Cindy Stancavage,
BSN, RN, NCSN
School Nurse
Hickory High School
Weekly Schedule:
Monday: HHS 8:00am-4:30pm
Tuesday: HHS 8:00am-4:30pm
Wednesday: Float Day/ CCPH 8:00am-4:30pm
Thursday: HHS 8:00am-4:30pm
Friday: HHS 8:00am-4:30pm
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------
NEWS FROM YOUR SCHOOL NURSE
*COVID-19**
Symptoms of COVID-19
People with COVID-19 have a wide range of reported symptoms – from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Symptoms can include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible COVID-19 symptoms. Children and adolescents with the virus that causes COVID-19 may experience any, all, or none of these symptoms.
If your child tests positive for Covid-19, they should stay home 5 days from the symptom start date and wear a mask for 5 additional days upon their return to school.
Schools and school nurses are not quarantining or keeping track of exposures to Covid-19. Students do not need to be kept home due to exposure to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 as long as they are not having symptoms themselves.
If your child is absent from school due to a positive Covid test, send in a note to the School Secretary within 3 days of return to school just as you would with any other illness.
OUTSIDE OF COVID-19, WHEN SHOULD I STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL??
FEVER: Students must be without a fever for 24 hours (without medication) prior to return to school
VOMITING/DIARRHEA: Students must stay home for 24 hours from their last episode of vomiting or diarrhea (without medication)
COMMUNICABLE/INFECTIOUS CONDITIONS: Students must remain home for 24 hours from their first dose of antibiotics for anything like strep throat, pink eye, etc.! Students may return to school when fever, vomiting, and diarrhea free without medication to control these symptoms and it has been
Important respiratory illness prevention tips:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough; or cough and sneeze into your sleeve (right at the bend of the arm).
Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water often. Alcohol based hands sanitizers are also useful.
Avoid touching your eyes, ears, mouth or nose. Germs spread this way.
Also, the CDC recommends the following preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick. If your child has a fever, he/she should be fever-free for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Additional information about hand-washing is on the back and can be found at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK, KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME!
If your child has any of the following, they will be sent home:
** Any of the cardinal symptoms of covid: Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea
** Report of direct exposure to covid or having household member symptomatic or being tested or testing positive to covid, report of student being tested for covid, or report of student being placed on quarantine by public health.
temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher
vomiting or diarrhea
symptoms of an eye infection
an unexplained skin condition
other conditions as determined by the school nurse
Differences between a cold and the flu:
Common symptoms of flu include:
high fever
severe headache
muscle and body aches
exhaustion and dry cough
a child may have vomiting and diarrhea
Symptoms of a common cold include:
Sneezing & stuffy nose
sore throat
hacking cough
possible low grade fever
Please keep phone numbers updated in the school office. When your child is sick or injured, we need to be able to contact someone immediately! It is also important that the school has your updated address so that you can receive any important messaging sent out by mail!
*******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:
You may come to the school and give the medication to your child at the appropriate time(s).
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.
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.
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.
You may discuss alternative medication administration schedules with your child’s physician (i.e., before school, after school).
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
School Health Guidelines & Resources
*Important Note From Your School Nurse: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G4BYWxq9X8VBPqySNNTM9Y_bBPjxd8Ka/view?usp=sharing
*I Need to Stay Home From School If: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_tfPHdnASslogN7Eb6iMIeHfKhAaAlQb/view?usp=sharing
HPS Student Emergency Form: *Needed for every student- Update as a part of PowerSchool Enrollment each school year. Contact your child's school nurse as needed if their are significant health condition changes or hospitalizations throughout the school year. It is very important that your contact information/ emergency contacts and medical conditions are kept up to date! - Call Data Manager- Melissa Stone 828-322-5860 Ext 1123 to get your personalized link for PowerSchool Enrollment- Updates to your/your student's accounts including address changes, contact phone numbers, and medical information is now updated on PowerSchool Enrollment.
HPS Medication Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sJhu5ypwJ9OrD9kRwYptysumqMRt1t4j/view?usp=sharing
HPS Medication Authorization Form: Required for every medication including inhalers!! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qm2Oav1AEddEL3m2libfy1DpIxA-Z8pk/view?usp=sharing
Immunization Requirements for Entry into NC Public School: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UQP20T3jG7vF7hrcCmHLcM9l22Si-xRI/view?usp=sharing
Note to Parents Regarding Meningococcal Booster (2nd MCV) Requirement for students by Age 17 or First day of 12th Grade: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u1oOWcZmUJ-xkbYizb96Zj714qdEd8Fg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115483339241119541166&rtpof=true&sd=true
Meningococcal Fact Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n7F_86s6zu4k-9ZhGzOpAwuPO24xIr7_/view?usp=sharing
Teen Vaccine Awareness (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49WNqGXdAqI
NC Health Assessment Legislation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i5M2eMjhzBGmelcfKeMyD_-vNGDN-pewT_FJtGr8wWs/edit?usp=sharing
NC Health Assessment Form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11uZCwNgfc7kWOkQh79FsQDdT1o4-Tgzu/view?usp=sharing
Local Resources for Immunizations & NC Health Assessments: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YUjjyylwSh-uGgsykKRtp18NrRlCeXVf/view?usp=sharing
List of Local Providers Accepting Medicaid: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JHBzc1y7nTMATCpuWuGaRwHUFMxrpURC/view?usp=sharing
Local Dental Resources:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c9oALiKTION-_ZV85YmxzNyqIvdVjR4p/view?usp=sharing
Local Vision Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iUXs3hqkyeFpPUYnCxZy8erocM9HgERA/view?usp=sharing
Special Diet Orders: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr2uz2y2AqLx0BEIkMZ2SPCe9g3B9VGU/view?usp=sharing
Diabetes Care Plan For Physician to Complete (* Submit to School Nurse ASAP if applicable): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K7n6NtbNQnSffurNk45-p7k4Uglhfnzb/view?usp=sharing
Procedure Orders For Any Medical Procedure (*Even if done independently by student at school- Submit to School Nurse ASAP if applicable):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cgdqSD2je5H3W4xYnuA5_7lsMTptsktf/view?usp=sharing
**Healthier Generation has a vaccine virtual hub that includes resources and tools for districts, schools, and families to support increasing knowledge and confidence to boost vaccine rates for school-age youth. **