What You Need to Know About Staph/MRSA Skin Infections
Infecciones de la piel por Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a los antibióticos
More Information from Texas Department of State Health Services
Flu Vaccine/Brazoria County Health Clinics
Flu shots are now available at the county health clinics
PEARLAND SCHOOL NURSE INFORMATION
Pearland school nurses are proud to be a part of your child’s education. Success in school is directly related to the good health and emotional well-being of each student. Responsibility for the care of children lies primarily with parents. The nurses in PISD are here to assist and support parent’s efforts to maintain good health in their children. School nurses do not diagnose, as RN’s we assess and make recommendations based on that assessment. We are always happy to have you call with questions or concerns about your child’s health, or stop in and visit! It is our goal to educate the child beginning in elementary school to take control of their own health care management, so they can grow up strong and independent.
WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD AT HOME?
Students should remain home when they have a fever of 100 or above. They should remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducers.
They should stay home if they are vomiting, have an undiagnosed rash, have uncontrolled asthma, or have untreated pink eye. Students must be free of these symptoms for 24 hours before they return to school.
This is in the best interest of your child and other children as well. There may be other conditions that would keep or send a child home that will be decided by the school nurse in collaboration with the parent.
If you are not sure you should keep your child home please do not hesitate to call and speak with your school nurse before you come in.
When your child does return to school remember to send an excuse note to your child’s teacher.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
According to state law and school board policy each student shall be fully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, rubeola, mumps, tetanus, polio, varicella, & hepatitis B. In addition students enrolled in PK must be immunized for hepatitis A and pneumococcal.
A student must show acceptable evidence before entry, attendance, or transfer to the district.
A student may be provisionally enrolled if the student has begun the required immunizations. They must have received at least one dose of each age appropriate vaccine.
A student can be provisionally enrolled for no more than 30 days if he or she transfers from one Texas school to another. Your child will be withdrawn if acceptable records are not received within that time period.
Students, who are defined as homeless according to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, may be provisionally enrolled for 30 days. A dependent of a person who is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States can be enrolled provisionally for no more than 30 days if the student transfers from one school to another and is awaiting the transfer of the immunization record.
For information regarding medical or conscientious exemptions please go to www.ImmunizeTexas.com or call your campus school nurse. Requisitos estatales mínimos de vacunas para Guarderías de Texas. Información de visualización de archivos.
If a student is enrolling and can prove that he or she is a member of the armed forces of the United States and is on active duty they are exempt from producing an immunization record. That is in accordance with FFAB (legal) updated 9/07
Required Immunizations
DTP/DTaP/DT 5 DOSES
Unless the 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday. One dose must have been received after the 4th birthday. Students 7 years or older must have at least 3 doses with one dose being on or after the 4th birthday.
Td or Tdap 1 DOSE
Booster required 10 years after the last dose
POLIO 4 DOSES
Unless the 3rd dose was on or after the 4th birthday and then just 3 doses are required. One dose MUST be after the 4th birthday.
MEASLES/ MUMPS/ RUBELLA 2 DOSES
Of a measles-containing vaccine with the first dose on or after the 1st birthday.
HEPATITIS B 3 DOSES
Three doses are required for all grades including early childhood programs.
VARICELLA 1 DOSE
One dose after the 1st birthday or parent validated history. If vaccine is received after age 13, 2 doses are required.
HEPATITIS A 2 DOSES
Required for students entering early childhood programs.
PREVNAR 4 DOSES*
Required for students entering early childhood programs. If a student is 4 years old and has had none, 1 dose will be required. If a student is 4 years old and has had 1 dose before age 4, an additional dose will be needed. If a student has had 4 doses between 2 months and 15 months, the student is complete.
Flu Vaccine/Brazoria County Health Clinics
MEDICATION POLICY
When possible, all medication should be given at home. However, some medication will be dispensed at school according to the following guidelines:
- Written permission and specific directions for administration of medication, are required. Directions must include student’s name, date, name of medication, dosage, and time to be administered.
