• Irene Szopinski RN, BSN

    Szopinski

    Irene.Szopinski@dvusd.org

    School Nurse
    Office 623-445-8610
    Fax 623-445-8680
     
    Virtual Office Hours April - May 2020
    Available Upon Request Through Email
    Monday - Thursday
    11:00am to 1:00pm
     
     

     

    HEALTH CENTER

     

    The Health Center provides on-campus health screenings, assessment, and education, as well as first-aid and nursing care for students and staff. The Health Center is not a primary care facility. By law, the nurse is not allowed to make a medical diagnosis or prescribe treatment. When accidents or illness occur during school hours, basic first-aid and/or emergency care will be given according to the Arizona State Board of Nursing standards and practices. The nurse may suggest further medical follow-up in certain circumstances. Further care is the responsibility of the parents.


    MEDICATIONS ON CAMPUS
    If you would like your child to receive any medication while at school, a parent must bring the medication to the Health Center and sign a form that will allow the nurse to give that particular medication while the child is here at school.   There has been a medication policy change starting for the school year 2019/20.  In accordance with the Arizona School Board Association and the 好色导航Governing Board Policy JLCD, a written doctor's order will now be required for any prescription medication or dietary supplement.  The form can be obtained from the school nurse. Any prescription drug must be brought to school in the ORIGINAL prescription bottle with the label on the outside including the student's name, medication instructions, and doctor's name along with the new form.  There are no stock medications at the Health Center.
     
    If your child needs to carry insulin, an inhaler, an EpiPen, an antihistamine or seizure medication in their backpack while on campus, the parent must sign a Self-Carry (Consent To Carry) form at the Health Center AND fill out an Action Plan for that student's particular medical condition.  This way, we know how you would like us to treat your child's health condition here at school.
     
    If your child will need a nebulizer treatment while at school, please bring the medication vials in the original box with the prescription label on the outside and nebulizer tubing with you.  The Health Center has a nebulizer machine but tubing cannot be shared among students.  Parents have to provide their own tubing set for each child.  Please contact the nurse if you have any questions regarding any medication that you would like your child to receive while here at school.

     

    To all parents and guardians:  Medications can be dropped off at the Health Center for the school year by parent or guardian only.  Please do not send your student to school with any medications.  There has been a medication policy change starting for the school year 2019/20.  In accordance with the Arizona School Board Association and the 好色导航Governing Board Policy JLCD, a written doctor's order will now be required for any prescription medication or dietary supplement.  The form can be obtained from the school nurse or downloaded from the nurse alert on the BCHS home page.
     
     
    Please contact the school nurse with any questions at 623-445-8610. Thanks so much.            
     
    For Staff:  The links below will provide you with videos that describe how to manage a seizure in the school setting and how to administer an EpiPen and AuviQ epinephrine rescue injection.
    Seizures in School Video from the Epilepsy foundation
     
     
    Anaphylaxis (EpiPen & Auvi-Q administration)

     

     

     

    THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

    Immunizations must be current prior to the 1st day of school.

    Appropriate forms must be completed prior to the 1st day of school

    • Allergy, Asthma, Diabetes, Seizure Action Plans
    • Self-Carry Medication Form for Emergency-type medications. These medications include Epi-Pens, Inhalers, Benadryl, and Seizure Medication.

    Feminine Hygiene Products are available in the Health Center.

     

    SCHOOL SCREENINGS

     


    Hearing and vision screening are done for all freshman students, for all new (to district) students, and all students who receive services through the special education department. Parents and teachers can request a screening for any student at any time when a concern arises. Vision referral letters are sent home to notify parents if the students have difficulties with any portion of the vision screening. Students who have difficulty with an initial hearing screening will be tested again in 10 -30 school days, and if they are still having difficulty hearing all the tones, the student will be referred to the school audiologist. Parent/Guardian will be notified with a referral letter.

     

     

    IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

    All students must have written proof of all required immunizations, or a valid exemption, in order to attend the first day of school. Arizona law allows exemptions for medical reasons, laboratory evidence of immunity, and personal beliefs. Exemption forms are available from the Health Center. When initially enrolling your child please bring an updated copy of his/her immunization record to the Health Center. If you get vaccinations for your child at any time, please bring a current copy to the health office so we can update our records. If you receive a note or message of "Inadequate Immunizations" for your child, please complete these by the date indicated. Failure to complete this in a timely matter is a violation of the law and your child may be excluded from attending school until you comply with the law.

