| Position Title | School Nurse |
| Reports to | Principal |
| Functional Relationships with | See Interpersonal relationships below |
| Hours of Work | 2 days a week, 8.30 am to 3.30pm sole charge (job share) |
Key Role
To meet the needs of school students using nursing care which is safe, appropriate and effective. The care is based on assessment, continuity where possible, and is patient centred, culturally sensitive and evidence-based.
This will be achieved by the provision of onsite health services and will incorporate:
- Ensuring the smooth running of the school health clinic on a day to day basis.
- Holistic health assessments (HEADSS) on specific student’s and co-ordinating appropriate follow-up.
- The provision of health services to all students within nursing scope of practice
- Referral to health and social agencies for appropriate health and social interventions
- Supporting the delivery of health services to students by other health professionals.
- Supporting students to take responsibility for their own health care and to promote the appropriate use of health services
Nurses Scope of practice
Registered Nurses utilise nursing knowledge and complex nursing judgement to assess health needs and provide care, and to advise and support people to manage their health. They practise independently and in collaboration with other health professionals, perform general nursing functions and delegate to and direct Enrolled Nurses and Nurse Assistants (and Healthcare Assistants). They provide comprehensive nursing assessments to develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated plan of health care, and provide nursing interventions that require substantial scientific and professional knowledge and skills.
This occurs in a range of settings in partnership with individuals, families, whanau and communities. Registered Nurses may practise in a variety of clinical contexts depending on their educational preparation and practice experience. Registered Nurses may also use this expertise to manage, teach, evaluate and research nursing practice. There will be conditions placed on the scope of practice of some Registered Nurses according to their qualifications or experience limiting them to a specific area of practice. (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2004)
Key Accountabilities
- Deliver health services within nursing scope of practice, school policies and standing orders.
- Carry out holistic health assessments on some students and opportunistic assessments of high need students.
- Use advanced nursing knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement, treat and evaluate student health needs
- Provide direct nursing care (including emergency first aid) for students / staff to achieve best health outcomes
- Educate and provide information to students / family / whanau to improve their knowledge of health services.
- Refer students to appropriate health and social services and ensure they receive appropriate follow up
- Provide services and resources that are culturally sensitive and respectful of family values and diversity
- Address the unique adolescent needs of young people with complex health concerns and chronic illnesses and disabilities
- Facilitate the development of onsite health services to meet student needs e.g. mental health, oral health, sexual health, drug and alcohol, healthy eating / healthy action.
- Contribute to the development of integrated service delivery across the continuum of care, linking young people into primary care and other relevant youth health and social services using referral systems
- Accurately document assessment of student’s health status, diagnosis and decisions made regarding interventions and referrals or follow-up.
- Apply critical reasoning and professional judgement to nursing practice issues/ decisions
- Role model culturally safe nursing practice.
- Maintain accurate medical records on the computer systems.
- Maintain medical supplies, working with an allocated budget
- Record accidents and incidents as necessary to comply with Health and Safety
Interpersonal relationships
- Work in collaboration with school based student support services, such as guidance counsellors and social workers, student health council, families/whanau and external health and social agencies to coordinate services to meet student health and social needs.
- Work closely with teaching staff to identify and assist students with health issues
- Encourage active participation of students in relation to health care and prevention activities
- Provide ongoing communication with the school and wider local community to help raise student and parent awareness of services available and how to access them
- Work with school initiatives that promote youth development and youth supportive philosophy e.g. Public health, Nga Ranga Awhina, Hauora Waikato, Youth intact.
- Establish effective relationships and ongoing liaison with appropriate health and social services.
Inter professional healthcare and quality improvement
- Work in collaboration with school based student support services, such as guidance counsellors and social workers, student health council, families/whanau and external health and social agencies to coordinate services to meet student health and social needs.
- Work closely with teaching staff to identify and assist students with health issues
- Encourage active participation of students in relation to health care and prevention activities
- Provide ongoing communication with the school and wider local community to help raise student and parent awareness of services available and how to access them
- Work with school initiatives that promote youth development and youth supportive philosophy e.g. Public health, Nga Ranga Awhina, Hauora Waikato, Youth intact.
