About this role
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Graduate of a Registered Nursing Program approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
• Current license as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• CPR and First Aid certification by a recognized provider, renewable biannually.
• Two years of child health, community health, or other relevant clinical nursing experience.
• Experience with medically fragile or special needs students
JOB GOAL: To assist the classroom teacher in meeting the physical and health care needs of assigned medically fragile and special needs students during the school day and regular school activities. To promote and maintain the health and well-being of the assigned student in the classroom setting to enable them to take full advantage of available educational opportunities.
CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide personal care, assistance, and supervision as needed to assign students, including:
• Dressing and undressing.
• Toileting, including diaper change.
• Feeding.
• Positioning.
• Transfers i.e.: may include lifting from wheelchair to toilet
• Hygiene.
• Experience with BiPaps
• Use of adaptive equipment as per physician order and under the direction of the physical therapist, such as, but not limited to, Rifton chairs, standers, wheelchairs, and walkers.
• Provide assistance with assigned student education programs as directed by the classroom teacher, including but not limited to:
• Using adaptive equipment such as, but not limited to, recorders, earphones, augmentative communication devices, hearing aids, and computers.
• Participate in all aspects of the classroom program as directed by the teacher.
• Assist with maintenance of classroom supplies, including cleaning and care of equipment.
• Other classroom responsibilities as assigned by the principal or his/her designee
TO THE EXTENT OF HIS/HER GENERIC AND CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE, the Registered Nurse shall assume responsibility for the following health services under the direction of the Nursing Supervisor and Registered School Nurse in the school building:
• Collaborate with parents, school nurses, and student's physician(s) to implement individual health care plans.
• Provide emergency care in cases of injury or sudden illness. Such care will only be limited to First Aid, followed up by referral to the family physician or proper medical facility.
• Maintain an accurate health record of the assigned students. As appropriate, document health-related activities and treatments on daily logs and electronic medical records.
• Document First Aid and illness care provided to assigned students. Complete accident reports and maintains an accurate log of classroom health-related activities using the electronic medical record.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to administer medications appropriately, in keeping with school policy on the administration of medication in school.
• Administer medications and treatments as necessary in the classroom setting. Treatments may include but are not limited to suctioning, positioning, tracheostomy care, and nebulizer treatments.
• Monitor seizure activity and administer medications as ordered by a physician.
• Maintain confidentiality of assigned student's health and medical concerns.
• Collaborate with the school nurse to screen all new students in a classroom to ensure compliance with immunization laws.
• Collaborate with the school nurse to organize, implement and report on mandated health screening programs in an assigned classroom.
• Maintain medical equipment and supplies as appropriate in the classroom.
• Collaborate/cooperate with community providers and state agencies to meet assigned students' health and social service needs.
• Is a resource to the assigned student, parent, principal, and teachers in matters pertaining to health.
• Collaborate with the school nurse to identify classroom health and safety hazards and advise the teacher.
• Accompanied assigned students with medical needs when out of school on field or community trips.
• May be required to ride the school bus with assigned students or attend field trips.
• Other duties as assigned at the discretion of the building principal and/or school nurse.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• This job requires lifting, bending, twisting, or ambulation restrictions.
• Ability to lift up to fifty (50) pounds
• Ability to move, lift, or transfer student
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Gross motor skills, including bending and twisting