School Nurse
Welcome to the Nurse’s Office
at Brooklet Elementary
Definition of School Nursing
"School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning."
Is my child too ill to attend school?
Parents are often confronted with this question when their child complains of not feeling well. The following guidelines may be helpful. These guidelines do not cover every medical condition and do not take the place of seeking medical attention. Please consult your doctor for specific medical advice.
Fever - 100 degrees or higher - A fever is a sign of illness. A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should not attend school. The child should be free of fever (without the aid of Tylenol or Motrin) for 24 hours before returning to school.
Sore Throat/Colds/Cough - Minor cold symptoms are common and usually don't interfere with school attendance. A persistent, frequent cough and/or constant nasal drainage may affect your child's performance at school, and he/she may be more comfortable at home.
Rash - A child that has a rash that is draining, has open areas or is causing the child to itch excessively should not attend school. A child with a rash accompanied by other symptoms such as: a fever, sore throat, irritability, vomiting, etc. should not attend school.
Vomiting/Diarrhea - A child who has vomited should wait 24 hours and be able to retain solid foods before returning to school. A child who is having frequent diarrhea stools should not attend school. If there is cramping/abdominal pain with diarrhea, the student may be more comfortable at home.
Eyes – A child who wakes up with their eyes "glued" together may have "pink eye" or conjunctivitis. Other symptoms are redness (or pinkness) of the eye, gritty feeling in the eyes, itching and discharge from the eye. We are unable to determine here at school whether pinkeye is contagious or non-contagious. This must be done by a doctor. Please keep in mind that pink eye can be highly contagious and we need to work together to prevent exposure of an entire classroom. Your child may need to stay home on medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
MEET YOUR NURSE
Mrs. Sam DeRosso
sderosso@bullochschools.org
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WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL NURSE DO?
The primary role of the School Nurse is to , take a leadership role in serving as the coordinator of all school health programs. She provides health education to support student learning. The nurse implements strategies that promote student and staff health and safety. A School Nurse, with appropriate preparation helps students, staff and parents. She identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment. She also supports healthy food services programs and promotes healthy physical education, sports policies and practices. She provides health counseling, assesses mental health needs, provides interventions and refers students to appropriate school staff or community agencies. The School Nurse also promotes community involvement in assuring a healthy school and serves as school liaison to a health advisory committee.
WHAT SERVICES DOES THE SCHOOL NURSE PROVIDE?
The School Nurse serves as the health professional for the school community and provides the following services:
Illness and injury assessments and interventions
Identification, assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of student health concerns
Health assessments and participation in Individualized Education Plan Development
Pediatric nursing procedures such as tube feedings, catheterizations and other technical procedures
Screening for health factors impacting student education
Activities and education to promote health
Chronic disease management and education individualized nursing care plans and services for students with disabilities and/or health Conditions that interfere with learning
Medication administration at school when needed
Participation in management of students with mental health needs
Crisis team participation
Health curriculum recommendations
School/community/ health care provider liaison
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES A SCHOOL NURSE MAKE
It has been documented that school nursing interventions improve student health in a way that contributes to academic achievement and success. School Nurses collaborate with teachers and administrators to promote a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment. Studies show that when there is a School Nurse present in the school, parents are confident that their children’s health needs and injuries are appropriately handled during the school day. Teachers are able to devote their time to educating students because the School Nurse coordinates the health care needs of students. The work of School Nurses has been shown to decrease absenteeism and decrease discipline referrals.
Bulloch County Forms for Healthcare