§§1,2 -
C.18A:4-35.1 &
18A:4-35.2
An Act establishing the position of State School Nurse Consultant in the Department of Education and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a State School Nurse Consultant. The State School Nurse Consultant shall be a 1New Jersey1 certified school nurse who holds a master's degree 1[in nursing and has management experience and leadership and education administration training or skills] and has demonstrated higher-level leadership with recent school nursing experience1. The State School Nurse Consultant shall work with school districts and school nurses to 1[promote quality school nursing services and] facilitate best practices by advancing comprehensive1 school health 1[programs] services1 that address the 1[broad]1 health 1[needs] and wellness1 of 1all1 students. The State School Nurse Consultant, in performing the duties of the position, shall collaborate with the Department of Health 1[and the New Jersey State Board of Nursing] , other State agencies, and associated stakeholders1.
b. It shall be the duty of the State School Nurse Consultant to:
(1) Serve as a liaison and resource expert in school nursing and 1comprehensive1 school health 1[program areas] services1 for 1[local, regional] county1, State, and national school health 1[care providers] organizations1, and policy setting groups;
(2) Provide consultation and technical assistance to 1support1 school districts 1[, parents,] in facilitating parent1 and community 1[members] engagement1;
(3) Coordinate school health program activities with public health, social services, environmental, and educational agencies as well as other public and private entities;
(4) Monitor, interpret, synthesize, and disseminate relevant information associated with changes in health and medical care, school nursing practice, legislation, and legal issues that impact schools;
(5) Facilitate the development of policies, standards, and guidelines 1[and interpret updates and disseminate policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures]1 to enhance 1[coordinated] comprehensive1 school health 1[programs] services1;
(6) Foster and promote 1[staff] professional1 development for school nurses, which may include planning 1[and providing orientation]1, coordinating1,1 or providing educational 1[offerings] guidance1, and networking with universities and other providers of continuing education to meet identified needs;
(7) Promote quality assurance 1[in] of comprehensive1 school health services by 1[initiating and coordinating a quality assurance program that includes needs assessment, data collection and analysis, and evidenced-based practice] advocating for the use of evidence-based school nursing practice and participating in the National Association of School Nurses data collection initiatives1;
(8) Participate in State-level public interagency partnerships and private partnerships with Statewide stakeholders to foster 1[a coordinated] comprehensive1 school health 1[program] services1, representing school nurses in multi-disciplinary collaborations;
(9) Initiate, participate in, and utilize research studies related to 1[a coordinated] comprehensive1 school health 1[program] services1, the health needs of children and youth, school nursing practice, and related issues; and
(10) Serve as a liaison regarding school health issues with the Department of Health and the Legislature.
2. The State School Nurse Consultant shall report annually to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall include a summary of the activities of the State School Nurse Consultant during the year, and any specific recommendations deemed appropriate and necessary concerning school 1[nurse] nursing1 services and 1comprehensive1 school health service programs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Establishes position of State School Nurse Consultant in DOE to facilitate best practices in school nursing by advancing comprehensive school health services.