The Health Center at school is not a primary care facility like a doctor's office and may not be used as such because the nurse is not allowed by law to make a medical diagnosis, prescribe treatment, or administer medication with out a doctor's order. First aid and medical care provided by the school nurse are primarily for illnesses or injuries that occur during the school day. School is a healthy environment! The nurses's major responsibility is to maintain that environment and give each child the best opportunity to learn and reach his/her full potential through health education, health assessments, identification of health problems, the making of appropriate referrals and follow-up, and altering the school environment to meet special health needs.
I am looking forward to working with you and your family this year. With your help, I will make an effort to afford each student the best opportunity to learn. My responsibility is to keep students IN CLASS whenever possible. The average healthy student may never have a need to visit the school nurse or may likely make no more than 5 to 7 visits per school year. Proper use of the Health Center is encouraged. However, be assured acute illness and injuries will always be addressed immediately.
Health Center hours are in effect. Any situation that can wait will be attended to during the designated morning and afternoon hours. The reasons for Health Center hours are:
- To increase student instruction time.
- To increase compliance with state and local mandates for health services.
- To increase the student's ability to be responsible consumers of health care.
- To increase the student's self-care skills.
- To improve the quality of care to students.
Unnecessary, chronic, or frequent visitors to the Health Center will be encouraged to alter their habits and parents will be notified if the practice continues. Your cooperation is appreciated to reduce needless missed class time and to help develop valuable life skills.
Occasionally, help is needed in the Health Center with paperwork, health screenings, etc. Please let me know if I can call on you for a day or two this year.
Thank you for the time you ave taken to read this information. Your cooperation is always appreciated. I welcome your comments, questions, or concerns. Please feel free to stop by my office, call me or email me.
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