Health Room - Nurse

The mission of the WCASD Health Services Department staff is to support education by providing student-centered care through skilled nursing assessments and interventions. School nurses manage both acute and chronic conditions and injuries and provide a wide variety of medically prescribed daily procedures. School nurses promote student health by teaching and encouraging healthy personal lifestyle for students and staff. In addition, the school nurse promotes healthy growth and disease prevention by performing annual state mandated health screenings and by tracking and reporting physical examinations, dental examinations, immunization requirements, and communicable disease concerns for the PA Department of Health.

Parents are encouraged to communicate directly with the nurse regarding any health concern that may impact the student’s day in school. The nurse cannot make a medical diagnosis or prescribe medical treatment and cannot administer medications without written physician’s orders. Injuries that occur at home must be taken care of at home. A student should not come to school for the nurse to determine if s/he is well enough to attend. If there is doubt regarding a student's health, the student should remain home and your family physician should be consulted.

To ensure the best possible care for your student, please be sure to update the medical information and treatment permission sections on the Registration Gateway "Back to School" site at the start of each school year. Please alert the nurse if there is a change in your child’s health status so that your child's emergency medical information can be updated. Likewise, any change in your address and home, work, or cell phone numbers should be brought to our attention immediately.

When a students has an injury that requires activity restrictions, a doctor’s note must be sent to the Health Office on the 1^st day that your child returns to school. This includes any student with a supportive device like a splint, cast or crutches. Usually these student have restrictions such as no gym or recess for a period of time. Until specific doctor’s instructions are received, any student with a supportive device will not be permitted to participate in gym or recess. When a student’s restrictions are lifted by the Health Care Provider, a medical clearance note from the provider must be given to the School Nurse.

If a student requires a non-medical exclusion from participation in gym class, a parent note is required. Any gym exclusion for more than 1 day requires a doctor’s note.

Mandated health screenings are completed by the School Nurse annually and at any other time as requested by a parent or a teacher. Student screening results are available for review through the district Parent Portal. Parents will receive a written referral if their child does not pass 2 separate screenings.

Specific annual screening exams are listed below:

• Near Vision and Far Vision Test: all grades, every year
• Color Vision Test: Grade 1

Detects discrepancy in ability to recognize color

• Convex Lens Test (Plus Lens): Grade 1

Detects excessive farsightedness & binocular problems

• Stereo Depth Test: Grade 2

Tests for binocularity, lazy eye, and poor eye alignment

• Hearing Test: Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
• Height/Weight/BMI/BMI Percentile Measurement: all grades, every year

BMI is a measurement that helps determine if a child's weight is appropriate for his/her age and height. The percentile shows a comparison of your child's BMI to others of the same age group and gender. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a consultation with your physician if your child's BMI falls below 5^th percentile or is above 85^th percentile.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has specific immunization regulations relating to school enrollment and attendance. The following minimum immunizations are required by PA law for attendance in all grades:

• Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTP, DTap, Tdap): 4 doses (4th dose on or after the 4th birthday)
• Polio (IPV): 4 doses (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose)
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR): 2 doses
• Hepatitis B (HBV): 3 doses
• Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses or documented history of Chickenpox disease

7th through 12th Grades have ADDITIONAL immunization requirements for attendance:

• Meningococcal conjugate (MCV): 2 doses (1st dose is given from 11-15 years of age; 2nd dose is usually given at age 16 and required for entry into 12th grade)
• Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Tdap): 1 dose booster (prior to 7th grade)

WCASD is prohibited by law from allowing children to enter school without evidence of complete age-appropriate immunizations. Any student without complete immunizations will be excluded from school after 5 days.

These requirements allow for exemptions for medical reasons and religious beliefs. Medical exemptions must be documented by a physician. If your child is exempt from immunizations, he/she will be excluded from school during any outbreak of a vaccine-covered disease.

