Certified School Nurse (PEL-CSN) Roles and Responsibilities

District 203 School Nurses promote the physical, mental, emotional and social well being of students by providing the following comprehensive school health services: 

• Maintaining compliance as required by the Illinois School Code and Illinois Department of Public Health for physical examination and immunization records.
• Determining the impact of students’ contagious illnesses and acting to prevent the spread of communicable disease in the school setting.
• Providing and/or delegating services including first aid, care for ill students and emergency care to students and staff.
• Screening for health problems that impact education.
• Identifying and managing students’ health concerns so they are ready to learn.
• Acting as a liaison between home and school by communicating with parents regarding students’ health and safety needs and developing plans to meet those needs at school.
• Assisting students in accessing health care.
• Providing needed health education in the classroom so students are better prepared to deal with the many issues affecting today’s young people.
• Providing students with learning opportunities that promote individual and community health.
• Providing a safe school environment so students can concentrate on learning.
• Acting as member of the crisis intervention team.
• Administering and monitoring effectiveness of medications given at school.
• Monitoring monthly attendance.
• Providing school staff with current information about students’ health concerns and care on a confidential need-to-know basis.
• Identifying resources and information about services in the community and providing these services to students and parents.
• Participating as a member of the multidisciplinary team that identifies, evaluates and places students in special education programs.
• Completing and presenting health histories as part of case study evaluations.
• Writing health components of the Individual Education Plan.
• Recommending modifications in the school program for students who require accommodations because of health concerns.
• Developing and maintaining healthcare plans for students who need special nursing interventions during the school day.
• Participating with other staff in assessing writing and implementing behavior plans.
• Participating as a member of the faculty on District committees and professional association activities.
• Participating in health related community activities as a representative of the School District.
• Maintaining communication with administrators, teachers and other school personnel, and parents to enhance cooperative action, which will meet the health and safety needs of students.
• Acting as a liaison between the home, school and community health agencies to enhance health and wellness of the student population.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding all school and health-related issues.
• All school nurses are Registered Nurses in the state of Illinois and have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in addition to a Type 73 certification as defined by the Illinois State Teachers Certification Board. School nurses also hold certification in audiometric and vision screening and are certified instructors in American Heart Association CPR and AED.