Some students come to school with diverse medical conditions that may impact their learning as well as their health. Some of these conditions are serious and may be life-threatening, some are simply conditions that affect the child's everyday life activities. It is very important that parents inform the school nurse of any health concerns a child has that might require special attention. These might include diabetes, asthma, severe allergies (such as peanuts or bee stings), hearing/vision loss, mobility issues, etc.
If your child is a student receiving special education services, and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), this student should receive a physical at least every three years, depending on progress and Committee for Special Education (CSE) requirements. Special health needs will be documented in the IEP. The school nurse may be a valuable resource for the family, school staff, and CSE committee in cases where children have special health needs. Alternately, some students may benefit from having a plan for accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act ("a 504 plan"). Please ask your school principal or school nurse if you believe this would benefit your child.
The school nurse will plan with the parent for daily care and/or emergencies. Please call the school nurse to bring this to the her attention. A phone or face-to-face conversation with the school nurse is the most effective way to notify her, and gives the opportunity for discussion of your child's needs.
All students within the District with known life-threatening conditions should have a comprehensive plan of care in place: an Emergency Care Plan (ECP) and/or Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP), and if appropriate an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.
Please remember - in order for us to plan appropriate care, we must know about your child's special health condition - so please come in and talk to us!