If your insurance does not cover immunizations, please contact the Chester County Health Department at #610-344-6225 to schedule an appointment for vaccines. Walk in clinic hours are Tuesdays 9:00-4:00, Wednesdays 12:00-6:00 and Fridays by appointment only. A parent or guardian must accompany the student and should bring the child’s vaccination records. The Chester County Health Department is located at 601 Westtown Road #295, West Chester PA 19382.

Physical Examinations:

PA law requires a physical examination be submitted to the School Nurse at 3 separate times during a student’s education: on entry (either Kindergarten or 1st grade), in 6th grade and again in 11th grade. Exams must be dated after August 31st of the previous school year.

Students transferring from another school should have a physical exam in their student health file already; if not, they must provide an updated physical to the School Nurse. The school district has a physical form (below); however, any assessment document from a physician is acceptable. All forms are due to the Health Office on or before the first day of school. Any forms not received within 60 days of school start will result in the student's exclusion from school.

If your child does not have a family physician, he/she can be seen by the WCASD physician who may recommend further care, if necessary. Parents must sign a permission form to have their child examined at school.

Physical Exam Form

Dental Examinations:

PA law requires a dental examination be submitted to the School Nurse at 3 separate times during a student’s education: on entry (either Kindergarten or 1st grade), in 3rd grade and again in 7th grade. Exams must be dated after August 31st of the previous school year.

The school district has a dental form (below); however, any assessment document from a dentist is acceptable. All forms are due to the Health Office on or before the first day of school. Any forms not received within 60 days of school start will result in the student's exclusion from school.

If your child does not have a dentist, he/she can be seen by the WCASD dentist who may recommend further care, if necessary. Parents must sign a permission form to have their child examined at school.

Dental Exam Form

Standard medications stocked in the health office can be administered with parent permission; these medications include Tylenol, Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), Antacid (Tums) and Benadryl (for severe allergic reactions only). If parents would like a student to receive any of these medications as needed at school, permission must be given via the PowerSchool "Back to School" site. Once parent permission is given, the parent must notify the school nurse in writing if the permission is to be revoked.

The following requirements must be met before any non-standard medication can be administered to your child while s/he is in school and/or after school activities. For the safety of all students it is essential that all medications are stored in a locked cabinet in the Health Office. No student is permitted to keep any medication in his/her possession (including cough drops, eye drops, etc…)

ALL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS- DAILY, TEMPORARY, SHORT TERM, and OCCASIONAL

• A Health Care Provider's (M.D. /D.O, CRNP) written and signed order for the nurse must accompany the medication and include date, time of medication, and dosage. A new order is required at the start of each school year. A pharmacy label or a stamped order does not meet the state requirements of a written Health Care Provider's signature. A new prescription order is also needed for any medication dosage or time change. When a medication is discontinued, we also request the parent/ guardian provide us with a written order from the Health Care Provider. Clink link for District Medication Forms: Medication Guidelines & Form or Asthma Action Plan
• A parent/guardian note and/or signature requesting medication administration as prescribed by the Health Care Provider must be provided.
• Medication must be clearly labeled in the original, most current container from the pharmacy and label must include: Student's Name, Medication, Dosage; Instructions for Administration; and Health Care Provider's Name.
• We suggest the pharmacist supply two labeled containers, one each for home and school.

NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

• A Health Care Provider's (M.D./D.O, CRNP) written order for the nurse must accompany any medication other than generic Tylenol, Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), Antacid (Tums) and Benadryl. WCASD nurses have standing orders for these products from the district’s consulting physician.
• A parent/guardian note requesting the medication administration with instructions must be provided.
• For your child’s safety, medication must be in the original, labeled container. The expiration date must be evident.
• Only over the counter medications described in the current edition of the PDR for non-prescription drugs will be administered.
• Requirements also apply to homeopathic remedies and dietary supplements.

NO MEDICATION WILL BE ADMINISTERED UNLESS THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

Medications given less than 4x/day should be administered at home, unless otherwise ordered by the Health Care Provider.