Substitute School Nurse

JOB DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL NURSE SUBSTITUTE

ABOUT BART CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School ("BART") is a nationally recognized, award-winning, college-preparatory, public middle and high school located in Adams, Massachusetts. As the only charter school in Berkshire County, it is consistently ranked among the top schools in Massachusetts for student academic achievement and growth.

Committed to its mission to prepare its students for college and a lifetime of learning, BART is a community of 363 curious and creative students, devoted and innovative teachers and staff members, and families dedicated to the success of their children. The student body is richly diverse, each member with an important personal story. The School is built around a makerspace, and its academic program comprises an intense academic core curriculum enriched by ample elective courses in the arts and technology as well as opportunities for students to pursue independent creative and scholarly projects. Before they graduate, BART students must pass courses on college campuses, take and pass collegiate-skills courses each year, complete an internship within the region, and participate in a rigorous program of mock interviews, portfolio presentations, and annual science fairs.

The success enjoyed by BART's students and the School as a whole results from a school culture characterized by

• A liberating, college-preparatory, academic environment that provides for students and employees alike intellectual challenge, professional development and exploration, and personal growth;
• Dedication to the education of the whole child that supports the child's intellectual, emotional, social, and physical maturation;
• A school that embodies the best of contemporary educational knowledge, thought, and practices, including a reliance on data-driven teaching and learning in support of advancing student achievement;
• A vibrant, inclusive school that embraces diversity and individuality yet shines by the devotion of students, faculty and staff, and families to their BART and home communities;
• An educational experience that brings the world into BART and BART into the world; and
• A strong, resilient, and multi-element financial base from which resources will enable students' academic success and professional distinction and employees' professional development and refinement.

THE POSITION

The Substitute School Nurse is responsible for covering the nurses office at BART when the full-time nurse is off-site. Responsibilities include program nursing services, collaboration, and professional practice.

The Substitute School Nurse is a per diem/hourly position. The Substitute School Nurse reports to the Health and Wellness Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES

Within the responsibility category of "Nursing Services," theSubstitute School Nurse will

• Collaborate with the parent/guardian and student, where appropriate, to develop and implement an individualized health care plan for the student;
• Develop a nursing diagnosis and care plan with specific goals and interventions delineating school nursing actions specific to student needs and coordinated with the efforts of other providers and School personnel and will implement plans in a manner aimed at improving health and educational status;
• Provide medically prescribed interventions, including medication administration (based on Massachusetts regulations), and provide care to ill children on a daily basis;
• Responsible for the safe dispensing of medication, and creating and overseeing a medication delegation program;
• Respond to frequently encountered health issues; collaborate with school counselers and assist with crisis interventions as needed -e.g., adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, death of a family member, and suicide-and respond to child neglect or abuse issues (as required by Massachusetts statute); and
• Provide first aid to injured children and staff; provide everyday care of acutely ill children; and manage children with communicable disease.

Within the responsibility category of "Collaboration," the Substitute School Nurse will

• Establish a process to identify students at risk for physical and psychosocial problems, communicate health needs to other School personnel as appropriate and establish a referral system using both internal and community resources;
• Participate as a team member, with parental consent when indicated, in sharing information with other team members about children with special health care problems that affect learning and growth; act as an advocate for the student and family when appropriateInclude the student and parent in the team conference whenever possible and appropriate.

Within the responsibility category of "Professional Practice," the Substitute School Nurse will

• Apply appropriate nursing theory as the basis for decision-making in the school setting while expanding knowledge and skills in response to student health needs and participating in research:
• Demonstrate current knowledge in such areas as (a) professional issues in school nursing; (b) school and community health; (c) communicable disease control; (d) growth and development; (e) health assessment; (f) special health conditions, both chronic and acute; (g) injury prevention and emergency care; (h) health counseling, health education, and promotion; and (i) current adolescent issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to handle unforeseen challenges and acute health-related situations within a dynamic organization
• Have a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts
• Certification in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, AED, and First Aid from a recognized provider (e.g., American Heart Association)
• A team player with a sense of humor and a dedication to working with a diverse, creative school community.

BART seeks to increase the diversity of its faculty and staff and enthusiastically encourages applications from individuals who are members of groups traditionally under-represented in academia. Those who can see themselves in the role of School Nurse at BART Charter Public School should send via email a résumé, cover letter, and full contact information for three professional references to employment@bartcharter.org. The cover letter should be addressed to BART's Executive Director, Dr. James White. Review of completed applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

BART Charter Public School is an equal opportunity employer. BART does not discriminate in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its services, programs or activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness or age.

For more information about BART and its programs, please visit www.bartcharter.org.