Job Description

Title: Head Start Nurse - 997291

Position Number: 997291

Unit/Department: Drake Head Start

FTE: Full-time

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Department Summary:

The vision of Head Start and Early Head Start is a noble one: "changing lives to change tomorrow."

Drake University Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in classroom settings, home-based programming, and childcare partnership locations.

Job Summary:

The nurse works with agency health and nutrition staff, classroom staff, and families to maintain optimal health and safety practices in programs. The nurse supports teaching staff in providing health related curriculum, coordinating special care accommodations to allow children to fully participate in programming, and ensure compliance with health-related laws and performance standards. The nurse completes health screenings and assessments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Registered nurse in Iowa

• Driver's license

• Experience in pediatric nursing or public health nursing

• Competency working in a culturally diverse environment or the willingness to acquire these skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing or related field

• Statement of Professional Recognition through the Board of Educational Examiners

Job Duties:

• 40% - Maintain a consistent mutually agreed upon schedule for weekly visits to all centers. Assist staff with health concerns. Provide Family Engagement Specialist with direction, ideas for education, and follow-up strategies. Advise and monitor programs regarding socialization, hygiene, safety, contagious disease, infection control and medication administration. Work with staff to ensure completion of health follow-up documentation. Attend scheduled, team meetings to discuss health concerns, or provide the classroom team with an updated list of children's health needs. Maintain on call status and availability for phone consultations and semi emergency visits during all classroom hours when students and/or staff are present. - (Essential)

• 20% - Ensure completion of all screenings as recommended by the Iowa Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program. Ensure all 45-day and 90-day screenings are completed in a timely manner when a child enters the program. Monitor vision and hearing development. Maintain and secure hearing screening equipment Make referrals and initiate follow-up plans for all failed screenings. Complete height/weight, blood pressure and head circumference screens for infants and toddlers who have not been previously screened by a physician at least yearly. - (Essential)

• 20% - Monitoring and Documentation: Assist families with completing required medical documentation to attend socializations/playtimes. Maintain child files and health tracking database including 504 plans, referrals, physicals, dental exams and 6 month recalls, immunizations, failed screenings, photovision consents, health/emergency care plans, fluoride varnish consents, medication orders, nutrition screening and evaluation, food substitute orders, and screening results that must be updated monthly or as appropriate. Monitor and document family goals and health forms to be used to document referrals, follow-up needed, progress, and completion of treatment. Ensure health data is accurately documented and copies of health/emergency care plans are attached. Provide statistics required to complete agency reports. Complete health assessments, screenings and health/emergency care plans for new students if needed. Make referrals and follow up on failed screenings, identified health concerns, physical exams, dental exams, and immunizations that need to be updated. Ensure that children are up to date on the EPSDT schedule of well child care. Interpret medical records for staff and notify staff of identified health conditions Document child nutrition screenings and follow ups. - (Essential)

• 5% - Enrollment Ensure a comprehensive health assessment has been completed on each child. Develop and implement health/emergency care plans as needed. Make referrals and begin follow up plans for any condition needing further intervention. Review child health documents and contact parent/guardian to determine child health status, document findings on the health tracking database. Ensure necessary health accommodations are in place, federal, state, and agency regulations regarding health are met, and appropriate documentation is in place prior to child entering a classroom. Interpret medical records and notify staff of identified health conditions. - (Essential)

• 5% - Provide health presentations, Newsletter articles, Brochures/handouts, and meetings for parents at scheduled socializations if requested. Provide nutrition education to parent(s)/guardian(s) of children who have a completed Nutrition Screening that indicates a(n) issue(s) that needs follow up. - (Essential)

• 5% - Special Health Care Needs Notify appropriate staff of special health care needs. Assist Health and Nutrition Manager and staff in developing 504 plans, appropriate classroom and away from classroom health accommodations. Submit AEA/LEA staffing health histories/reports. Follow up on all incident reports, to include examination of child, follow-up until injury is resolved, and completion of necessary documentation. Monitor allergies, assess need for an EpiPen and medication in classrooms, secure appropriate documentation from health care provider. Monitor and document effects of medication on health, learning, and behavior on the child's medication record. Delegate and supervise staff administration of medicines. Set up administration and documentation according to Head Start policy within 24 hours of request. Provide "Skills Medication Training" to Head Start staff on safe administration and specific medication being given prior to staff administrating medication in the classroom. Monitor administration on a quarterly basis and submit documentation of competency, and monitoring. - (Essential)

• 5% - Comply with Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, state and local regulations, rules, and requirements. Maintain strict confidentiality of all records and documents. Maintain department records and reports in a secure manner. Represent Drake University and Drake University Head Start in a professional manner. Treat clients, co-workers, staff, parents and community members with respect and civility, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone at all times. React to change productively, maintain prompt and regular attendance, and perform all other duties as assigned. Promote Head Start philosophy and initiatives. - (Essential)

Salary & Benefits:

The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt (salaried) position.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2025) ( .

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits ( .

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.

If you have questions about this job posting or the application process, please email us at jobs@drake.edu.

Review of Applications Begins: Review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain posted until filled.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs