Employment Begins: 2024/2025 School Year

Varied 7.0 to 8.0 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 189 days/year

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION

Classification:  Licensed Practical Nurse                                    Location: Assigned School(s)

Reports to: School Nurse and/or Building Administrator              FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit:  NTPA                                                 

This is a standard position description to be used for positions with similar duties, responsibilities, classification and compensation.  Employees assigned to the position description may or may not perform all of the essential functions indicated in this position description. 

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Part I:  Position Summary: 

Work is typically performed at school sites, including the health room, office, classroom, school grounds and general school environment.  This position provides student care for illness, injuries, medications and procedures.  Monitors health and safety concerns, e.g., crisis/disaster planning.  Will inform Registered Nurse of students with health concerns and/or special needs.  Works as a team member with the school nurse, intervention specialist, counselor, principal, teachers, and parents.

The District represents a diverse community with a population of more than 50% of students with diverse backgrounds.  We seek an individual who has successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities.  The selected candidate must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community engagement and communication with the District’s diverse populations.

Part II:  Supervision and Controls over the Work: 

The Licensed Practical Nurse works under the supervision of a school nurse or administrator, who assigns specific responsibilities, provides policy and procedural direction and guidance, and who is available in more difficult situations and emergencies.  Licensed Practical Nurse must follow and comply with local and state codes and appropriate health authority requirements.

Part III:  Major Duties and Responsibilities (depending on specific assignment, duties and responsibilities listed may include, but are not limited to the following): 

The Licensed Practical Nurse delivers health services and support to students and to meet health screening, reporting, and record keeping requirements.  Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Individualize and implement individual health care plans for students with critical health care needs. Provides nursing care as delegated by school nurse and as outlined in individual health care plans. Nursing care may include non-oral medications (i.e., injections, eye/ear medications), mixing medications, blood glucose monitoring, nasogastric and J-tube feedings, suctioning and tracheotomy care, feeding and medication by G-tube, performing clean intermittent catheterization, providing nebulizer treatments, ventilator care and other nursing care appropriate for a LPN.  Health care plans are developed and monitored by the school nurse.

2. Triage, assess illnesses and injuries and take the appropriate action.

3. Administer medication and treatments per RCW: 28A.210.260, and License Practical Nurse RCW: 18.79.270 and WAC: 246-840-705.

4. Assist in organizing and implementing state screenings (vision, hearing and scoliosis).

5. Make appropriate health referrals based upon knowledge of available community resources.

6. Record health information in individual student health records.

7. Assist with maintenance of site lists of significant health conditions, student exemptions, and students receiving medication.

8. Must ride school bus with student from home facility to school and returning with student from school facility to home facility.

9. Administer specialized physical health care services under the supervision of the school nurse when site level staff is unavailable, using standard procedures.

10. Adhere to requirements for confidentiality regarding students’ records; discreetly handle sensitive information pertaining to staff, parents and students.

11. Secondary to the student’s medical needs, the LPN provides 1:1 educational and behavior assistance.

12. Works collaboratively by assisting teachers in assessment, curriculum implementation, student interactions, enforcing safe behaviors, and enhancing the social growth of the student in the classroom.

13. Operate a computer to input, retrieve, and file data and text.

14. Required to follow Board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes.

15. Other Duties as Assigned: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Part IV:  Minimum Qualifications:

1. Knowledge of health care and LPN techniques and principles, including pharmacology, and state federal regulations affecting LPN licensure.
2. Ability to recognize situations that exceed LPN training and expertise, thus necessitating the need to notify and consult with a district Registered Nurse (RN).
3. Ability to work with student’s IEP’s (Individual Educational Plan), and 504 plans.
4. Ability to administer medications and treatments to students, and knowledge of attendant laws and policies for dispensing and control of medications and treatments.
5. Knowledge of communicable diseases and ability to report such diseases to appropriate municipal and governmental agencies, and school personnel.
6. Incumbents must have successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities, or have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to strengthening engagement of a diverse community and skill in communicating with a diverse population.
7. Must have an associates degree or
8. Hold a current Washington State License as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (Licensed Practical Nurse RCW: 18.79.270 and WAC 246-840-705)
9. Must maintain current certification in CPR and First Aid. Defibrillator training may be required.  
10. Ability to work effectively in an environment with frequent interruptions requiring the ability to concentrate and consistently produce accurate work while responding to interruptions and changing priorities.
11. Ability to interact with students, parents, staff, and community members, personally and through electronic communications, in a warm and confident manner.
12. Initiative and ability to work with minimal direction; sound judgment and decision-making capabilities are essential.
13. Ability to maintain confidentiality of all school and personnel matters.
14. May be required to travel between and be flexible with assignments.
15. Possess a valid Washington state driver’s license and a safe driving record.
16. Ability to transport students in district-owned vehicles when necessary.

Part V:  Desired Qualifications:

1. Bilingual skills.
2. Knowledge of state codes related to school health service.
3. Training in emergency medical treatment.
4. Must have training in ventilator treatment and care.

Part VI:   Physical and Environmental Requirements of the Position:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must lift and/or move 25 to 50 pounds, and may assist, move, or restrain students with greater weight when required to assist students or intervene in student safety issues.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, lift, carry, crouch, crawl, bend, kneel, move about, hear and speak.

Employee may be required to perform extensive work at a computer display terminal.  Specific vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

It may be expected that the individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials or illnesses during the course of their duties. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud on occasion.

Insurance Benefits

Employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours  during the school year (September 1 through August 31) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, long term disability and basic life insurance benefits.

North Thurston Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click on the link https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/school-employees for information on available benefit options.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

Eligible employees  are required to be a member of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Plan. .  For eligibility  information, check on the link to the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in tax deferred 403(b) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans (DCP). These are supplemental retirement savings programs that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Clink on the link https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/dcp/  for information on 457 plan (DCP)  with the Department of Retirement Systems.

To enroll in an eligible 403(b) plan, employees must consult with their own financial planner that is an approved vendor.

THIS IS A UNION POSITION

Equal Opportunity Employer

North Thurston School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.  The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Officer: executivedirectorHR@nthurston.k12.wa.us, 360-412-4453; Section 504 Coordinator at 360-412-4465, 504@nthurston.k12.wa.us  Address for both: 305 College St. NE. Lacey, WA 98516.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Effective June 11, 1992, pursuant to Public Law 92544 all new employees must complete a satisfactory fingerprint and sexual misconduct background check. All employment is considered temporary until receipt of satisfactory check. Proof that the fingerprinting process has begun must be supplied to Human Resources prior to the first day of employment.