Our School Nurse
School Nurses work alongside school teams to support the healthcare needs of students related to education. To be successful in school, students need good health and quality of life. If a child is not healthy, then that child’s ability to learn may be impacted. School Nurses provide a variety of health-related services including daily first aid for minor injuries and routine student illness, vision and hearing screenings, communicable disease education and prevention, and parent education, and they are the liaisons between medical providers and the school. Our school nurse works with school personnel, students, families, community health organizations, physicians, and specialists to ensure that all students' healthcare needs are met for them to receive the maximum benefit from their educational experience.
Federal Law (IDEA) defines services required for students with an Individual Educational Plan (IEP). The School Nurse is a member of the IEP team for each student with a disability. The School nurse will assess each student for an initial IEP and eligibility evaluation.
Section 504 of the Federal Law requires health services for children with any disability affecting school performance. The School Nurse may be a member of the 504 team.
Services can also be provided through an Individualized Health Plan that may be included in an IEP or a Section 504 Accommodation Plan.
The Waugh School District's Nurse plays a crucial role in promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of students within the district. Responsible for a range of duties, the nurse provides direct care to students who are ill or injured during school hours, administers medications as needed, and responds to medical emergencies.
In addition to providing immediate care, the district nurse also works to prevent illness and promote healthy habits among students and staff. This may involve conducting health screenings, immunization clinics, and educational programs on topics such as nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Collaboration with parents, teachers, and other school personnel is key for the district nurse to ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive academically while managing any health concerns they may have. This may include developing individualized health plans for students with chronic conditions, coordinating with outside healthcare providers, and advocating for the needs of students with disabilities.
Overall, the Waugh School District's Nurse plays a vital role in creating a safe and supportive environment where students can focus on their learning and development with the assurance that their health needs are being met.
Vision, Hearing, and Scoliosis Screenings
Hearing screening is mandated in TK/Kindergarten, in second, fifth, eighth, tenth/eleventh grade, and upon first school entry (California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 2952 (c)(1)). Hearing screening in California public schools must be conducted by a credentialed school audiometrist.
Vision screening must be conducted on all students upon entry to school and every third year after that through grade eight (TK/Kindergarten, in second, fifth, and eighth). It is also done on enrollment and referral at any grade level.
The state scoliosis screening mandate was suspended and it is uncertain whether it will be reinstated. Some school districts continue to conduct scoliosis screenings for girls in seventh grade and boys in eighth grade.
All children who enter first grade in a California public, private, or charter school are required by California state law to have a comprehensive health examination (also referred to as the School Health Entry Checkup) completed within 18 months before or 90 days after the first day of first grade, or submit a signed parental waiver of the health examination. The intent of this requirement is to:
- Ensure all school children receive a health examination to promote success in school
- Increase the number of children who receive a health examination, resulting in fewer untreated health problems, less illness, and improved attendance at school
- Facilitate school staff's ability to collect mandated forms in a timely manner
- Simplify school entry health requirements by having the California School Immunization Record and School Entry Health Examination due at the same time, and
- Ensure school compliance with California state law
Schools are responsible for - 1) informing their students of the school entry health examination requirement, 2) assisting them in getting the examination, and 3) maintaining the School Entry Health Checkup Requirement form or the Waiver of Medical Examination in student’s files to be reported when students enter the first grade.
*Waiver
The waiver is primarily intended for reasons of deeply held personal beliefs, not as a matter of convenience. According to California law (Health and Safety Code, Section 124085), if the waiver indicates that the parent or guardian could not obtain the services for the child, the waiver is to include the reason(s) why.
If a parent/guardian does not wish to obtain a health examination for their child based on personal beliefs, the parent/guardian must sign the waiver portion at the bottom of the School Entry Health Checkup Requirement form. However, parents/guardians should be encouraged to obtain a health examination for their child. The signing of the waiver should not be used by parents/guardians to avoid the important responsibility of obtaining a health exam for their child. Suppose the reason for not obtaining the examination is that the parent/guardian cannot afford it. In that case, every effort should be made to help the family find resources to enable them to get the examination. Frequently asked questions about First Grade Health Examination Requirements and Procedures for providers and school personnel can be found in the CHDP SCHOOL HANDBOOK.
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Outcome Identification
- Planning
- Implementation
- Coordination of Care
- Health Teaching and Promotion
- Consultation
- Prescriptive, Authority, and Treatment
