Position Type:
ADMINISTRATOR-OFFICE OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP/DIR-NURSING

Date Posted:
8/20/2021

Location:
ADMIN BLDG 1 (GMA)

Days per Year: 226
Min: $98,932
Mid: $119,195

JOB TITLE: Director-Nursing

REPORTS TO: Assistant Superintendent-Student Support Services

WAGE: Exempt

PAY GRADE: AM 5

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Director-Nursing is responsible for program administration, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of a comprehensive program of health services for the District. The Director-Nursing also protects the health and wellness of all Spring ISD students, by hiring, training, and monitoring qualified nurses (RNs and LVNs) to provide direct patient care and emergency care to the students, facilitating their ability to learn and perform effectively. In addition, the Director ensures that the Nursing Department, its nurses and their clinics meet state and federal regulations as well as District policies.

All employees of Spring ISD are expected to act with integrity, support organizational goals, communicate in a clear and respectful manner, championing the needs of our students and drive continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
• Valid current registered nurse's license from the Texas State Board of Nursing
• Three or more years of school nursing experience
• CPR / AED / First Aid certifications (instructor certification preferred)
• Vision, Hearing, Spinal Screening and TRAT2DC (Texas Risk Assessment for Type 2 Diabetes) certifications (instructor certifications preferred)

Preferred:

• Master's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
• Five or more years of nursing management experience

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Knowledge of laws pertaining to school nursing and school health
• Knowledge of community medical and health care services
• Good organizational, managerial, technology, communication and public speaking skills
• Ability to organize, direct, coordinate, and evaluate health services delivery system
• Ability to interpret and implement health and wellness policies and procedures
• Ability to manage budget and personnel

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Supervision:

• Direct, monitor and evaluate lead nurses that oversee the elementary schools LVN clinics.
• Provide supervision of the registered nurses (RNs) and of the licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) practicing in the independent school setting according to the rules of the Texas Board of Nursing.
• Coordinate nursing services, including health assessments, and assist in establishing individual health care plans for a diverse student population with serious health needs.
• Ensure that all campuses have needed healthcare supplies and resources and recommend purchase, replacement, and repair of equipment when needed.
• Direct, coordinate, supervise and evaluate summer school clinics.
• Perform all other duties as assigned, including the duties of a school nurse as needed.

Policy:

• Determine the goals, objectives, and priorities of the health services program in conjunction with nurses and other staff within the goals and strategic plan of the District.
• Annually review and revise student handbooks as it pertains to health and wellness for all grade levels.
• Direct nursing staff to implement current, grade-level specific immunization requirements from Texas Department of Health, and evaluate and monitor compliance.
• Develop and implement infection control policies in conjunction with Harris County Department of Health.
• Monitor health publications and legislative actions related to Texas Board of Nurse Examiners and the practice of nursing in the State of Texas for continuous quality improvement of the District's Nursing Department.
• Serve as medication information liaison between state and county health departments, District administrators, campus leadership, staff and community.

Professional Development:

• Identify, analyze, and apply current nursing and medical research findings to plan and provide health care delivery for all students. Evaluate and improve school health practices and make changes based on findings.
• Provide orientation and training of new nurses.
• Provide training or opportunities for certification and re-certification in CPR/First Aid/AED, vision, hearing, scoliosis and TRAT2DC screening.
• Oversee the District's diabetes education program for staff and coordinate Unlicensed Diabetic Care Assistant (UDCA) education for designated campus personnel according to HB 984.
• Oversee the District's Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, including the Hepatitis B vaccination program for identified at risk employees.
• Facilitate orientation of substitutes and be available to help them if problems arise.
• Make available learning experiences appropriate to meet the twenty hours of continuing education which are required to keep a nurse's license current through planned in-services and outside workshops.
• Communicate information to the nurses and hold meetings which provide opportunities for sharing and acquiring up-to-date information. These meetings need to be planned in advance, location arranged for, and outside speakers contacted when appropriate.
• Prepare and present district-wide in-services related to health and wellness.

Advisory:

• Provide expert advice to district administration and other departments regarding policies, procedures, nursing, and healthcare standards on matters impacting student, staff and community.
• Serve as a permanent member of the District's School Health Advisory Committee.
• Participate in the development of the District's health education curriculum.
• Recruit nurses and be available to help principals in interviewing new personnel in regard to their professional background, experience, and in the determination of whether or not they would be a positive benefit to the District.
• Be available to help make decisions about immunizations and other student or staff health issues.
• Interpret health information and advice in the treatment of medical emergencies as well as be available to aid a medical staff members on any campus when a major problem arises.
• Monitor and coordinate the District's immunization program.
• Provide input into the design of clinic facilities for new buildings.
• Collaborate with student services to ensure District's student health software conforms to local, state and federal guidelines.
• Assist in the placement of nurses at summer school sites.

Evaluation:

• Complete annual evaluations for all clinic nurses and lead nurses.
• Facilitate consistency in school clinic operations by observing and providing guidance during on-site clinic visitations.
• Maintain updated information on RN/LVN licensure and vision, hearing, spinal, TRAT2DC, CPR, AED, and first aid certifications for nurses.

Reports:

• Be responsible for the submission of the District reports for State mandated vision, hearing and spinal screening required annually by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Ensure screening equipment is in good order and calibrated before the beginning of each school year.
• Be responsible for the Texas Risk Assessment for Type 2 Diabetes in Children (TRAT2DC) annual report for each campus to be submitted to the UT Pan American Border Health office.

Liaison:

• Serve as District liaison with other community, educational and health service agencies to ensure that students have access to adequate health care services.
• Facilitate vision, hearing and other health referrals for District students and staff as needed.
• Be the contact person with Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services:
  • Monitor, manage and implement preventive measures in communicable disease control for the District.
  • Report communicable disease as required.
  • Coordinate handling of communicable disease outbreaks between the school district and health department.
• Collaborate with area nursing schools that have an educational preceptor affiliation agreement with the District to place nursing students for clinical rotation with Spring ISD RNs.
• Create networking opportunities with nursing schools/hospitals, etc. to allow opportunities for continuing education of school nurses.
• Manage the resolution of parental concerns regarding health issues.
• Participate in professional development in school nursing organizations and network with directors of nursing in surrounding districts to stay abreast of current laws, trends and best practices. Serve on interdisciplinary committees and participate in peer review.
• Provide information for nurses on visitations by Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services and TEA.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: physical mobility, standing, prolonged sitting, some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling , reaching/repetitive hand motions, and the ability to work with frequent interruptions. May be required to lift or position students with physical disabilities; control behavior through physical restraint; and assist non-ambulatory students. Exposure to biological hazards. Mental demands: Ability to maintain emotional control under stress; ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of situations; ability to interpret a variety of data, ability to be effective in both oral and written communication. Travel within the district as required.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.