Nurse Services
The primary responsibility of the professional school nurse is to collaborate with staff, students, parents, and community resources to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents, thereby optimizing their learning potential.
This involves several key functions:
- Identifying and assessing health concerns among students that may affect their learning, and intervening appropriately.
- Developing health plans for students with disabilities or health conditions that hinder learning.
- Providing health counseling to students, families, and district staff.
- Initiating and following up on referrals to healthcare providers.
- Training staff in delegated nursing acts.
- Maintaining confidential student health records.
- Acting as a liaison between the school, community, and healthcare providers.
- Collaborating with school staff and community agencies on student immunizations.
- Informally consulting and collaborating with student services and other school staff, including during building consultation team meetings.
- Participating in special education evaluations and individual education plan meetings for students with significant health concerns.
- Providing input for the development of school district health policies.
- Developing and implementing protocols for emergency care, illness/injury intervention, and medication administration.
- Serving on district and community committees and coalitions related to health and wellness.
School nurses are assigned to multiple schools within the district and can be contacted at any of their assigned locations. They offer consultations, observe and interact with students, and provide follow-up services as needed, often without a formal referral or consent. However, special assessments and interventions may require parental consent.
