Grade Level: Pre-school Program to Grade 8
Program Overview:
The primary objective of school health services is to facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the total health status of children and staff.
Program Objectives:
The goals of School Health Services are:
- To maintain School Health Services in accordance with school health law and district policies
- To provide care for sick or injured students and staff per approved procedures
- To administer medications as prescribed by student's health care provider in accordance with state law, school policy and the Nurse Practice Act.
- To promote self-management of students with serious health concerns
- To provide training for staff who are delegated for the emergency administration of epinephrine and other nursing tasks according to state mandates
- To instruct staff regarding emergency medical procedures as per district policy
- To secure and interpret student medical records
- To maintain current individual student health data
- To provide for individual health screenings as mandated by state law and recommended by Board of Education policy
- To monitor implementation of required immunization of students
- To collaborate in the process of identifying students with special needs
- To collaborate with parents/guardians, professional staff, community agencies and other health care providers regarding students with specific health care needs
- To maintain individual school health care plans for students with special health concerns
- To promote maintenance of a healthful physical environment
- To promote healthy life practices
- To assist with Quality Assurance Annual Review to determine school health services effectiveness
- To implement formulation of a School Health Services Plan to determine overall school health services needs
- To submit health service reports as required by law
Implementation of Program Services
- Maintaining School Health Services
- Awareness of current School Health Law through attendance at State and Local School Nurse Association meetings and sponsored workshops
- Continue education through Health-related workshops and NJEA sponsored educational opportunities
- Make recommendations for deliverance of School Health Services based on changes in School Health Law
- Assist in development of district policies based on changes in School Health Law
- Maintain documentation of continuing education hours to meet state standards
- Care for Sick or Injured Students and Staff
- Review standing orders yearly and provide updates in collaboration with school physician
- Administer care as per state mandates, approved standing orders, the district procedure manual, the Nurse Practice Act, and PEOSHA regulations
- Document practices accordingly
- Administration of Medications
- Obtain health care provider order for administration of medication and signed parental permission
- Store medication in a secure, locked cabinet unless otherwise prescribed
- Follow protocol for medication administration and monitor for effects and/or adverse reactions
- Document administration of medication
- Promote Self Management of Students with Serious Health Concerns
- Supervise and instruct the student in the administration of medication
- Provide age appropriate guidance and information for health related problem solving
- Periodically assess student's level of knowledge and modify instruction as needed
- Delegation of Emergency Administration of Epinephrine and Nursing Tasks
- Obtain healthcare provider order for administration of medication and signed parental permission
- Obtain appropriate health information from healthcare provider to delegate nursing tasks
- In consultation with parent/guardian, develop individual health care plan
- If necessary, train delegate according to state mandates
- Instruction of Staff for Emergency Medical Procedures
- Conduct staff inservices regarding emergency medical procedures and universal precautions
- Distribute approved emergency information
- Obtain documentation of attendees
- Secure and Interpret Student Medical Records
- Obtain previous school health card or initiate new health record for each student
- Secure individual student health records in a locked file in the health office with access being granted only to authorized personnel in accordance with state mandates
- Assess the status of obtained records for compliance with state mandates and review for pertinent medical information
- Maintain Current Individual Student Health Data
- Record immunization dates, tuberculosis testing, results of screenings, physicals, referrals, and follow-ups
- Maintain individual student health logs of health office visits, record dispensation of medication and parent/guardian contacts
- Obtain and update medical health history information as provided
- Screening Procedures for All Students
- Provide for individual health screenings, which include vision, hearing, scoliosis, height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse as mandated by state law and board policy recommendation.
- Oversee compliance of physical examinations for school entry and athletic participation as required by state law and district policy
- Recommend a referral to personal care physician or community agency as needed
- Monitoring Required Immunizations
- Determine compliance of student's immunizations with state law
- Notify parent/guardian of immunizations needed
- Provide parents with information about community resources for obtaining immunizations if needed
- Recommend to school principal the exclusion of students who have not submitted acceptable evidence of required immunizations
- Identifying Students With Special Needs
- Assess health status of students
- Collaborate with Child Study Team members, Multidisciplinary Assistance Team, and other school professionals in determining health needs of specific students
- Assist in formulating 504 Accommodation Plan as appropriate for students with specific health issues
- Participate in district and building crisis management teams
- Develop recommendations for students with health related issues
- Collaboration with Parents/Guardians, Professional Staff, Community Agencies and Other Health Care Providers
- Summarize data obtained through nursing assessment and other sources of input
- Integrate various technologies to communicate and organize health related information
- Gather health information related to child's health needs and provide referral information to parents/guardians as needed
- Provide notification and response to Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders as mandated by state laws and in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act
- Follow up on consultations and referrals
- Provide information and resources for community services
- Determine and delegate roles, as appropriate, to team members after reviewing gathered health information
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Formulate and Maintain Individual Health Care Plans for Students with Special Health Concerns
- Gather health information and evaluate student's health problems and needs
- Develop a health care plan in conjunction with the parents/guardian, student and student's health care provider, incorporating all aspects of the school day
- Modify plan as warranted by student's changing health needs
- Secure signed release of confidential information for all sources of significant medical information
- Inform staff members of the student medical concerns and provide general training as needed to staff members who will have daily contact with student
- Maintenance of Healthful Physical Environment
- Identify concerns regarding environmental health and safety
- Refer concerns to appropriate district personnel
- Document concerns and follow up accordingly
- Promotion of Healthy Life Practices
- Act as resource for students, staff, and community to promote wellness
- Provide health-related information through daily interaction, inservices, and distribution of approved written material as applicable
- Quality Assurance Annual Review
- Evaluate previous year's school health services delivery to determine effectiveness
- Develop School Health Services Plan for current school year
- Formulation of School Health Services Plan
- Develop a School Health Services Plan, in collaboration with the school physician, from information gathered district-wide to identify specific health needs of the school population
- Communicate Student Health Services Plan information to the Chief School Administrator for purposes of assigning nursing personnel and providing student health services
- Health Service Reports
- Submit health service reports in a timely manner as required by law
- Maintain copies of all submitted reports with annual records
- Submit records for auditing as mandated
Resources
- N.J.A.C. 6A: 16 -2.1 Programs to Support Student Development
- School Health Services Guidelines, NJ Dept. of Education, Oct. 2001
- Statutes and Regulations, Board of Nursing, NJ Dept of Law and Public Safety, June 1995
- Galloway Township Public Schools Procedure Manual, 2000
- Galloway Township Public School Nursing Protocols Manual, 2001
- PEOSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington D.C.