Education Queensland employs Registered Nurses (EQRNs) to work in state schools, to assist school personnel to safely manage the health needs of students with verified disabilities and/or specialised health needs, supporting their participation in an educational program.
Nursing services support students requiring specific health interventions. Health support is provided through nursing assessment, care planning, implementation and evaluation. The EQRN works with school personnel to develop individual and emergency health plans, and provides the required education, training and ongoing assistance to school personnel implementing these.
Specialised health needs are defined as procedures and/or interventions that are essential to enable a student to access their educational program. They are requested, prescribed and/or established by an appropriately qualified health professional and incorporate routine and/or emergency procedures and interventions.
Specialised health procedures and interventions include, but are not limited to:
At the time of enrolment, it is expected that the parent/carer or school personnel will identify a need for a student to access an EQRN, and it is expected that this would be discussed with the school principal.
Students with disabilities and/or specialised health needs will be referred by the principal (or delegated officer) to the local EQRN using an established referral process. It is the role of the EQRN to determine if a referral is appropriate and sits within her/his scope of nursing practice.
Departmental nursing services will not be provided to the student without written student consent (where it is appropriate and/or possible for the student to do so) and/or parent/carer consent.
Other nursing service providers, including government departments, non-government agencies and private practitioners may also be involved in the provision of nursing services to students in Queensland state schools. EQRNs are committed to working collaboratively with other team members, including those from other agencies, to achieve the best possible educational outcomes for students with specialised health needs.
Further information about the role, responsibilities and services provided by EQRNs can be obtained in the following documents:
1.4M which provides guidelines and direction for nursing services in state schools 277kThe allocation of nursing positions to regions is determined by the department's Human Resources Branch, after consultation with State Schooling Operations and Strategy and the Nurse Manager. Distribution of nursing services will vary according to student need across the region.
EQRNs have a line manager at their base location and a professional supervisor, the Clinical Nurse Consultant, located within the region/s. The professional supervisor and line managers of registered nurses work collaboratively to ensure an effective management structure for quality nursing services in state schools.
The Clinical Nurse Consultant provides professional support and supervision for EQRNs. For further information about professional supervision and support for nurses, refer to:
1.4M
.The department is committed to improving organisational and individual performance through professional development. Professional development activities are organised in a variety of ways. Information for EQRNs can be found on the Information for Nurses section of the Education Queensland Nursing Services Professional Community website.
This page was last reviewed on 19 Apr 2013 at 04:28PM
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