellness through appropriately designed and delivered health promotion.

• Participate in the assessment of needs for health counseling and health instruction needs for the school community.

• Provide formal health instruction based on sound learning theory, as appropriate to student development levels.

• Must not be dependent on assistive transport devices while ambulating

• Provide individual and group health teaching and counseling for and with students, as appropriate.

• Act as a resource person to school staff on health promotion activities and materials.

• Further the application of health promotion principles within all areas of school life, e.g., food service, custodial, etc.

• Acquire and maintain current knowledge and competency in school nursing practice.

• Acquire knowledge and skills appropriate to the specialty practice of school nursing on a regular and ongoing basis.

• Consistently participate in continuing education activities related to current clinical knowledge practice and professional issues.

Professional Practice/Research

• Contribute to CNMC's Magnet Journey.

• Ensure that nursing practice is based on evidence of best practice.

• Accountable to participate in the Division of Nursing's Performance Improvement process (division or unit level)

Program Management

• Anticipate and responds to needs of others.

• Follow-up until needs are met.

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior.

• Show respect and sensitivity for cultural/ethnic diversity.

• Manage school health services, as appropriate, to the nurse's education, position and practice environment.

• Conduct school health needs assessment to identify current health problems and identify the need for new programs.

• Develop and implement needed health programs using a program planning process.

• Orient, provide training, document competency, and oversee the practice of Health Technicians, as appropriate to the school setting.

• Participate in environmental safety and health activities, e.g., indoor air quality, injury surveillance, and prevention.

• Adopts and utilizes available technology, as appropriate to the work setting.

Forward Thinking / Promoting Change

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change.

• Contribute to a positive work environment.

• Identify and resolves issues, overcoming challenges.

• Identify new patterns and trends and anticipate impact.

Quality of Care

• Systematically evaluate the quality and effectiveness of school nursing practice.

• Participate in quality assurance activities, as appropriate.

• Use the results of quality of care activities to initiate changes in school nursing practice, as appropriate.

• Continuously strive to improve the quality and effectiveness of school health services.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Organize and use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing thingsManage own time to promote productivity

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance