Written by Professional Practice and Standards Committee | 20 April 2009

School Nurse Evaluation Tool

Procedure

Preface

As with the Job Description, the Evaluation Tool must be individualized to fit the needs of the system and the individual nurse.  Job descriptions and evaluations will vary based on the number of schools, complexity of student needs and other criteria individual to each system.

Introduction

The purpose of the evaluation process is to ensure accountability, high quality services, and professional growth.  The evaluation process includes data obtained from multiple sources including observations, interviews, document analysis and personal/professional goals.  Performance standards are based on the school nurse's job description, NC Nurse Practice Act, and Best Practice as defined in Scope and Standards of School Nursing Practice.

School nurses are frequently the only healthcare provider in the school.  They work independently and are responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring outcomes and evaluating school health services that:

• Maximize the quantity of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health-related absenteeism
• Eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning and future academic/social success
• Promote the highest degree of independent functioning as possible
• Promote student, staff and community awareness of and participation in healthy behaviors

A performance evaluation is completed annually.  It is recommended that interim evaluations be completed during the first year of employment.  More frequent reviews may be indicated if performance needs improvement.

When supervising and evaluating school nurses, a distinction needs to be made between supervision in the context of general employee performance and supervision of nursing practice/nursing law.  In both cases, it may be necessary for the evaluator to get input from other sources.

• Non-nurse supervisors may evaluate the general employee performance of the nurse using non-nursing evaluative measures.
• A Registered Nurse (RN) supervisor may evaluate both nursing practice and general employee performance.

When using this evaluation tool:

• Non-nurse supervisors may complete Accountability, pages 1 and 2 and Professional Goals, page 9.
• RN supervisors may complete all sections of the Evaluation Tool.
• In the absence of a RN to perform the evaluation, a peer evaluation by another RN is recommended. This evaluation should include an audit of at least one of the school nurse's cases to see that all components are practiced appropriately.

 

Rating Tool/Explanations

Using the School Nurse Job Description (SNANC, 2006) evaluate utilizing the ratings below.

(4) Exceeds Expectations
Performance is consistently high.  Nursing practice is demonstrated at a high level.  Nurse seeks to expand scope of competencies and undertakes additional appropriate responsibilities.

(3)Meets Expectations
Performance within this function area consistently meets adequate/acceptable standards and may occasionally exceed the major functions and standards of the position.  Nurse maintains an adequate scope of competencies and performs additional responsibilities as assigned.

(2)Needs Improvement
Performance meets some position requirements and standards but does not meet the major, most important requirements and/or standards and needs improvement.  Nurse requires supervision and assistance to maintain an adequate scope of competencies and/or sometimes fails to perform additional responsibilities as assigned.  Corrective action is in place and the nurse is activating this plan.

(1)Fails to Meet Expectations
Performance within this function area is consistently inadequate or unacceptable and most practice areas require considerable improvement to fully meet minimum expectations.  Nurse requires close and frequent supervision in the performance of most or all responsibilities.  Corrective action is in place but the nurse fails to make adequate progress in response to the plan.

Download the Evaluation Tool here

 

 

References

School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, American Nurses Association, Silver Spring, MD 2005
School Nurse Appraisal Instruments, Orange County Public School System, March 2008

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Adopted by Professional Practice & Standards Committee, January 29, 2009
Adopted by School Nurse Association of North Carolina, May 15, 2009