School Nurse Purpose: Why We Are Here:

As school nurses in Catawba County, we are funded as a public health response team for meeting our community's needs.

We can be activated in times of community health crisis to address immediate situations such as pandemics, or to staff shelters in the aftermath of tornadoes or floods.

Otherwise, our assignment is to serve as school nurses station in our assigned schools within the county where we provide an on-site Public Health presence.

Our role is to help school age children be healthy and ready to learn.

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Our Mission As School Nurses: How We Uniquely Accomplish This

• We serve to educate and establish a health awareness within each school, so when an RN is not present, the staff is prepared and able to effectively handle health- related situations.

• We conduct health assessments (Nursing assessments/screenings), assure proper immunizations, and promote healthy behaviors, both physically and mentally. We may coordinate care, provide resources, and strive to reduce health inequality.

• We are health educators partnering with School Staff to consult and together meet our children's needs because at any time, we may be redirected to serve in a health crisis.

• We serve as our county's emergency nursing response team to provide boots-on-the ground care when there is an immediate health crisis.

• We must be well trained, prepared, and flexible, ready to serve where needed.

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*******Medication at School*******

Our school has a written policy to assure the safe administration of medication to students during the school day. To minimize disruptions in the school day, parents should arrange for a student to take medications at home whenever possible. However, if your child must have medication during school hours, including over-the-counter medication, you have the following choices:

1. You may come to the school and give the medication to your child at the appropriate time(s).

2. You may obtain a copy of a medication authorization form from the school nurse or the school secretary (link to form below). Take the form to your child’s physician. The form must be completed by the physician for both prescription and over-the-counter medications. The form must be signed by the parent/guardian and the physician.

   1. Prescription medicines must be brought to school in a pharmacy labeled container. The prescription label instructions must match the medication authorization form completed by the physician.

   2. Over-the-counter medicines must be received in the original container, labeled with the child’s name, and will be administered according to the instructions on the medication authorization form completed by the physician.

3. You may discuss alternative medication administration schedules with your child’s physician (i.e., before school, after school).

4. Self-carry /Self-administer: In accordance with G.S. 115C-375.2 and G.S. 115C-47, students requiring medication for asthma, anaphylactic reactions (or both), and diabetes, may self-medicate with physician authorization, parent permission, and a student agreement for self-carried medication. The student must demonstrate the necessary knowledge and developmental maturity to safely assume responsibility for the management of self-carry medications.

• School personnel will not accept medication unless it is received in an appropriately labeled container, accompanied by a properly completed medication authorization form, signed by both the parent/guardian and the physician.

• Due to possible adverse reactions, students should not receive a first dose of any medication at school if they have not taken the medication previously at home.

All medications and authorization forms must be reviewed by the school nurse before the medication will be administered to the student. If you have questions about the policy, or other issues related to the administration of medication in the school, please contact the school nurse.

**Medication order form must be signed by the parent and completed and signed by the physician:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qm2Oav1AEddEL3m2libfy1DpIxA-Z8pk/view?usp=sharing