MELANIE AYALA, RN

Cotulla ISD District Nurse

Supporting Student Success

WHAT IS SCHOOL NURSING? School nursing is a specialized practice

of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual or potential health problems; provide case management services and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning.

WHO IS YOUR SCHOOL NURSE? Your school nurse is the crucial link

between health and education. School nurses reach out to students in the schools, their homes and in the community to help them achieve the highest possible health for the highest possible learning.

THE GOAL OF THE SCHOOL NURSE …is to promote a safe and healthy

community in which the students will be encouraged to become life-long learners, self-managers and self-advocates for health, education and other issues.

ROLES OF THE SCHOOL NURSE Assess and evaluate overall student health Plan action for elimination, minimization or

acceptance of health problems Provide information and referral for

health/emotional concerns Provide selected health services for staff Observe school facilities and recommend

modifications to maintain optimum health and safety of students and staff

Administer medications Perform vision, hearing and spinal screenings Monitor immunization compliance Follow-up concerns regarding student and

community health

ROLES OF THE SCHOOL NURSE Provide education on a variety of health

topics to students, families and staff Other health care and educational

related responsibilities as needed/discovered

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL persistent fever (temperature higher

than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit when taken by mouth);

severe sore throat that lasts more than 48 hours, especially when accompanied by a fever;

a significant rash, particularly when other symptoms are present;

large amounts of discolored nasal discharge;

severe ear pain; an uncontrolled cough;

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL diarrhea; and severe headache, especially with a

fever.

Parents can allow children to return to school after symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours.

WASH YOUR HANDS Keeping hands clean is one of the best

ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness.

Handwashing is easy to do and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings—from your home and workplace to child care facilities and hospitals. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

WHEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HANDS? Before, during, and after preparing food Before eating food Before and after caring for someone who is

sick Before and after treating a cut or wound After using the toilet After changing diapers or cleaning up a child

who has used the toilet After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing After touching an animal, animal feed, or

animal waste After touching garbage

WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO WASH YOUR HANDS?

Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

Rinse your hands well under running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

HAND SANITIZERS May not be as effective when hands are

visibly dirty. How should you use hand sanitizer?

Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

Rub your hands together.Rub the product over all surfaces of your

hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

QUESTIONS?