    Below is a link to the Arizona School Immunization Requirements, Kindergarten through 12th grade. Please review this form and make sure your child has the appropriate immunizations for their age and grade. Also included here are the new requirements for 6th grade. FREE IMMUNIZATIONS AVAILABLE! (for school-required immunizations) Please visit the Maricopa County Department of Public Health at the West Valley Immunization Clinic located at:

    6666 W. Peoria Ave #113
    Brittany Square Plaza (NE corner of 67th and Peoria Ave)
    Hours: M,W,Th, F 8:30am - 5:30pm
    (Closed 12:30 - 1:30 for lunch)
    Phone: 602-506-6767

    Visit these websites for other options and information to get immunizations.

     (好色导航 Fire Dept)
     (Walgreens Take Care Clinics)
     (CVS Minute Clinics)
     (Fry's Little Clinic)

     

    ILLNESS PROCEDURE

    First-aid and medical care provided by the school nurse is primarily for illnesses or injuries that occur at school during the school day. The Health Center is not a primary care facility like a doctor's office. The nurse is qualified to collaborate with you and your child's physician to provide an educational environment in which your child can learn and thrive. The nurse does not make medical diagnoses, prescribe treatments or medications, but can provide treatments and medications as prescribed by a physician with a doctor's order. Please tell your child if they are not feeling well at school to ask to see the nurse for evaluation. Cell phones are not to be used during school hours and if your child should call you on their phone complaining of illness, please tell them to check in with the nurse. This allows for an evaluation and documentation of the visit. Students signed out for illness who have not been seen by the nurse will be noted as a personal absence.

     

    ILLNESS / COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

     
     
    1. School is no place for a sick child. Please do not send your child to school if:
    - they have a fever of 100.0 or higher
    - have vomited within the last 12 hours
    - have any diarrhea in the last 12 hours
    - or have any of the symptoms listed below. Children should be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school, regardless of how they feel. If your child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease such as strep throat or pink eye, they must have been on antibiotic treatment (and free of fever) for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Also, please notify the school office or school nurse of any diagnosed communicable disease so that other parents can be notified.

    Signs/symptoms of illness:
    - Fever (oral temp of 100.0 or more)
    - Diarrhea, any loose stools
    - Red, watery eyes, pus in corners
    - Constant sneezing and/or deep cough, constantly runny nose
    - Unexplained rash
    - Headache
    - Nausea or vomiting
    - Swelling to neck or face
    - Flushed face or paleness
    - Very sore throat
    - Painful earache

    2. 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 if in doubt.

    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 homesick, 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 in the health office 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. If your child is sent home by the school nurse due to fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, he/she may not return to school for at least 24 hours even if he/she is feeling better.

    If every parent follows these procedures, it will save much suffering and prevent the spread of contagious diseases, some of which may be life-threatening.

    AS ALWAYS, hand washing is the best defense against the spread of germs. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water is the best method. Do not hesitate to call your physician if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child.

     

    PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCUSES & DANCE EXCUSES

    Students requesting to be excused from PE/Dance must bring a note signed by their parent to the Nurse. The Nurse will then write an "excused from PE/Dance" pass for the student to take to the teacher. Any request for three or more PE/Dance classes must be accompanied by a physician's written order. PE/Dance teachers will be informed of the length of excuse, and if the teacher needs to make any accommodations for your child. If your child has a health condition that causes him to miss PE/Dance class frequently, a doctor's note may be requested.

    All injuries requiring any type of orthopedic support or device on campus must be reported with a medical note and cleared through the Health Center. If your child sustains a fracture and has a splint or a cast, or has been authorized by a physician to use crutches or a wheelchair while on campus, please check in with the nurse prior to the child returning to class. We will need a doctor's note regarding the use of crutches or wheelchair on campus, as well as a PE/activity restriction notice. Elevator privileges may be requested at this time.

     

    Deer Valley School District Policies

    If your child has a temperature in the health office of 100 degrees or greater they will be sent home. They may return to school when the fever is gone for 24 hours without the use of medication.

    Any child with an undiagnosed rash should remain out of school until all symptoms are gone or a physician verifies the child is not contagious and is well enough to return to school.

    IF YOUR CHILD IS SENT HOME BY THE SCHOOL NURSE DUE TO FEVER, VOMITING OR DIARRHEA, HE/SHE MAY NOT RETURN TO SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS EVEN IF HE/SHE IS FEELING BETTER.

    If every parent follows these procedures it will save much suffering and prevent the spread of contagious diseases, some of which may be life-threatening.

    AS ALWAYS, hand washing is the best defense against the spread of germs. Do not hesitate to call your physician if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's health. Thank you for your cooperation.