STATE SCHOOL NURSE CONSULTANT

Definition

Under the direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Education, performs consultative tasks and acts as a liaison in matters related to comprehensive school health services that addresses the health and wellness of all students; designs, produces, and delivers curricula, training, and program improvement related to comprehensive school health services; and monitors, interprets, synthesizes, and disseminates relevant information associated with changes in health and medical care, school nursing practice, legislation, and legal issues that impact schools; does related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Develop, evaluate, and/or monitor implementation of comprehensive school health services and recommend program changes to supervisor.
• Provide consultation and technical assistance to support school districts in facilitating parent and community engagement.
• Coordinate school health program activities with public health, social services, environmental, and educational agencies as well as other public and private entities.
• Monitor, interpret, synthesize, and disseminate relevant information associated with changes in health and medical care, school nursing practice, legislation, and legal issues that impact schools.
• Facilitate the development of policies, standards, and guidelines to enhance comprehensive school health services.
• Foster and promote professional development for school nurses, which may include planning, coordinating or providing educational guidance, and networking with universities and other providers of continuing education to meet identified needs.
• Promote quality assurance of comprehensive school health services by advocating for the use of evidence-based school nursing practices.
• Conduct ongoing assessment of staff training and instructional program needs and conduct training activities for school nurse personnel and other related staff.
• Participate in State-level public interagency partnerships and private partnerships with Statewide stakeholders to foster comprehensive school health services, representing school nurses in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
• Initiate, participate in, and utilize research studies related to comprehensive school health services, the health needs of children and youth, school nursing practice and related issues.
• Serve as liaison regarding school health issues with the Department of Health and the Legislature.
• Participate in the development of program guidelines and policies in the areas of school health services as directed.
• Consult with local program staff and provide the technical assistance needed to implement best practices and strategies related to school health services.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with representatives in the Department of Education.
• Supports the Director in achieving office goals, attends meetings, maintains clear and regular communication with staff.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and professional guidelines, rules and regulations.
• Completes annual reports for the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the State School Nurse Consultant and any recommendations.
• Serve as a liaison and resource expert in school nursing and comprehensive school health services for county, State, and national school health organizations, and policy groups.
• Maintains files and data bases and assures the Director is kept abreast of developments related to school health services.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Nursing, Public Health, or related field.

Experience

Six (6) years of school nursing experience in a school district or other educational institution in a lead role, which should have demonstrated higher level leadership experience to include but not limited to developing guidance documents, drafting reports, providing guidance and consultation to other school nursing staff.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the theories, principles, and delivery of nursing best practices and school health services.
• Knowledge of the screening tools and assessments used in the delivery of school health services.
• Knowledge of methods used to develop and train education and school nursing staff.
• Knowledge of state and Federal laws, rules, and regulations related to comprehensive school health services.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to elementary and secondary education.
• Knowledge of State-level public interagency partnerships and private partnerships with Statewide stakeholders to foster comprehensive school health services, representing school nurses in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
• Ability to develop, implement, and manage pre-service and in-service staff training programs.
• Ability to plan and develop curricular/instructional materials.
• Ability to interface with community groups, school district professional staff, and other professionals.
• Ability to provide leadership and planning assistance to local programs.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to assess problems in comprehensive school health services and implement plans to resolve them.
• Ability to provide planning and program improvement assistance for comprehensive school health services programs.
• Ability to exercise leadership related to school health services with interest groups, specialists, and counterparts in other state departments of education.
• Ability to plan and execute a program and allocate resources provided for that purpose.
• Ability to provide a technical analysis of legislation or administrative code.
• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive school health services.
• Ability to plan, organize, and deliver public presentations related to comprehensive school health services.
• Ability to initiate, participate in, and utilize research studies related to comprehensive school health services, the health needs of children and youth, school nursing practice and related issues.
• Ability to prepare annual reports for the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the State School Nurse Consultant and any recommendations.
• Ability to maintain files and data bases related to school health services.
• Ability to analyze needs in order to determine training procedures needed.
• Ability to develop human relations and group dynamics skills in working as a member of a team.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic devices and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

CERTIFICATION

Appointees must possess current and valid School Nurse Certification issued by the New Jersey Department of Education.