Health Services

Mission

The mission of SUSD School Nurses' is to enhance the educational potential of all students by promoting wellness and facilitating the resolution of health concerns which create barriers to learning.

We strive to give students the necessary tools to care for themselves. Scottsdale school nurses collaborate with community resources, encourage healthy lifestyles and promote communication through health counseling and information.

The purpose of school nursing is to enhance the educational process by the modification or removal of health-related barriers to learning and by promotion of an optimal level of wellness.

Health Services Information

School Health Beliefs

The following beliefs about school health, written by the American School Health Association and the American Nurses' Association, are endorsed by the Scottsdale School Nurses:

Every child is entitled to educational opportunities which allow each to reach full capacity as an individual and to prepare him or her for responsibility as a citizen.
Every child is entitled to a level of health which permits maximum utilization of educational opportunities.
Every school has a legal and moral obligation to provide a school health program which will promote and protect the health of its children and youth.
The school health program should be consistent with the philosophy and objectives of the school program. The school health program, through the components of health service, health education and concern for the environment, provides knowledge and understanding on which to base decisions for the promotion and protection of individual, family and community health.
Activities of the school health program play a primary role in establishing a viable working relationship with home and community.
Parents have the basic responsibility for the health of their children; the school health program activities exist to assist parents in carrying out their responsibilities.
The community has a responsibility for the health of their children; the school health program will assist parents and youth to utilize such community services effectively.
School health programs should include participation in regional, state and local comprehensive health planning to identify and interpret health needs and to coordinate health services for children and youth and their families.

Additional Beliefs - SUSD Nurses

The school nurse is the primary member of the school health team.
The broad range of the population served requires that the school nurse has a strong background in relevant theories as a basis for intervention including, but not limited to: growth and development, hierarchy of needs, family and group dynamics, change process, self-care, adaptation, public health including epidemiology and prevention, and educational theories, instructional philosophies and methodologies.
A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program provides the minimum professional competency for the practice of school nursing.
School nurses are bound to comply with the provisions of the State of Arizona "Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Nursing".
School nurses will use the National Association of School Nurses' "Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice" as a guide in fulfilling and evaluating the professional obligations of the specialty practice of school nursing. School nurses will be guided by the American Nurses' Association's "Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice" in their conduct and relationships in carrying out nursing responsibilities.

Medication at School

If your child needs to take prescription medication at school, you must provide the medication in the original prescription bottle with the child’s name on it.
If your child needs to take any over-the-counter medication, you must provide the specific, age-appropriate medication in the original, sealed container.
All medication (prescription and over-the-counter) must be brought to the health office by a parent or guardian and a Medication Administration Record completed.
Medications cannot be kept at the school site over the Summer and will be discarded after the last day of the school year.

Medication Administration Record Form

Student Return to School after Injury/Surgery

These guidelines outline the procedure for a student's safe and successful return to school activities following a significant injury or illness.

Definitions

Significant Injury/Illness: An injury or illness that significantly impacts a student's ability to participate in school activities, requires substantial recovery time, or necessitates modifications to the academic environment. (Examples: fractures, concussions, surgeries, hospitalization)

Procedures

Medical Clearance: A student returning from a significant injury/illness/surgery must provide written documentation from a licensed healthcare professional stating:
- Confirmation that the student is medically cleared to return to school, either with or without restrictions. Full participation in school activities is based on documentation written by the student’s physician or healthcare provider.
Communication: The student's parent/guardian should contact the School Nurse with information regarding the illness/injury/surgery.
- Please share clearance for participation in activities or restrictions outlined by healthcare provider.
Implementation and Monitoring: The School Nurse will communicate and implement restrictions.
- The School Nurse and relevant staff will monitor the student’s progress to ensure a smooth and successful return.
Review and Revision: The return-to-school plan may be reviewed and revised as needed throughout the student's recovery process based on documentation received from the physician or healthcare professional.

Illness Guidelines

If your child has any illness symptoms, please be sure that they are not contagious to others before returning.

Symptoms include any one of the following: fever, chills body/muscle aches, GI complaints, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, headache, breathing difficulties, sore throat, runny nose or congestion even if it seems like allergies. This should lead to working with medical providers to find the answers and guarantee a safe return to school.

Return to school after illness guidance to limit exposure to others:

Fever: Please keep your child home from school with a fever 100º or greater. Students may return to school with a temperature less than 100* without the use of fever-reducing medication--only if the child is fever-free for 24 hours.
Rash: All rashes should be identified by your medical provider. A note from the physician should be sent to the nurse identifying the rash as not contagious.
Vomiting: Students should not return to school for 24 hours after last episode of vomiting. Episodes of vomiting without fever can be due to virus and may still be contagious to classmates.
Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis: Students may not return to school while the eye is still red and draining. If no drainage, students can return 24 hours after the initiation of treatment.
Symptoms of any illness should be mostly resolved for return to school.

Medical Action Plan

If your child has diabetes, seizures, asthma, a life-threatening food allergy or another severe medical condition, please provide a medical action plan from your physician. Also, please print and complete the appropriate medication administration form and return them to your School Nurse. New forms must be completed each school year for both the action plans and medication administration forms. These action plans will be kept on file for one school year for use in the event your child has a medical emergency.