The primary objective of this position is to provide health, physical, and instructional services to students, especially those with disabilities as designated by the building principal. Health services are provided, as identified in student's Individual Health Plans, and as directed by the principal in consultation and coordination with the City/County Public Health Nurse and other professional staff. Instructional services may be provided under the coordination/supervision of professional staff members such as teachers, therapists, speech clinicians, etc.. This position may also involve assisting in teaching or teaching related activities.

II. POSITION CHARACTERISTICS:

Salary: On schedule
Length of contract:  As assigned, specific to the position

III. POSITION RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to: Building principal/Director of Special Education
Coordinates with: Building staff, City/County Public Health Nurse, Program Support Teacher, Director of Special Education, students
Type of coordination:  As directed by administrator or others with coordination responsibilities

IV. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Required training and experience: 1) Graduation from high school; 2) Possession of or eligibility for a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Certificate as a Special Education Aide; 3) Successful completion of nursing assistant training program and eligibility for inclusion on the state Nursing Assistant Registry or equivalent training in nursing; 4) Must possess and maintain certification as a nursing assistant.
2. Special requirements of the position: 
   1. Ability to manage and relate to children with behavioral, learning, physical, emotional and medical problems. 
   2. Ability to communicate effectively. 
   3. Ability to maintain confidentiality. 
   4. Ability to work a flexible schedule. 
   5. Ability to seek and utilize supervision. 
   6. Ability to maintain accurate and complete records.
3. Environmental/Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to fulfill responsibilities in all types of environmental conditions throughout the school year (i.e., recess/playground supervision, field trips, bus, work sites). The employee will frequently be required to stand, walk, and occasionally run in most weather conditions. The employee may occasionally be required to fulfill responsibilities in extreme climate and temperatures (i.e., bus/transportation assistance and supervision). Occasionally, the position requires the employees to work in difficult environmental conditions to respond to the direct safety and well being of students. The information contained in the environmental requirements of the position are essential functions of the positions but do not represent an exhaustive list of duties; they are only suggestive of the qualifications necessary to fulfill this position.

Successful candidates for positions in this classification will be required to undergo a physical examination to determine ability to perform the environmental and physical requirements and be able to lift the minimum required 75 pounds.

V. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: This position is responsible for performing the following duties and responsibilities which are illustrative but not all inclusive:

1. Health and Physical Responsibilities
   1. Attends to medical/physical needs of students. May include feeding of students, toileting and diapering, dealing with seizures, handling of equipment such as prone standers (muscle inactivity so student is changed manually), wheel chairs and braces (how to refit once removed, how to use properly, and the physical lifting).
   2. Performs any physical/medical procedures as required. The City/County Public Health Nurse provides training, directs, and supervises the performance of delegated special procedures which may include any of the following:
      1. Catheterization
      2. Tube feeding
      3. Credeing (physically emptying the bladder for the student by applying pressure in the proper area.
      4. Urostomy (changing bag from incision on side of body).
      5. Cleaning of trachea tube (a compressor is inserted into the trachea tube and the body substance(s) is removed).
      6. Adult hygiene especially for female care during menstruation.
      7. Rectal Valium
      8.  Injections
      9. Any others which may be required or are specified in an Individual Health Plan
   3. Interviews students, measures vital signs, such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height to detect deviations from normal and observe condition of student, and records information on student's chart.
   4. Cleans and sterilizes instruments.
   5. Inventories and orders medical supplies and materials.
   6. Gives injections or treatments, and performs routine procedures in accordance with approved nursing techniques.
   7. Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques and doctor's directions. The registered nurse provides training for medications administered by route other than ingestion (e.g., rectal, sub cutaneous injection, inhalation by inhaler or nebulizer/updraft treatment).
   8. Observes student, records conditions and reactions, and notifies supervisor or physician of student's condition and reaction to drugs, treatments, and significant incidents or deviations from normal and observes condition of student.
   9. May key data into computer to maintain school and student records.
   10. Maintains confidentiality regarding health, medical and student's category of disability.
2. Instructional Responsibilities
   1. Carries out small group and tutorial instruction.
   2. Supervises students in a small group setting; administers classroom rules.
   3. Performs basic clerical duties such as operating of word processing program, record keeping, typing, etc.
   4. Assists in preparation of materials needed for classrooms, including duplication, lamination, etc.
   5. Performs general classroom duties as assigned in a special education classroom
   6. Supervises students both in school and outside in a variety of situations during, before school, noon hour, playground and after school.
   7. Attends staffings, meetings, trainings when requested.
   8. Helps students learn how to become independent with their own medical/physical procedures (injections, etc.).
3. Performs other duties as assigned.

I have reviewed the position description for the Health Care Assistant and agree to perform all of the duties and responsibilities listed and agree that I may also be required to perform other physical and medical procedures not listed. Furthermore, in recognition of the fact that this is considered a condition of my continued employment and that I was hired based on my express assurance that I would be willing to do so, I voluntarily agree to administer any drugs and prescription drugs to students as I may be directed, trained, and supervised by the principal and/or the City County Public Health Nurse.

Name___________________________________

Signature________________________________ Date_____________________

(New: 7/99)