- Establish effective relationships and ongoing liaison with appropriate health and social services.
Professional responsibility
- Practice in accordance with legal, ethical, culturally safe and professional standards, including the Privacy Act, Medicines Act and regulations, Health Practitioners Competency Act 2004 and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1997, Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights (1996)
- Develop specialist skills and knowledge in youth health and continue professional development
- Pro-actively participates in your own performance development and review.
- Attend training and clinical sessions to maintain competencies
- Renew CPR and first aid updates every two years and attend training to give the Emergency Contraceptive Pill through family planning and attend HEADSS assessment training courses.
- Attend educational opportunities/conferences relevant to school nursing role and scope of practice.
- Fosters inquiry and critical thinking amongst colleagues to advance nursing practice and patient care.
- Participates in peer review/feedback
- Keeping own NZPC, NZNO and professional development up to date and recorded for annual appraisal
Experience and Knowledge
- Registered Nurse with current Practicing Certificate and a First Aid Certificate / CPR
- A willingness to undertake, experience in, or postgraduate study of related areas – Primary Health Care, Child/Adolescent Health.
- Evidence of advanced level of clinical skills, competency and leadership as documented in Professional Portfolio.
- Working knowledge of the Nursing Code of Conduct, Legislative requirements and Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act. (2004)
- Responsible and accountable for working within Registered Nurse Scope of Practice
- At least 5 years post graduate experience in a clinical role
- The ability to work effectively and independently as well as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
- Understanding the importance of confidentiality and advocacy.
- Practices in a culturally safe manner
- Belongs to Professional Nursing Body with indemnity insurance
- Have a good understand and knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi and the implication in nursing practice
- Competence in computer skills KAMAR, Indic and ACC online.
Personal Attributes
- An interest and respect for working with young people in a positive and friendly manner.
- Demonstrates a professional attitude at all times.
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage conflicting situations
- Self-confidence when dealing with internal/external clients at all organisational levels.
- High level of decision making ability, proactive and displays initiative.
- Demonstrates effective communication and reporting skills, both written and verbal.
- Honesty, integrity and reliability.
- Non-judgmental and empathetic.
- The ability to provide quality service with adaptability and flexibility, with a commitment to ongoing professional development
- Ability to work autonomously and to work well, within a multidisciplinary team.
- Dresses within the school’s dress code.
Day to day tasks
- Smooth running of the clinic – Assess and treat students and staff as they present, while working within nurses scope of practice, using guidelines and policies and standing orders.
- Prioritise and manage the waiting time if necessary to ensure time out of the class room is minimal.
- HEADSS assessments
- Assessments and treatment of students and staff.
- Ensuring the smooth running of the school health clinic on a day to day basis
- Liaising with doctors, physiotherapy, health professionals, teachers and counsellors and other external agencies
- Orders and maintains levels of first aid and other medical / clinic supplies and restocking
- Advises on welfare issues, health promotion for teachers and students, e.g. allergies and diabetes updates
- Health promotion and co-ordination of events throughout the year staff flu vaccines, staff first aid training, vision testing, CPR – students, blood donor, dental care
- Entering new enrolments medical details
- Providing first aid cover for external annual events – e.g. athletics, swimming
- Restocking of first aid kits within the clinic and school
- Maintaining a clean professional work environment
- Changing and washing the linen – weekly or as required
General Responsibilities
Comply with all board policies and relevant legislation
Support Staff Code of Conduct
- Supporting the school charter, policies and procedures.
- Maintaining standards of integrity, conduct and loyalty to the school.
- Maintaining appropriate standards of dress and appearance.
- Interaction with staff, students and members of the community shall be conducted in a respectful, courteous and professional manner.
- Respect confidential information on colleagues, students and members of the community unless disclosure is required by the law or serves a compelling professional purpose.
- Speak out if the behaviour of a colleague is seriously in breach of this Code.
