Nurse's Corner

WHAT DO SCHOOL NURSES DO?

School Nurses do far more than hand out ice packs and check for head lice. Studies show that 1 in 5 students have a special health care need, such as asthma, serious allergies, or diabetes. Nurses provide the care and monitoring to help those children stay in school. One-third of all visits to school Nurses are tied to mental health issues, so Nurses play a critical role in connecting students to the help they need. Nurses also help to make sure children are up-to-date with immunizations, reducing the chance students will get sidelined by an easily preventable illness.

A student’s health is directly related to his or her ability to learn. Children with unmet health needs have a difficult time engaging in the educational process. The school nurse supports student success by providing health care through assessment, intervention, and follow-up for all children within the school setting. The school nurse addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students and supports their achievement in the learning process. (NASN)

Role of a School Nurse

• Serves as a health advocate for your child
• Serves as a link to medical resources
• Assesses illnesses and injuries
• Delivers first-aid treatment
• Communicates with parents
• Communicates with staff
• Monitors immunizations for compliance with Maryland law
• Administers medications
• Performs health screenings and follow-up per Maryland law
• Participates on school teams
• Monitors communicable infections

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

A communicable disease is an illness caused by infectious agents or toxins transmitted from an infected person, animal, or object to another susceptible person. Transmission can be person-to-person or through the environment. After a child has had a communicable disease (e.g. chickenpox, conjunctivitis [pink eye], hand-foot, and mouth disease, influenza, scabies, scarlet fever, strep throat, tinea [ringworm], Covid 19, etc).

Measles is a disease that causes fever, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and a rash. It can cause more serious problems such as lung, ear, and brain infections, and in rare cases, death. It is extremely contagious and can live in the air for several hours in a location where an infected person has been. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect your child from measles.

It is necessary that parents obtain a slip from their doctor, stating that it is safe for the child to return to school.