Role of the School Nurse

First-aid and medical care provided by the school nurse is primarily for illnesses or injuries that occur at school during the school day.   The Health Center is not a primary care facility like a doctor's office.  By law, the nurse does not make medical diagnoses, prescribe treatment or medications, but can provide treatments and medications prescribed by a physician with a doctor's order.   

Illness Procedures

1.  School is no place for a sick child.  Please do not send your child to school if:

• they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher
• have vomited within the last 24 hours
• have any diarrhea in the last 24 hours
• they have not been free of a fever (without taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen) for 24 hours regardless of how they feel

     Signs/symptoms of illness:

• Fever (oral temp of 100 degrees or higher)
• Diarrhea, any loose stools
• Red, watery eyes, pus in corners
• Constant sneezing and/or deep cough, constantly running nose
• Unexplained rash
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Swelling to face or neck
• Flushed face or paleness
• Very sore throat
• Painful earache

2.  Please do not send a sick child to school for the school nurse to decide whether he/she should be in school.  If in doubt, call your family physician.   School nurses can assess and refer, but do not diagnose, and will always refer to you and/or your physician's evaluation and treatment.

3.  If your child sustains an injury at home or off campus, please take care of it at home.  The nurse is more than happy to take care of injuries that happen during school hours, but the nurse is not here to take the place of your primary physician's evaluation and treatment.

4.  If your child becomes ill enough to be removed from school, has more than a minor injury, or has an emergency, you will be notified.  It is the parent's responsibility to make arrangements to pick up an ill or injured child as promptly as possible.   Students are not permitted to walk home sick, even with permission.   Please make sure there are up-to-date home/work numbers on your child's emergency card.  Please notify the school/nurse immediately of any changes in phone numbers.   If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or greater, they will be sent home.   Any child with an undiagnosed rash will be sent home and should remain out of school until all symptoms are gone or a physician verifies (with a written note) that the child is not contagious and is well enough to return to school.  

If every parent follows these procedures, it will save much suffering and prevent the spread of contagious diseases, some which may be life threatening.

AS ALWAYS, hand washing is the best defense against the spread of germs!

Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water (at least 20 seconds) is the best method.

Medication Requirement

In accordance with the Arizona School Board Association and the DVUSD Governing Board Policy JLCD, concerning administration of medication at school, there is a new requirement in order to give prescribed medications and dietary supplements in the school setting.  This includes daily prescription medicines, asthma medicines, and prescribed allergy medicines (Ex:Epi-Pens, AuviQ)

Governing Board Policy JLCD Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students: "There shall be a written order from the physician stating the name of the medicine, the dosage, and the time it is to be given."

All prescription medications, in addition to the information on the ORIGINAL labeled bottle, must have a written doctor's order with student's name, how, when and how often to be administered.  Most pharmacies will give you an extra "school bottle" if you ask.   Forms are available in the nurse's office.

Basic Medication Information

There are no stock medications in the Health Center! 

If you want your child to have an OTC (over the counter) medication, you must bring it in the original container and sign a parent medication consent permission form for the nurse to administer it at school during school hours. 

*Students are NOT allowed to carry medication on them or in their backpacks unless it is an emergency medication for seizures, asthma, or allergies, and the proper paperwork is completed and on file in the health office. Cough drops/Cough lollipops are considered a medication and students are NOT allowed to keep them in their backpack and take them at their leisure.

The nurse is only allowed to give the dosage given on the label for the age of your child.  If an OTC medication states, "ask a doctor" for the dosage amount, a doctor's note will be required (Besides a parent, over the counter medications cannot legally be dispensed by anyone other than a pharmacist or physician).           

If a medication states it is to be taken once or twice daily - that medication should be given at home not by the school nurse.

Medications are not kept in the nurse's office over the summer.  Medications not picked up within one day of the end of the school year will be discarded. Email reminders will be sent home for medication pickup in May.

Field Trip Medication

If a student needs medication while on a field trip, the medication must be furnished by the parent and given to the teacher prior to departure for the field trip. A signed field trip medication form must accompany the medication.  The medication must be provided in the original container with only the number of doses needed for the field trip.  Medications such as tablets or capsules cannot come from the school nurse's supply.  The school nurse cannot legally direct anyone other than another nurse to give medications.

Helpful Forms

Medication Administration Record

Doctor Order Form

Physical Education Excuses

Students requesting to be excused from PE must bring a note signed by their parents, guardians or doctor to the Nurse. The Nurse will then make a copy of the note for the student to take to PE and share with the PE teacher. Any request for three or more consecutive PE excuses must be accompanied by a Physician's written order. PE teachers will be informed of the length of excuse, and any accommodations that need to be made for your child.  If your child has a health condition that causes him/her to miss PE class frequently, a doctor's note will be required. If a doctor has excused a student from PE, the student will not be released back to class without written clearance from the doctor.  You can also email PE excuses to both the PE teacher and myself. 

All injuries requiring any type of orthopedic support or device on campus must be reported with a medical excuse and cleared through the Health Office. If your child sustains a fracture and has a splint or a cast, or has been authorized by a physician to use crutches or a wheelchair while on campus, please check in with the nurse prior to the child returning to class.  I will need a doctor's note to authorize use of the elevator in the academic buildings and crutches or a wheelchair on campus. A written PE/activity restriction notice is also required, as well as a release to return to physical education when the student's injury has healed.

Hearing and vision screenings are done on all kindergarten students, new to DVUSD students, and all students who receive services through the special education department within 45 days of enrollment. 

In addition, all students who are in Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, & 7th grades are also screened throughout the school year. Parents and teachers can request a screening for any student at any time if a concern arises.

Hearing and vision screening will take place during the Fall semester at Union Park. 

Students who have difficulty with their initial hearing screening will be tested again in 10-30 days, and if still having problems, will then be referred to an Audiologist. Parents will receive a referral letter that will be sent home. We have a district Audiologist who will see students at no cost. 

Vision referral letters are sent home to notify parents if a student has difficulty with any portion of the vision screening. 

If your child has been diagnosed with Asthma and /or uses an inhaler, please complete the forms below and call the school nurse (623-445-5810) to schedule an appointment to come into the office to go over your child's Asthma plan and medications. The Asthma action plan will ensure that we have a plan in place to keep your student safe on campus. 

Letter to Parents Regarding SVN Treatments

Student Asthma Action Plan

Doctor Order

Medication Administration Record

Please fill out a Medication Administration Record form for EVERY individual medication your student will be taking while on campus.

Self-Carry Permission Letter

Please fill out form IF your student is allowed to carry his/her inhaler on them and take it independently while at school. 

If your child has been diagnosed with Diabetes, please complete the forms below and call the school nurse (623-445-5810) to schedule an appointment to come into the office to go over your child's diabetic plan. 

DART Parent Packet Checklist

Diabetic Treatment Plan for School

Diabetic Questionnaire

Diabetic Supply List

In the Absence of the Nurse

Medication Administration Record

Doctor Order

Technology Agreement

Bus Rider Form

Diabetic Self Management Form

If your child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, please complete the forms below and call the school nurse (623-445-5810) to schedule an appointment to come into the office to go over your child's seizure plan. These action plans will ensure that we have a plan in place to keep your student safe on campus. 

Seizure Plan of Care

Doctor Order

Medication Administration Record