School Nurses...
All of the nurses employed by the Burkburnett Independent School District are licensed by the State of Texas.
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 and 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.
The Role of the BISD School Nurse:
AT SCHOOL
- Conduct health screenings of vision, hearing, spinal, height and weight.
- Provide emergency first aid.
- Evaluate and assess the health needs of students.
- Provide health counseling on chronic illness, nutrition, disease prevention and positive lifestyles.
- Implement and monitor students' compliance with state immunization laws.
- Develop objectives for the health component of the individualized Education Plan.
- Conduct health-related classroom presentations.
- Evaluate and monitor communicable and nuisance diseases.
- Provide health resources for faculty and staff.
IN THE HOME
- Serve as liaison between home and school regarding health concerns.
- Record health histories.
- Assess long-term illnesses.
- Implement case management within the school setting.
- Participate in parent-nurse conferences.
- Provide information and referral to community resources.
- Involved with parent groups.
- Provide activities for health promotion and education.
IN THE COMMUNITY
- Act as liaison between home, school and community resources.
- Make referrals to appropriate community agencies.
- Participate in professional conferences with community agencies.
- Resource for community agencies and work with community interdisciplinary health teams.
- Record and report child abuse to appropriate departments of social services.
Health Guidelines:
Students with a fever (100oF or greater) or obvious signs of illness (such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea) must stay at home until their temperature is normal (98.6oF) for 24 hours without Tylenor or ibuporfen and/or until all other symptoms subside.
STOMACHACHES, NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Stomachaches occur frequently in children. If your child is throwing up give them only clear liquids. This is any liquid you can see light through such as water, jello, broth, or sport drinks. No milk or milk products. If your child continues to throw up or develops a fever of over 100o, please contact your doctor, children should be free of fever and vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
School Nurses are required to report all communicable diseases on their campus to the Texas Department of Health. Please call the school nurse, secretary or attendance clerk to report a communicable disease such as chicken pox,conjunctivitis (pink-eye), ringworm, strep throat, flu or other physician diagnoses. Parents are notified as needed when a classroom has a reportable communicable disease confirmed by a physician.
CHICKEN POX
Chicken pox is a very contagious illness. Symptoms of chicken pox can appear from 7 to 21 days after exposure with most appearing in 14 to 17 days.
Chicken pox blisters first appear on the trunk and face then spread to the rest of the body. Chicken pox blisters are about the size of a pencil eraser, have a red base, and develop into a blister. Scabs form as the blisters break.
Some children will have a fever usually in the range of 101o to 103o. You may use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen to reduce the fever. Please do not use an aspirin product. You can relieve the itching by applying a cool wet compress or a soak in a lukewarm bath with an oatmeal bath product.
Chicken pox will last approximately 10 days. Children should be kept out of school until they have been free of fever (under 100o) for one day and the blisters have all scabbed. You do not have to wait for the scabs to fall off.
You may check with your school nurse if you have any questions regarding when your child may return to school.
CONJUNCTIVITIS
Conjunctivitis (pink-eye) is an infection of the eye caused by bacterial or viral agents. The infected eye usually feels gritty or irritated and produces a thick yellow-green discharge, tearing or pus that may glue the eyelids together. Warm compresses will loosen the discharge. This infection is very contagious by direct contact so frequent hand washing and avoiding rubbing the eye is important to prevent spread. Treatment is with prescription medication. Children must be under treatment for 24 hours before they may return to school.
RINGWORM
A fungus, not a worm, causes ringworm. It can affect the skin, scalp or nails causing a red eruption that spreads at the circumference as it heals in the center. Ringworm usually causes burning and itching and may cause the hair to fall out when the scalp in involved. Ringworm is contagious and can be spread by shared clothing, combs or hairbrushes. Ringworm may also result from contact with an infected animal. Treatment can begin with an over the counter antifungal medication. If there is no improvement after several days of treatment please see your doctor. Scalp ringworm MUST have a prescription medication and a doctors note to return to school.
STREP THROAT
Strep throat is usually associated with a fever, throat pain that is worse with swallowing, loss of appetite, headache, swollen glands in the neck and bright red tonsils or the throat may have dots of white. Incubation period is usually 2 to 7 days following exposure. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat strep throat. Treatment is usually 10 to 12 days of antibiotics. Students may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic therapy IF they are free of fever and feeling better.
