School Nurse

Job Description

The school nurse is a registered professional nurse certified with the Maine Department of Education working in the school setting who strengthens and facilitates the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children.

The major focus of school nursing services is the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems. The school nurse is uniquely qualified in preventive health, health assessment, and referral procedures. 

A. Qualifications: 

1. Possession of a current license to practice professional nursing in Maine. 

2. Three years’ experience as a professional registered nurse.

3. Certification as required by the Department of Education.

4. A baccalaureate degree is required. If a candidate does not have a BS degree, he/she must be matriculating in a program to gain a bachelor’s degree when applying for certification. The degree can be in nursing or a related field.

 B. Functions:

1. Provide health assessments. 

a) Obtains a health and developmental history. 

b) Screens and evaluates findings for deficits in vision, hearing, scoliosis, growth, etc.

c) Observes the child for development and health patterns in making a nursing assessment and nursing diagnosis.

d) Identifies health findings, which do not fall within the normal range. 

e) Assists with physical examinations when conducted in the school.

2. Develops and implements a health plan. 

a) Interprets the health status of pupils to school personnel.

 b) Initiates referrals to parents, school personnel and community health resources for intervention, remediation, and follow through. 

c) Provides ongoing health information to pupils, parents, school personnel and health agencies. 

d) Recommends and helps to implement modifications of school programs to meet students' health needs. 

e) Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of pupils.

3. Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.

 4. Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health individualized educational plan (I.E.P.) 

5. Plans and implements school health management protocols for the child with chronic health problems, including the administration of medication.

 6. Participates in home visits to assess the family's needs as related to the child's health. 7. Develops procedures and provides for crises intervention for acute illness, injury and emotional disturbances. 

8. Promotes and assists in the control of communicable diseases through preventive immunization programs, early detection, surveillance and reporting of contagious diseases.

 9. Recommends provisions for a school environment conducive to learning.

 10. Provides information on health.

a) Provides health information to assist students and families in making health-related decisions.

 b) Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching per sons to become more assertive health consumers and to assume greater responsibility for their own health.

 c) Provides information to adolescents concerning health problems in order to encourage responsible decision-making practices.

 d) Serves as a resource person to the classroom teacher and administrator in health instruction and as a member of the health curriculum development committees.

11. Coordinates school and community health activities and serves as a liaison person between the home, school, and community. 

12. Acts as a resource person in promoting health careers. 

13. Engages in research and evaluation of school health services to act as a change agent for school health programs and school nursing practices.

 14. Assists in the formation of health policies, goals and objectives for the school unit.

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

and Health & Safety 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.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

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

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, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.