The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. This is done by implementing strategies to promote student and staff health and safety.
The nurse oversees:
Health services- coordinator of health service program and provides nursing care.
Health Education- provides health education to students, staff and parents.
Healthy Environment- identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment.
Counseling- provides health counseling, assesses mental health needs, providing
Interventions and refers students to the appropriate school staff or community agencies.
Care of children with special health needs
Diabetes, food, insect, latex allergy, asthma, visual hearing and speech deficits. Need for special aids such as crutches, walkers wheelchairs. All information provided is kept confidential.
Promotes and protects the optimal health status of school age children.
Some services provided are:
Illness and injury assessment and interventions.
Health assessments and participation in development of Individualized Education Plan for students with special needs.
Health screening for factors impacting student learning.
Preventing tobacco, alcohol, and substance abuse.
Chronic disease management.
Administration of medications.
Reporting and submitting information to NYS DOH.
Development of school district health policies.
Serving as health care provider between school and community.
Identifies and reports abnormal health findings, refers as needed.
Provides ongoing health counseling with students, parents school personnel or health agencies
Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of students
Provides direct health education, and health counseling to assist students and families in making decisions on health and lifestyles that affect health.
Develops procedures and provides for emergency nursing management for illness and or injuries.