School Nurse Policies

Your child will be excluded from school if they are not up-to-date with the following required vaccinations

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (DTP/Dtap/DT/Td, or Tdap*) 

• Polio (OPV/IPV) 

• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR/MMRV) 

• Hepatitis B (HBV) 

• Chickenpox (Varicella/MMRV)

• Confidentiality is maintained at all times. 

• The Nurse will make teachers and staff aware of the “need to know” medical conditions of the students. Teachers and staff are reminded not to discuss anything about children in common areas such as the office, lunchroom or stairwells, etc. 

• Teachers keep pertinent medical information in a roll book or secure place where a guest teacher could refer to it.

• Screenings are mandated by the state of Pennsylvania.  If there is a concern about a child’s vision or hearing before the scheduled screening, please notify the nurse directly.

• All physicals, vaccination records, and medical forms should be forwarded to the nurse.

• An official permission form must be on file in the school office in order for a child to be able to take medication at school.

• The medicine will be kept in the office or by the school nurse and be given to the student at the appropriate time(s).  

• Children cannot carry medication in school and parents may not give the teacher medication for their child. 

• Parents must come directly to the nurse where appropriate permission forms can be completed. Some medications are narcotics and the nurse and parent must count and sign for them together. 

• Only the nurse may dispense medication to students following referral and receipt of prescription from a licensed doctor.

• Please communicate all medical conditions with the nurse directly.

• Spot checks may be made to detect head lice by the school nurse.  Classroom checks are done on an as needed basis and are best done towards the end of the day so as not to cause undue alarm or embarrassment for the children.

• Lice is not an emergency. However, your child will be sent home if live nits are found.  You can protect yourself by not touching your head to a child’s head (such as hugging or leaning too closely). 

• If a student is sent home due to lice, please ensure they have completed the first dose of lice treatment before returning to school. Upon their return, the student must first visit the Nurse for a recheck. The nurse will then provide a pass for the student to give to their teacher, confirming they have been checked.