Head School Nurse

Position Type:
Student Support Services/School Nurse

Date Posted:
11/3/2023

Location:
District Office
Berwyn North School District 98 is located in Berwyn, Illinois. The district has three elementary schools and one middle school and serves more than 2,500 students in Pre-K through 8th grade. Our district is committed to mutual respect and cultural diversity. We foster strong partnerships among students, school staff, families, and the community and empower students to solve problems, make decisions and apply technology so they can reach their full personal, academic and civic potential. We offer a Dual Language Program to ensure students are fluent in two languages, a STEAM Program, and 1-to-1 technology to prepare students for the future.

Job Title: Head School Nurse

Classification: 11-Month Position

Accountability: Reports to Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/Chief School Business Official

Primary Function: The Head School Nurse is responsible for managing the District's school health program, ensuring that it meets all standards as outlined by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act. The Head School Nurse manages the school nurses and makes sure they are delivering a high-quality program and serving as the primary health resource to students, parents, and staff in an effort to promote optimal levels of health and wellness across the school community.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university
• Valid Illinois nursing license
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS)/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Minimum of five (5) years experience as a Nurse (RN), preferably in a school setting
• Prior experience as a head school nurse (or as a nurse supervisor in a non-school setting)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluent in Spanish
• Master's Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university
• Professional Educator License endorsed as a School Nurse through ISBE
• Previous pediatric experience
• Experience working with students with culturally diverse backgrounds

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical Standards

• Researches and stays abreast of school health and wellness compliance requirements in accordance with ISBE and the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act; maintains knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices in health education
• Develops district protocols and procedures related to school health and wellness in accordance with ISBE and the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act
• Ensures the completion of all required state and local reports; manages the collection, updating, maintenance and reporting of all health records
• Manages the day-to-day work schedule of school nurses; conducts annual performance reviews
• Oversees the administration and management of medication processes within the schools
• Assists nurses in performing the medical procedures for medically involved students
• Provides emergency service and first aid for injured or ill student's grades (K-8) in a school setting
• Ensures the district consistently implements the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Plan
• Reviews accident reports; assists Business Operations Department with worker's compensation claims as needed
• Establishes the district's health screening processes and protocols (i.e. vision, hearing, fine and gross motor, etc.); ensures they are legally compliant and consistently applied across the district; provides follow-ups as needed
• Ensures student immunization records are properly collected and maintained; inspects student records for compliance
• Develops procedures for crisis intervention for acute illness, injury and emotional disturbances
• Ensures school nursing offices are clean and orderly
• Travels between schools to provide direct care/consultation as needed

Training & Professional Development

• Acts as the district's primary resource regarding health education
• Provides guidance and resources to school nurses and school building administrators regarding student health and wellness
• Provides health training and counseling to students, families, and staff
• Liaises with the Human Resources Department to ensure compliance with annual ISBE mandated training
• Promotes student, staff, and school safety and wellness through health education
• Organizes and participates in professional development as needed
• Responsible for listening to and addressing parent, student, and employee concerns related to health and wellness
• Trains school nurses in all day-to-day aspects of the school nurse role; trains others involved in health related services delivery as appropriate

Special Education Services

• Oversees compliance with Special Education Services
• Ensures appropriate school nurse participation/representation in Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meetings as required by law
• Ensures the district has protocols in place to provide counseling and follow-up services to students with disabilities as noted in IEP/504 plans
• Works with school nurses to ensure the district has a plan in place to assist special education students to accept or adjust to physical, emotional or health limitations
• Work with school nurses to provide health-related consultation to parents of special education students

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality with student and employee health information at all times
• Ability to work cooperatively with students, parents, school personnel, and community agencies
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
• Prior experience working with children/adolescents
• Passion for working with children/adolescents
• Demonstrates working knowledge of current technology and related software applications
• Knowledge of child development and the characteristics of healthy children
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Self-starter/Self-motivated
• Works well independently and on a team
• Culturally competent
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong managerial skills
• Strong organizational skills coupled with the ability to create systems and procedures
• Ability to foster and maintain positive and effective working relationships

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to read, write, and speak proficiently in Spanish
• Knowledge of peer mediation and conflict resolution techniques

Physical Demands:

• Sitting for long periods of time; some extensive walking; light lifting; working on the computer for extended periods of time
• Prolonged periods of standing, reaching, and bending
• Ability to lift 10-20 lbs

Disclaimer:
This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.