GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, performs supervisory and emergency medical and administrative work providing preventive and acute health care to students. Work involves administering provision of a variety of health care services, including health screenings and medical examinations and treatments, to school children with a variety of physical and mental handicaps. Employee is required to perform emergency medical functions which may include administering drugs, performing pulmonary ventilation by means of an esophageal obturator airway, and obtaining blood for laboratory analysis. Work also involves providing training to teachers in first aid, emergency care and specific treatments; assisting and advising school teachers, staff and students' parents in matters pertaining to the health of students; and serving as a liaison between the school and private medical professionals, clinics, and human services agencies. Employee is also required to maintain a variety of records and reports pertaining to health screening activities, emergency incidents, the status of individual students, etc. Employee is exposed to the normal hazards of emergency medical work, including risk of exposure to infectious diseases. The nurse is expected to function at all times within the scope of the Nurse Practice Act. Reports to a Principal.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Responds to emergency medical situations involving both non-handicapped and physically and mentally handicapped students and performs necessary medical work in accordance with established protocols for Basic Life Support; administers necessary emergency medical care, which may require the use of suction units, immobilization equipment, syringes and medications.

Administers or supervises the administration of medications to students with physician or health care provider orders; performs prescribed treatments or supervises routine treatments with physician order, as governed by the Nurse Practice Act.

Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation when confronted with a pulseless non-breathing patient. May perform any of the following procedures if allowed by the Northampton County Board of Education and/or State Board of Education, and in accordance with the North Carolina Nurse Practice Act:

(1) patient assessment; (2) basic life support techniques in accordance with the American Heart Association or American Red Cross including airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (3) oxygen administration; (4) hemorrhage control; (5) treatment for shock; (6) bandaging and dressing soft tissue injuries; (7) splinting fractures and dislocations; (8) treatment of injuries to the head, face, eye, neck, and spine; (9) treatment of injuries to the chest, abdomen and genitalia; (10) provision of basic life support for medical injuries; (11) assisting in emergency normal and abnormal childbirth; (12) emergency treatment of injuries as a result of exposure to heat and cold; (13) treatment of burns; (14) lifting and moving patients for transfer to a medical facility; and (15) extrication of patients from confined areas.

Assigns, directs and supervises activities of any volunteer personnel, ensuring adherence to established medical protocols, policies and procedures; assists and advises subordinate, as necessary, resolving problems as non-routine situations arise; makes decisions regarding delegation of nursing activities to unlicensed persons based on the Nurse Practice Act.

Administers or makes recommendations for routine personnel matters affecting subordinate(s), including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, assigning, scheduling, granting leave, appraising and disciplining, etc., and submitting such records and reports as required by Schools system administration.

Oversees and participates in health screening of students at start of each school year, including dental, vision and hearing screenings; ensures thatstudents have current immunizations; maintains health and medical records of students; assists and advises school staff in recognition of health problems in students; monitors daily health checks of students, and makes appropriate referrals for professional services; contacts parents to advise of observed health or medical problems and/or emergency incidents, and makes or assists parents in making necessary medical appointments, as necessary; develops a nursing care plan for every student with special needs.

Makes oral presentations to various exceptional children's services groups as part of in-service training, including such topics as first aid, emergency care and treatments for specific health problems or medical emergencies; counsels individual students, groups of students, parents, school staff, etc., about specific health concerns, as appropriate; assists school administrators and appropriate committees in developing health education programs for school staff, parents and students.

Serves as primary liaison between school and private medical professionals and clinics, human services agencies and other institutions or agencies providing services to students and/or their families; advises medical professionals and others, as appropriate, of students' medical histories,

incidents, treatments, etc., and provides records, as appropriate.

Prepares and maintains comprehensive notes, records and reports of medical evaluations, emergency incidents, treatments, consultations, etc., to document students' medical histories, nursing activities, treatment provided, etc.

Serves on various school and/or school system committees, attending meetings and participating in other activities of such groups as appropriate.

Attends seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lectures, etc., as appropriate, to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in the field of nursing, with emphasis on care of handicapped juveniles; reviews professional journals, attends association and professional meetings, and otherwise maintains contacts with nursing and medical professionals to facilitate exchange of information.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Performs other related work as required.

MINIMUM TRAININ

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

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