FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Should I keep my sick son/daughter home from school today?
Your child must be fever free (without aid of medication) for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has a contagious illness please call your doctor and/or the school nurse to be sure it is OK for your child to return to school.
2. Can you give my child his/her medication in the morning? He/she always forgets to take it before school.
Yes. The school nurse can administer your child's morning medication. It must be in its original container with the pharmacy label intact and a medication consent form needs to be completed by the parent or guardian. ~If your child will be taking daily morning medication at home, it is highly recommended that you send a few pills to the nurse's office in case your child forgets his dose that day at home. It will save you time and ensure that your child doesn't skip any doses. If you or your child realizes that a dose was missed, the school nurse will verify this with the parent before administering the dose at school.
3. Can my son/daughter carry their inhaler with them at school?
Yes. If it is necessary that your child carry his/her inhaler with them at school, the doctor must provide a note to the school stating that your child "may carry his/her '______' inhaler at school and self administer it as needed." ~It is always recommended to the families to have a backup inhaler at the nurse's office in case the child forgets or loses his/her inhaler at school or home. The parent/guardian must also complete a medication consent form that will be kept in the nurse's office. Many doctor's offices have sample inhalers that they can give to your child to send to school. It is recommended that you ask them for one if your insurance does not pay for two inhalers. Please remember, a label or doctor's order for that inhaler must accompany it.
4. My son/daughter received their immunizations today. Do you need any proof?
Yes. Any time that your child receives any immunizations; the school nurse should always be provided proof. ~Proof is a stamped or signed shot record from the doctor or facility administering the immunizations or a receipt from the doctor's office.
5. The pharmacy only gave me one bottle; can I send medications for my child in a baggie to school?
NO. Medications must be in their ORIGINAL containers with the proper labels intact. Medications will not be administered to your child if they do not come to the nurse's office in their proper container. If your child gets monthly prescriptions, ask your pharmacist for a second school bottle at the time you drop off the prescription. ~This will allow the school nurse to always have the most current orders from the doctor.
6. Will you call me if my son/daughter visits your office today?
The nurse might not think a visit requires a phone call to a parent, but your child will always have the option of calling you from the nurse’s office. PLEASE do not have your child call home sick from their cell phones. Cell phones are to be off during school hours and the school nurse will not be aware that your child is ill if they are not calling from the health office.
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