MEDICATION
Over-the-counter medications may be given by school personnel only if the medication is brought in the original container, properly labeled with the student's name and with written permission provided by the parent/guardian, giving specific instructions regarding the amount and time of dosage. The student must leave the medicine with the school nurse. Any medication to be given over 10 days must have note from Doctor. Prescription medication must have a doctors note and must be brought to school by the parent/guardian.
ACTIVITY GUIDELINES
Parents must send written permission when a student is unable to participate in Physical Education activities. For periods greater than three consecutive days, a doctor's notice is required. If your child has a health condition or injury that will require an extended absence from PE please notify the school nurse at your child's school.
SCREENINGS
The Texas Department of Health Services requires periodic health screenings of school-aged children for vision, hearing and spinal problems. Screenings are conducted by school nurses. If your child fails a screening test the school nurse will re-check them. Parents are notified by the school nurse when results are not within normal limits.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunizations are required for school attendance by the Texas Department of Health Services. School nurses notify parents when immunizations are due and provide information about community health care providers who provide such services. According to state law, students may be excluded from school until documentation of immunization is verified. State law only allows medical and religious exemptions. If there is a question or concern please contact the school nurse.
HEAD LICE
Students are periodically screened for head lice. Students are sent home when live lice are found. The school nurse rechecks students before they return to class.
Head lice can be a nuisance to get rid of but not impossible. You must complete each of the following steps to eradicate the problem.
- Get a pediculicide shampoo. Regular shampoo will not work.
- Apply the pediculicide shampoo as instructed in the shampoo directions.
- After treatment, use a fine tooth comb and comb out as many nits (eggs) as possible. Then use the fingernails to complete the removal of all the nits. Check with your pharmacist about products that may be available to assist with nit removal.
- Each member of the family should be checked and treated at the same time.
- Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bedspreads, and clothing in hot soapy water. Be sure to wash combs and brushes in pediculicide shampoo. Place stuffed animals and other non-washable items in a plastic trash bag and leave sealed for 35 days. Vacuum floors, carpets, bed, couch, chairs and car thoroughly
- Students should return to school the following day after treatment has been completed and all nits have been removed. Please do not allow children to stay out of school.
INJURY
Injuries sometimes occur at school. The school nurse will notify you if your child is severely injured at school. It is important that phone numbers and emergency contacts are kept updated through the school year. Some injuries may seem minor at the onset but need to be watched for 24 hours.
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
What is meningitis
There are two common types of bacteria that cause meningitis:
- Strep pneumoniae causes pneumococcal meningitis; there are over 80 subtypes that cause illness.
- Neisseria meningitidis--meningococcal meningitis; there are 5 subtypes that cause serious illness--A, B, C, Y, W-135
- Severe headeache
- High temperature
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Neck stiffness, joint pains
- Drowsiness or confusion
The germ does not cause meningitis in most people. Instead, most people become carriers of the germ for days, weeks or even months. Being a carrier helps to stimulate your body's natural defense system. The bacteria rarely overcomes the body's immune system and causes meningitis or another serious illness.
What is the risk of getting bacterial meningitis?
What should you do if you think you or a friend might have bacterial meningitis?
Seek prompt medical attention. For more information: Your school nurse, family doctor, and the staff at your local or regional health department office are excellent sources for information on all communicable diseases. You may also call your local health department or Regional Texas Department of Health office to ask about meningococcal vaccine.
Additional information may also be found at the web sites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
the Texas Department of Health: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/
MRSA (Staph Infection) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Recent news reports at the national and local level have focused on staph infections, more specifically MRSA staph. The District wants parents and the public to know what procedures regarding sanitation and cleanliness are in place in BISD schools regarding these infectious diseases.
Our schools teach the importance of personal hygiene as a preventative measure in the spread of infectious diseases. Our students learn from their teachers, their nurses, and their coaches - just how important it is to wash their hands, not share personal items, and keep their clothes and related equipment clean. Our schools are cleaned by individuals who are trained in the proper technique and application of safe sanitation products. Public areas and classrooms are cleaned regularly to insure a safe healthy environment, not just for our students and staff, but for the public that visits our campuses and facilities.
The District takes student safety seriously.
With the proper education and procedures in place, our schools will remain to be a healthy environment for our children. Community and parents are encouraged to contact the campus if any concerns arise.
For more information on MRSA, see the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.
