BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Health Assistant is responsible for direct and indirect nursing care to enhance the well being, academic success, and life-long achievements of students. The Health Assistant facilitates positive student responses to normal development, promotes health and safety, intervenes with actual and potential health problems, and actively collaborates with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy, and learning.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

• Assess and evaluate students’ medical history, including social, behavioral, psychological and familial concerns.
• Utilizing evidenced based practice, identify need for appropriate nursing services in the school setting
• Initiate a plan of care with student and family input to best meet needs of individual student.
• Implement plan of care with consultation with school staff and community providers as necessary.
• Evaluate effectiveness of interventions and revise plan as necessary.
• Provides emergency care for all students and staff on school premises in the event of injury or sudden illness.
• Administer prescribed and approved medication to students with parent/guardian and physician consent.
• Perform mandated screenings in vision, hearing, scoliosis, and height and weight as deemed appropriate by state and city departments of public health
• Documents pertinent information in student records in accordance with Standards of Practice and safeguards documentation utilizing HIPPA and FERPA regulations
• Conducts home visits to initiate or follow up on the health care needs of students
• Prepare regular written reports for supervisor, MDPH and other relevant agencies.
• Notify appropriate individuals, ie parents, staff, physicians of immediate and potential health related concerns.
• Provides information about health and disease prevention in cooperation with health education programs within Springfield Public Schools
• Promotes healthy programs in collaboration with coalitions, associations, CDC and Department of Public Health
• Acts as a resource in health education to students and families and refers to appropriate help agencies when necessary
• Report to work as scheduled and conducts self in professional manner.
• Is a role model for other nurses and for students in SPS

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB:

1. Responsible for providing the optimum quality of health care to students
2. Participates in direct and indirect nursing care, health maintenance, teaching,     counseling, collaborative planning and rehabilitation in order to:
   • Assess student’s health status, records and related health data
   • Analyze and interpret recorded data and a makes informed judgments regarding nursing care as mandated by MD order and standards of practice.
   • Participates in planning and implementing nursing interventions
   • Responsible for knowledge of most recent advancements and current knowledge in the field.
   • Collaborate, cooperate and communicate with other health care providers to ensure quality and continuity of care

3. Promotes student and family education to involve them and significant others within the school system to establish and implement health goals.
4. Conducts self in professional manner as evidenced by appropriate attire, punctuality and indication of strong work ethic.
5. Reports and is administratively accountable to building nurse, Nursing Supervisor and to the building principal for provision of health services in the building

EDUCATIONAL & JOB EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:                    

• A valid and current Licensed Practical Nurse License by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• CPR and First Aid Certification by a recognized provider, renewable biannually.
• A minimum of one to two years of child health, community health or other relevant clinical nursing experience.

LIST ANY PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• No lifting, bending or twisting restrictions. Must be able to ambulate quickly and walk up four flights of stairs.

Reach out to Valerie Williams, the Senior Administrator of Talent and Diversity Development at williamsv@springfieldpublicschools.com.  She will be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination

Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment.  Springfield Public Schools is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discrimination on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment.  The Senior Administrator of Human Resources, Kathleen O’Sullivan, Springfield Public Schools, 1550 Main St. Springfield MA, 01103, 413-787-7100,  ext. 55428, has been designated as the employee responsible for coordinating Springfield Public Schools efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX.  Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to Springfield Public Schools may be referred to Kathleen O’Sullivan or to U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, DC 20202-1100, telephone 800-421-3481.