Montana State School Nurse Consultant Career Opportunity

This information was first shared with MASN members and is now being released to the public.  A Montana State School Nurse Consultant job position is now posted on the Montana State Careers website.  The chosen individual stands to make a significant impact on school health and school nurses statewide. If the title is unfamiliar, a quick search for State School Nurse Consultants in other states will reveal just how intelligent, motivated, and powerful this group can be. 

Click here for direct access to the information and below is a snippet from the job description.  

"The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Public Health & Safety Division, Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Bureau.

This position serves as School Nurse Consultant providing nursing leadership and oversight to a wide range of private and public health service providers and State of Montana school districts.  This position serves as a liaison and resource expert on school nursing and facilitate the development of comprehensive school health policies in line with evolving medical and legal practice among other duties. Responsibilities of this position include: 1) Develop and update guidelines for school health services; 2) Formulate changes in school health screening guidelines; 3) Plan and offer educational opportunities for school nurses; 4) Support and provide resources for school nurse leaders across the state; and 5) Provide resources and consultation to districts with minimal health services. The Consultant would work in collaboration with the Office of Public Instruction and with other state agencies and school stakeholders to accomplish goals."

For those not familiar with the SSNC role, the description can be distilled down to a school nursing subject matter expert.   The SSNC typically serves as a resource for school nurses; someone you can pose your questions to and receive expert information.  They provide training and education.  They often serve as liaisons between school nurses, districts, boards of education, boards of nursing, state health departments, and the legislature.   The National Association of State School Nurse Consultants (NASSNC) lists these responsibilities in their Role of the SSNC position statement:

•          Serving as liaison and resource expert in school nursing and school health program areas for local, regional, state, and national school health care providers, and policy setting groups.
•          Data collection and analysis (e.g. health outcomes, social determinants of health, customer satisfaction, effectiveness of services). 
•          Promoting the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice (NASN, 2016; ANA & NASN, 2017).
•          Providing consultation and technical assistance to local school districts, parents, and community members.
•          Coordinating school health program activities with public health, social services, environmental, and educational agencies as well as other public and private entities.  
•          Monitoring, interpreting, synthesizing, and disseminating relevant information associated with changes in health and medical care, school nursing practice, legislation, and legal issues that impact schools. 
•         Facilitating the development of policies, standards, and/or guidelines. Interpreting, updating, and disseminating policies, standards, guidelines and/or procedures to enhance coordinated school health programs.
•          Fostering and promoting staff development for school nurses. This may include planning and providing orientation, coordinating, and/or providing educational offerings and networking with universities and other providers of continuing education to meet identified needs.  
•          Promoting quality assurance in school health services by initiating and coordinating a quality assurance program that includes needs assessment, data collection and analysis, and evidence-based practice research.  
•         Participating in state level public interagency/private partnerships with statewide stakeholders to foster a coordinated school health program, representing school nurses in multi-disciplinary collaborations.  
•         Initiating, participating in, and utilizing research studies related to a coordinated school health program focused on the health needs of children and youth, school nursing practice, and related issues; and
•         Serving as legislative liaison regarding school health issues with the state department of health, state department of education and/or the state legislative body. 

The actual responsibilities for the Montana SSNC will likely vary somewhat, but ideally would be very similar.  Here's the catch: the current job description does not require school nursing experience.  That is why I am imploring school nurses with interest in leadership and career advancement to apply!  School nursing is a very real specialty and should be represented and led by experts in the field with "boots on the ground" experience. 

Additional information:

•         For the right applicant, there is room to negotiate working remotely.
•         I have spoken with one person interested in sharing the position.  I'm not sure if that is an option, but it's worth exploring.  I can envision how having 2 nurses from different areas of the state could be highly effective.  Please contact me if you're interested in sharing this position.
•       NASSNC hosts a monthly virtual meeting for members, allowing for collaboration, learning, and information sharing with others in a similar role.

Links:

• MT SSNC job posting
• NASSNC website

Please spread the word to anyone and everyone you believe would be a great candidate! 

Thank you, Lisa

Lisa Flanagan, MSN, RN, NCSN

President, MASN