Goals Of the School Nurse
1. Improve student academic achievement by intensifying school health services through a lower school nurse to student ratio, expansion of school health program components, and applying individualized interventions of identified health conditions or issues.
* The school nurses will assess the following areas: vision, hearing, date of last check up by family doctor and dentist, eating habits, bedtime/sleep habits, and overall school attendance. If any areas need to be addressed then a referral will be made or education will be provided to the student/family. All of these areas have a significant impact on a child's academic achievement.
2. Provide an on-going assessment and implementation of a Comprehensive School Health Program as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.
3. Families will recognize routine, preventive health and dental care as important to achieving the best degree of health and wellness for their children.
*School nurses will identify students without a medical and/or dental provider as the students are seen in the health office. The school nurse will assist and educate families in the importance of having a medical and dental home to turn to in time of health and illness. These efforts are also aimed at hleping reduce the number of emergency room visits for non-emergent visits. We hope that by helping link families with providers that children will begin to use a "medical/dental home" for care instead of the emergecny room.
4. Prevent chronic health conditions from becoming a barrier to school success by consistently managing these conditions through improved communication and cooperation between the school staff, doctor's office, parent, student, and school nurse.
* 100% of all children with identified chronic health problems will have a "care plan" developed so that the school staff can safely manage the student's medical condition while at school.
*Reduce absenteeism of those students identified with a chronic illness, such as asthma or diabetes, when the absence is associated with that illness.
5. Identify and resolve health issues that affect the ability of students to attain optimal health status and school success by ensuring age appropriate health screenings and follow up of any referrals generated.
* Vision Screenings will be done for 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th graders and for other students based on need.
* Height, weight, and BMI screening will be done for 5th graders.
* Dental screening for kindergarten and 5th graders will be provided by the state Dental Hygienist.
* Hearing screening will be done for students who are at risk.
* School records will be reviewed for current immunization status and referrals made as needed. Those students who remain out of compliance with state immunization requirements after 30 days of school are to be suspended until they get the required shots.