Lead Nurse - Itinerant

Ithaca City School District; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ithaca City School District is seeking a Lead Nurse-Itinerant to provide nursing support across the district. This position requires flexibility and encompasses both direct student care and leadership responsibilities.

Qualified candidates must hold a New York Registered Professional Nurse license and have a solid understanding of nursing principles. The role plays a pivotal part in enhancing student health and safety within the school community.

Qualifications

• Must be eligible for appointment as a Registered Professional Nurse by Civil Service.
• Good knowledge of nursing principles and techniques.
• Ability to work with medical practices and first aid mandates.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and nursing support across the district.
• Acts as a clinical consultant to nurses and staff.
• Collaborates with public health and medical community.

Skills

Nursing principles

First aid and CPR

Good observation

Communication with students and staff

Flexibility

Initiative

Education

Graduation from an approved nursing school

Licensed Registered Professional Nurse in New York

Job description

Lead Nurse—Itinerant

Notice of Vacancy

Position Title

Lead Nurse-Itinerant

Brief Description

The Lead Nurse position is housed at a location to be determined based on district need. Rather than serving a single assigned building, this position provides leadership and nursing support across the district, working under the direction of the Director of Health Services & Wellness and the Medical Director. This role encompasses both direct student care and district-level leadership responsibilities, requiring flexibility to respond to health service needs across all district buildings on a rotating or as-needed basis.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Acts as a clinical consultant to nurses and district staff concerning acute and chronic health problems and provides guidance for appropriate intervention, management, or referrals; including training of staff supporting students with diabetes, allergies, or seizure disorder to administer medications (e.g. epi-pen, glucagon).
• Assist nurses in school buildings with immunization compliance.
• Assist nurses in school buildings with mandated screenings (hearing, vision, scoliosis).
• Provides guidance to building nurses regarding baseline and updated medical histories in relation to CSE meetings involving Individualized Education Plans or 504 plans.
• Provides guidance to building nurses re: Emergency Action Plans (EAP) and Individualized Health Care Plans (IHCP).
• Participates in nursing recruitment and hiring processes.
• Orients and trains new substitutes, building, and 1:1 nurses for essential nursing functions.
• Works with the Director of Athletics and Wellness and district medical director to ensure standing orders are in place before each school year.
• Collaborates with the Director of Athletics and Wellness to provide in-service education for nurses and other personnel to increase their knowledge and skills in the area of student health maintenance.
• Provides annual in-service session for the district transportation department (bus drivers) at the start of each school year to review the process for communication of medical alerts and medically fragile students.
• Assists with the planning and facilitation of department meetings and professional development.
• Maintains communication with the Director of Athletics and Wellness, district medical director, principals, counselors, staff and parents/guardians of student health needs or concerns as they develop.
• Assists the Director of Athletics and Wellness with the scheduling of nurses to ensure that each school building is covered by a nurse.
• Provides input for school nurse policies and protocol development.
• Provide input and feedback on employee performance based on observed behaviors, contributions, and achievements.
• Collaborates with the public health and medical community to enhance the overall health and safety of the Ithaca school community (e.g. attend Immunization Coalition Meetings).
• Other duties may be assigned.

Location(s)

DeWitt Midle School

Anticipated Start Date

09/01/2026

Posting Dates

05/22/2026 - Until Filled

Number of Vacancies

1

Hours per Day

40 hours per week

Civil Service Jurisdictional Class

Non-Competitive

Required Qualifications

• The Ithaca City School District is committed to eliminating race, class, and disability as predictors of academic performance, co-curricular participation, and discipline. Qualified candidates will demonstrate a basic awareness of these commitments and a strong willingness to support these efforts.
• Must be eligible for appointment as a Registered Professional Nurse by Civil Service.

Civil Service Requirements

• Good knowledge of nursing principles and techniques and their relation to medical practices and skill in their application; knowledge of policies and procedures for health offices and first aid mandates; working knowledge of materia‑medica, dietetics, sanitation and personal hygiene; skill in the application of nursing techniques and practices; ability to administer first aid and perform CPR; ability to understand and follow technical, oral and written instructions; ability to keep records and make reports; ability to get along well with students, teachers, parents and others; ability to carry out successfully the measures prescribed; good observation; mental alertness; firmness; initiative; patience; sympathetic attitude toward the sick; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
• Graduation from a school of nursing approved by the State Education Department from a course approved by such department as qualifying for Registered Professional Nurse.
• Candidates must possess a license issued by the State of New York to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse at the time of appointment and must maintain said license for the duration of employment.

EEO Statement

The Ithaca City School District does not unlawfully discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military status, veteran status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or other federal/state protected status.