Health Services Specialist

Primary Purpose:

Supports the management and coordination of all health services policies activities and resources including implementation and evaluating these programsfor the district.

Education / Certification/Experience/Other requirements

1. Graduate of an accredited professional nursing education program
2. Valid registered nurse license to practice professional nursing in Texas from the State Board of Nurse Examiners
3. Five years of nursing experience preferably in public schools.
4. Certified by Texas Department of Health to conduct vision and hearing screening
5. CPR/First Aid Instructor Certification preferred
6. NCSN (National Certified School Nurse) certification preferred
7. Personal cellphone isrequiredto handle district related business including after hours or when away from theoffice ondistrict business.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

1. Knowledge of health appraisal toidentifystudent health defects.
2. Strong organizational communication and interpersonal skills.
3. Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures.
4. Ability tosupporthealth professionals and coordinate programsdistrict wide.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Nursing Services

1. Providesdirect careutilizingprofessional assessment skills the nursing process and established school health protocols.
2. Servesashealthadvocate for students.
3. Communicates with parents and community in areas concerning student health and safety.
4. Supports development ofmanagementsystemto administer medications to students at school. Administersmedications according to district policy and procedures.
5. Implementseffective procedures for mandatory screening programs. Makesreferrals asnecessary.
6. Supportscontinuing evaluation of campus health programsandmakeschanges based on findingsin collaboration with Health Services Coordinator.
7. Oversees and provides needed nursing services during summer programs including Extended School Year Services to students with disabilities.
8. Provides health services to students as necessary

Instruction

1. Participates indevelopmentof campus health education curriculum and provides health education to individuals and groups.
2. Educates faculty and staff as needed onhealth-relatedtopics.
3. Provides health counseling and instruction to individual students.
4. Supports District American Heart Site Coordinator with instructor training/monitoring of instructors and implements training updatesin accordance withbest practices of American Heart Association or Red Cross guidelines.

Consultation

1. Is available for consultation on a campus where a students specific health needsescalateto demand a case management approach.
2. Serves as health liaison between school physicians parents and community.
3. Assesses student problems and makesappropriate referralsworking with students teachers parents and medical and health care professionals as needed.
4. Participates in Admission Review and Dismissal Committee crisis team and school committees and develops Individual Health Plan.
5. Collaborates with other professionalsregardingimplementation of health-related Individual Education Plan (IEP) items.
6. Participates in assessments and reporting of suspected child abuse.
7. Communicates regularly with Health Services Coordinator principal school counselor teachers parents food services and other district employeesregardinghealth services issues.
8. Consults on student health needs forSACCprogram as requested.
9. Serves as District SHAC member

Administration

1. Assistsadministration inestablishingevaluatingand directing the program for health services including health appraisal healtheducationand maintenance of a healthy school environment.
2. Participates in nursing policy formulation decision-makingand interpretation of school health policies.
3. Reviews and evaluates immunization records forforeignexchange students Pegasusenrolleesand otherstudentsas necessary.
4. Compilesmaintains and files all physical and computerized reports records and other documentsrequired including clinic records andaccurate updated health records on all students.
5. Supports submission of all required reports of the school health program to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
6. Implements policies and regulationsestablishedby federal and state laws Texas Department of Health rule State Board of Education rule board policy and district administrative procedures.
7. Reports potential health and safety hazards to campus principal Health Services Coordinator and other district members as needed.

Professional Development

1. Conducts orientation programs for new and substitute nurses and other personnel thatrequireany health services training.
2. Organizes and/or in-service programs for nurses and clinic assistants.
3. Remains current on new medical developments in health-related fields and in technology.
4. Maintains certification in vision and hearing screening as a health screener and with any other certifications earned.
5. Modelsbehavior that is professional ethical and responsible.
6. Performs other duties andacceptsother responsibilities as assigned.
7. Responsible for properlymaintainingdistrict records adhering to all policies set forth by the district for records maintenance and learning the records retention schedule for department records.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supportstrainsand conductsperformance appraisals for registered and licensed vocational nurses.

Required Experience:

IC