P.A.W.S. Health Information WPS Nursing Services

The members of the Nursing Department collaborate with parents and staff to provide the fullest possible educational opportunity for all students by providing services to support their health, well being and safety in school. The comprehensive school health program includes screening procedures, protocols to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, emergency care; and procedures to facilitate school attendance of children with special health care needs. The nurse may act as liaison between schools and physicians and/or refer students to appropriate resources either within the school or community. The purpose of the comprehensive school health program is to encourage the best possible health outcomes for each student and to teach concepts that help students make responsible decisions regarding their own health in the future.

Illness, Injuries, and School Attendance

1. Absence - notify the school when your child will be absent due to illness or injury.Students receiving antibiotics for a contagious condition (such as strep throat, bacterial conjunctivitis, etc.) must stay out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic
   therapy has been completed.
2. Injury - any student who has sustained an injury that has been treated by a physician or in an emergency room and will have restricted activity for a limited period of time (stitches, sprains, fractures, etc.), must bring a note from the physician stating the nature of the restrictions and when the student can resume participation in health and fitness class. The student will not be allowed to return to health and fitness class until this note is received.
   If your child sustains an injury, or you feel (s) he should limit her/his activity for 1 - 2 days; or that will affect her/his school performance, you will need to send an explanatory note to the nurse.
3. Fever - If your child has a temperature of 99.4 degrees or above (taken orally) in the morning, it is recommended that (s) he remain home. Students should remain home for 24 hours after a fever has subsided. If your child develops a fever during school hours, (s) he will not be allowed to return to the classroom and will remain in the health office until dismissed to a parent or the parents' designee.
4. Chicken Pox - If your child develops chicken pox, please inform the school nurse. She will advise you about the appropriate time for your child's return to school.
5. Dismissal - students who become ill or injured at school will be dismissed to a parent or her/his designee from the office. (S) He will not be allowed to walk home alone.
6. Immunizations - Massachusetts state law requires that students be fully immunized against DPT, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, and Varicella.
7. Physical Examinations - Examinations by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant are required for kindergartners and new entrants at any grade. These examinations shall be within one year prior to entrance to school or within 30 days after school entry. Examinations are also required for all students in grades 4,5, 7 and 10. In order to participate in any interscholastic sport, documentation of a physical examination within the last 13 months by the student's primary health care provider must be on file with the school nurse prior to tryouts. A Massachusetts School Health Record is maintained for each student.
8. Screenings
   * Vision and Hearing Screenings are conducted according to guidelines provided by MDPH. Upon entering Kindergarten or within 30 days after school entry, parent or guardian of each child shall present certification that the student within the previous 12 months has passed a vision screening conducted by personnel approved by the MDPH.
   * Postural screening is conducted annually in collaboration with the Health and Fitness Department for students in Grades 5 through 9. A request from the student's PCP is required in order to be excused from the school screening.
   * Body Mass Index (BMI) and corresponding percentile is calculated and recorded following guidelines from the MDPH for each student in grades 1,4,7 and 10. Results are reported directly and confidentially to a parent or legal guardian. Parents or legal guardians may request in writing that their child not participate in the program.
9. Religious Objection - A student shall be exempt from physical examinations or screenings on religious grounds, upon written request of the parent or legal guardian, except with respect to communicable diseases. ( M.G.L. c.71,s.57)
10. Emergency Cards - please keep the information on your emergency card current to facilitate contacting you if your child is ill or injured.

Medication Policies:

1. Medication must be supplied to the school nurse in the appropriate dosage and in the original pharmacy container. No more than a 30-day supply should be kept at the school.
2. A written Order from the student's licensed health care provider and a written Consent form signed by the student's parent or guardian must be submitted to the school nurse. This applies to daily medications and those medications taken on an as needed basis such as inhalers and EpiPens.
3. At the Wellesley middle and high schools, nurses may administer ibuprofen or acetaminophen to an individual student once during the school day for dental pain, headache, menstrual cramps or muscle soreness, if parent/guardian has signed a Consent form. The middle school and high school supply ibuprofen and acetaminophen in tablet form only. Parent/guardian must provide chewable or liquid medication, if their child is unable to swallow tablets.
4. If short-term (10 day or less) prescription medication is to be administered during the school day, the original pharmacy container will serve as the written Order from the health care provider. A Consent form signed by parent/guardian is still required.
5. Elementary nurses may administer childrenís acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen for dental discomfort to an individual child once during school day. Parent/ guardian must provide written consent and medication in its original container.
6. School nurses may administer allergy eye drops to an individual child once during the school day for treatment of allergy symptoms. Parent/guardian will provide written consent and medication in its original container.
7. School nurses may administer decongestant and/or cough suppressant to an individual child once during school day for up to three days. Dosage will be determined by dosing chart on the container. Parent/guardian must provide written consent and medication in its original container.

Forms:

1. Asthma Management Plan
2. Allergy Emergency Care Plan (AECP)
3. Medication Authorization Form
4. Health Information Update