• Role of the School Nurse

    First-aid and medical care provided by the school nurse is primarily for illness or injury that occurs while the student is at school.  The Health Center is not a primary care facility and does not have the capability to function like a physician's office.  By law, the nurse does not make medical diagnoses, prescribe medication, or make decisions as to whether your child is physically able to participate in physical education or sports activities. All treatments and/or prescription medications MUST have an order that is provided to the health office by a licensed practitioner.

    Illness Procedures

    1.  In order for your child to be successful in the school setting, they need to feel well.   Please do not send your child to school if:

    • they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher
    • have vomited within the last 24 hours
    • have any diarrhea in the last 24 hours
    • they have not been free of a fever (without taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen) for 24 hours regardless of how they feel

         Signs/symptoms of illness:

    • Fever (oral temp of 100 degrees or higher)
    • Diarrhea, any loose stools
    • Red, watery eyes, pus in corners
    • Constant sneezing and/or deep cough, constantly running nose
    • Unexplained rash
    • Headache
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Swelling to face or neck
    • Flushed face or paleness
    • Very sore throat
    • Painful earache

    2. Please DO NOT send a sick child to school for the school nurse to decide whether he/she should be in school.  If in doubt, call your family physician.   School nurses can assess and refer, but do not diagnose, and will always refer to you and/or your physician's evaluation and treatment.

    3.  If your child sustains an injury at home or off campus, please take care of it at home.  The nurse is more than happy to take care of injuries that happen during school hours, but the nurse is not here to take the place of your primary physician's evaluation and treatment.

    4.  If your child becomes ill enough to be removed from school, has more than a minor injury, or has an emergency, you will be notified.  It is the parent's responsibility to make arrangements to pick up an ill or injured child as promptly as possible.  Students are not permitted to walk home sick, even with permission.  Please make sure there are up-to-date home/work numbers on your child's emergency card.  Please notify the school/nurse immediately of any changes in phone numbers.   If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or greater, they will be sent home.   Any child with an undiagnosed rash will be sent home and should remain out of school until all symptoms are gone or a physician verifies (with a written note) that the child is not contagious and is well enough to return to school.  

    HELP STOP THE SPREAD:

    As always, hand washing is the best defense against the spread of germs!  Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. 

    Green Germ