Position Summary

The Humboldt County Office of Education Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)/Paraprofessional for Medically Fragile Students provides a variety of school health and education services to meet the needs of students ages preschool to young adult with disabilities including students who are medically fragile.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The LVN /Paraprofessional for Medically Fragile Students is a health care and education provider who is responsible for rendering basic nursing care. The position emphasizes the important role school health services play in promoting access to education and community integration for students with disabilities through reliable, safe health services while at school. The LVN collaborates with education and health service providers, parents, and students. Work is performed within the scope of practice of LVN licensure.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Under the direct supervision of the school principal, indirect oversight by the assigned certificated teacher and the guidance of the credentialed School Nurse, the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides essential health-related services and instructional support to students with specialized medical needs

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs specialized physical health care services, including but not limited to gastrostomy tube feedings, tracheostomy and oral suctioning, oxygen administration, blood glucose monitoring, ostomy care, nebulizer treatments and catheterization.
• Implements students’ health plans.
• A administer routine and emergency medications as prescribed.
• Works with students individually or in small groups to tutor, reinforce, or follow up on learning activities.
• Assists in academic learning and vocational skills and supervises classroom, outdoor playground, community mobility, and field trip activities.
• Provides student care for activities of daily living; feeding, dressing, grooming, toileting, diaper changes, skin care, ambulation, positioning, transferring, and communicating.
• Identifies need for and renders first aid and emergency response.
• Trains school staff in first aid/CPR/AED under appropriate certification.
• Maintains school health records and files.
• Assists to prepare billing documentation.
• Provides for protection and safety to all students.
• Uses established guidelines as a pattern to individualize instruction to needs of each learner; assists children in self-reliance
• Prepares certificated planned curriculum materials for academic learning and art activities
• Provides instruction based on certificated planned curriculum and assists with classroom preparation and clean up
• Operates assistive devices such as orthopedic braces, supports, hydraulic and electric lifts, and teaching devices
• Maintains positive professional relationships with students, staff, and families to promote a safe and supportive school environment.

Employment Standards

 Knowledge of:

• Standard health terminology, services, procedures and practices relevant to an LVN.
• Health resources, including emergency resources.
• Emergency medical resources available to the community.
• Basic concepts of child development and behavior characteristics.
• Laws related to LVN scope of practice and mandated child abuse reporting requirements.
• Learning patterns and behavior.
• Reading and writing in English.
• Number concepts.

Ability to:

• Maintain a continuing relationship with the same students and staff over a prolonged period.
• May assist to accurately implement and document services for health plans, medication administration, and specialized physical health care procedures.
• Follow HIPAA and FERPA laws.
• Work under direct supervision of the school principal and indirect supervision of assigned certificated staff.
• Recognize hazards to safety.
• Communicate with children and motivate them to participate in learning activities.
• Learn to teach in special subject matter areas or teach children who have special learning needs.
• Maintain emotional control under difficult situations.
• Learn and adapt to new procedures and conditions.
• Apply knowledge and practice with judgment.
• Learn laws, rules, practices, and procedures related to school health services and public education for children and related to the program to which assigned.
• Maintain professional competence.
• Perform routine clerical work.
• Speak distinctly in English or communicate in sign language.
• Supervise children in the classroom and out of doors.
• Follow oral and written directions.
• Adapt to changing work demands.
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines.
• Work under varying degrees of stress.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups.
• Read and comprehend fine print such as contracts, spreadsheets, texts, catalogs, etc.
• Communicate effectively via telephone, computer modem and in person.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Experience, Licensure and Certification:

• Current licensure as a Vocational Nurse by the California State Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

• AA degree, 48 units of college semester units or passed County Paraeducator exam

• First aid/CPR certification

Preferred Experience:

• One year of working in the medical field.
• Training or experience working with medically fragile children and/or young adults with multiple disabilities and health service needs.
• Ability to communicate in a second language.
• Experience working with people from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Working Conditions

This position is Monday through Friday and corresponds to the teacher’s school calendar schedule. The employee may need to attend school field trips within their regularly assigned work hours. May be required to drive to various school sites.

Physical Demands

• Ambulate effectively within the classroom and in outside settings.
• Walk or be otherwise mobile on school grounds while assisting student mobility.
• Push and/or pull weights up to 100 pounds, lift and carry weights up to 50 pounds by one individual unless using wheeled equipment, in which case these limits may be exceeded.
• Move between indoor and outdoor work and community locations and stand/move/sit for extended periods.
• Bend, kneel and/or sit at children’s level on a frequent basis.
• Sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to use a computer keyboard, office equipment, and health service supplies
• Hearing and speaking skills to project voice and communicate with staff and students in classroom settings and outside, in one-on-one conversations and speaking to groups
• Visual acuity to read printed materials, and computer screens, and to monitor students for school health services.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Valid driver’s license

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Range 15
Revised 5-22-2026
Approved: 7/9/26