Sick/Absent FAQ: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. What is the the role of a school nurse?
2. When should I keep my child home from school?

What is the the role of a school nurse?

-Provide health assessments, first aid, and emergency care
-Conduct mandated screenings, including vision, heating, and postural
-Develop and implement Individual Health Care Plans for students with special 
health care needs
-Oversees medication administration and assessment for prescription as well 
as over the counter medications
-Maintains confidential student health records
-provides link to community health services
-provides health counseling and education individually and in the classroom
-monitors immunization compliance and communicable disease control

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When should I keep my child home from school?

*If your child has had a fever over 100 degrees within the past 24 hours. 
They should be free of a temperature for 24 hours before returning to school.
*If your child has had vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
*If your child has red/pink eyes with drainage.
*If your child has a decreased energy level due to symptoms of a cold or flu.
*If your child has chicken pox, he or she must stay home until lesions have 
scabbed over, usually 5-10 days.
*If your child has strep throat, he or she may return to school after 
receiving  a full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.  If you suspect that your 
child could possibly have strep, please keep your child at home until you 
have the results of the strep culture as this is a highly contagious 
illness.  It is unfair to put your child's classmates or teacher at risk for 
infection.
*If your child has head lice/nits, he or she must be treated at home and seen 
by the school nurse prior to returning to school.

Parents/Guardians will be contacted to take their child home if, in the 
professional opinion of the school nurse, the child is unable to participate 
in school activities or puts other students and staff at risk for illness.  
Please have a plan in place to pick up your child in case he or she needs to 
be dismissed from school.  Please be certain that the school nurse has all of 
your current phone numbers so that you can be reached in case of an 
emergency.

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