- A physician’s authorization form must be signed by the physician or dentist and parent if a medication is to be administered for longer than ten (10) consecutive days.
- Over-the –counter medication and other prescription medication may be administered for a period of no longer than ten (10) days, provided signed permission has been provided by the parent or guardian.
- All medication must be provided by the parent in the original container.
- All medication must be brought to the clinic on arrival to school.
- The student may not carry on him/herself nor administer to him/herself any medication. Exceptions are made at secondary schools for asthma inhalers, epi-pens and diabetic needs.
- The school nurse will supervise the storing and dispensing of medication.
- When a student brings a new medication to school, the school nurse must give the initial dose.
For a complete copy of medication guidelines for PISD please ask your campus nurse.
Physician’s Medication Authorization
Special Procedure Physician’s Authorization Form
10 Day Medication/Special Procedure Authorization
EMERGENCY FIRST AID CARE
Any treatment given at school is limited to first aid. When a pupil becomes ill or is injured at school, parents are notified. If they cannot be reached and the situation requires medical attention beyond our resources, it may be necessary to send the student to the hospital emergency service for needed care until the parents can be reached. Parents are responsible for emergency care costs.
Parents should supply the school nurse with information concerning current special health problems that are under the care of a physician.
The nurse cannot give any medications while waiting for you to pick your child up.
WHO SHOULD BE SENT TO THE CLINIC
- Emergencies including, but not limited to, fractures, head injuries, allergic reactions, seizures and eye injuries should be assessed by the school nurse.
- Children with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes may need frequent visits to the clinic for assessment.
- Minor injuries, such as superficial scrapes and abrasions, may be handled in the classroom.
- All students with head injuries should be sent to the clinic for assessment by the school nurse.
- Referrals for vision and hearing if requested for educational testing.
- Nosebleeds.
- Most school nurses will not pull loose teeth. Some bleeding is normal when they are loose before they fall out. Children may come to the clinic after the tooth falls out to receive a “treasure chest” and rinse their mouth.
- We encourage children to visit the nurse when they are ill. If we find that they become frequent visitors to the nurse’s office we will call you to set up a conference.
- It is also important to remember that the clinics do not keep clothing changes. It is a good idea to keep a change of clothes in your child’s backpack (including shoes). It may be necessary to ask that you pick your child up if they do not have a change of clothes or if they are so soiled that just changing clothes will not be enough. Personnel supplies are available in the nurse’s office on an emergency basis only. The use of these products should not be on a regular basis. If the nurse sees this as becoming a habit, they will call and alert you to the problem.
SCREENINGS
Vision and hearing screenings are performed on all PK, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades. Scoliosis screening is done in 6th and 9th grade, rechecks for scoliosis may be done in other grades if a problem is found. Acanthosis Nigricans is screened in 1st,3rd,5th and 7th grades. Screening is also done on all new enrollees to PISD. If your child does not pass a screening, you will receive a referral letter with the recommendation of seeing your doctor of choice for further evaluation. You should return this referral to the school nurse with the doctor’s recommendations.
If you do not wish your child to be screened please inform the nurse in writing, stating your reasons for not screening.
HEAD LICE
Nothing causes more alarm than a case of head lice. PISD nurses do not routinely screen for head lice. If there is a suspected case the nurse will follow up. If lice are found, a letter will be sent home with the student and all classmates. We encourage you to check your child often especially during cold weather. Remind your child not to share hats or grooming items with any other student.
PISD follows Texas Department of Health guidelines when dealing with lice. Children are sent home if live lice are found and may return after one treatment. Students are rechecked when returning to school, and again in one week. Children are not sent home if only nits are found. For a copy of the TDH recommended guidelines see your campus nurse or go to http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/lice.shtm.
CHILD ABUSE
By law, anyone knowing or suspecting physical, emotional or sexual child abuse must report the incident to Child Protective Services. www.dfps.state.tx.us/
