Nursing
School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success.
School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential.
Core Duties of a School Nurse
- Immunization Monitoring (PA Department of Education Immunization Requirements)
- Infectious Disease Monitoring
- Physicals and Screenings
- Medication Dispensing
- First Aid
- Health and Wellness Programs
When to keep your student home
Sometimes your child is simply too ill to go to school. To help them heal and to prevent others from becoming ill, please review these policies for when to keep your child home sick from school.
- Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (Temperature below 100 degrees) without fever-reducing medication before returning to school
- Your child should not be sent to school hoping that he or she will feel better at arriving
- Your child should be kept home following a nighttime bout of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and watched for further symptoms
- Do not send your child to school if he/she is taking prescription pain medication
- Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever: 24 hours after initiation of treatment
- Please do not send your child to school with an undiagnosed rash, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- Keep your child home with red itchy eyes, with drainage. Return to school from Pink eye is after 24 hours of treatment with prescribed medication from your doctor and the eye is no longer weeping
- If your child has enlarged glands, or excessive coughing, please keep your child home
- Communicable diseases such as Hepatitis, Meningitis, Tuberculosis, Measles, Ringworm, Impetigo, Mononucleosis, Scabies, Scarlet fever, require a written physician note for clearance to return to school
- With chicken pox, all scabs must be dry approximately 5-7 days from onset before returning to school
- There is no exclusion from Fifths disease (mild rash) as long as your child is fever free and feels well
Transportation of an ill or injured student
The transportation of ill or injured students is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Staff members are not permitted to transport students. Parents or guardians will be contacted to provide or arrange for transportation. They will also be asked to arrange for transportation for students who have driven to school, but, who in the judgment of the school nurse, are medically unable to drive home safely.
In the event of severe illness or injury, an ambulance will be called to transport the student to the appropriate hospital. The ambulance fee is the responsibility of the parent or guardian and is usually covered by medical insurance.
First aid procedure
The Health Office is staffed full-time in all district school buildings to provide first aid and support to students who become ill or injured during the school day. Parents will be notified if further medical care is needed. It is imperative that each child’s emergency card be kept up to date at all times.
The following procedures will be observed in cases of serious student illness or injury in school:
- Administer First Aid
- Activate 911 in emergency situations
- Notify parents
Allergies
Parents of children known to have severe allergic reactions to insects, foods, or medications must alert the school nurse. Written instructions and, in some cases, the necessary medication for emergency treatment must be provided. See our health requirements and policies section of the website to ensure all forms are properly supplied to your certified school nurse.
Seizures
See the Seizure Action Plan (SAP) form provided by the Epilepsy Foundation here.
Crutches, wheelchair, and elevator use
Any student experiencing mobility problems or having a physical condition requiring the use of crutches, a wheelchair, and/or the school elevator should bring a physician’s note to the school nurse with the following information:
- Diagnosis and/or reason for crutches or wheelchair and/or elevator
- Duration of crutches or wheelchair and/or elevator use and date activity can be resumed
- Physician’s signature and contact information
Schools will not provide assistive devices for daily use.
Legal implication of injury and illness
Certified school nurses are not licensed to make medical diagnoses. However, students and families may benefit from the school nurse’s knowledge and expertise in assessing the health care needs of each child. Nurses can advise whether further medical care may be needed, render first aid, and care for minor illnesses and injuries occurring during the school day.
The school nurse cannot assume the responsibility of caring for injuries/illnesses that did not occur at school. Parents should not expect school personnel to treat such injuries/illnesses. Students are offered participation in the School Accident Insurance program which assists in the health care costs of private physicians and hospitals. The school district is not responsible for physician fees or other charges connected with follow-up treatment of injuries or illnesses.
