STUDENT HEALTH
The GNB Voc Tech School Nurses are important members of the educational team. They are responsible for the management of the school health services program. Responsibilities of the school nurse include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide care to sick or injured students, staff, and faculty.
- Conduct state mandated screenings.
- Medication administration and assessment
- Ensures each student meets Mass Dept. Public Health requirements for immunizations and physical exams.
- Develops, maintains, and enforces current health policies.
- Collaborates with the educational team regarding health related issues.
- Assessment and care planning for student with special health concerns.
- Communicable Disease prevention, control and surveillance in cooperation with the local Boards of Health.
- Individualized health education and counseling to students, parents, staff, and faculty.
- Participates in crisis intervention.
- Provides referrals to community resources and primary care providers
- Collaborates with community agencies and health care providers to ensure continuity of care.
- Maintains the cumulative health record.
The GNB Voc Tech School Nurses are important members of the educational team. They are responsible for the management of the school health services program. Responsibilities of the school nurse include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide care to sick or injured students, staff, and faculty.
- Conduct state mandated screenings.
- Medication administration and assessment
- Ensures each student meets Mass Dept. Public Health requirements for immunizations and physical exams.
- Develops, maintains, and enforces current health policies.
- Collaborates with the educational team regarding health related issues.
- Assessment and care planning for student with special health concerns.
- Communicable Disease prevention, control and surveillance in cooperation with the local Boards of Health.
- Individualized health education and counseling to students, parents, staff, and faculty.
- Participates in crisis intervention.
- Provides referrals to community resources and primary care providers
- Collaborates with community agencies and health care providers to ensure continuity of care.
- Maintains the cumulative health record.
All students are required to submit proof of immunization as determined by the Mass. Dept of Public Health.
The Mass Dept. of Public Health recommends that students have a physical exam by their Primary Care Provider at regular intervals. All students ENTERING GNBRVTHS are required to have a current physical exam form on file. Please provide a copy of the physical exam to the school nurse.
A physical exam is mandatory each year for all students prior to participation in sports.
State Mandated Screening
All students are required to submit proof of immunization as determined by the Mass. Dept of Public Health.
The Mass Dept. of Public Health recommends that students have a physical exam by their Primary Care Provider at regular intervals. All students ENTERING GNBRVTHS are required to have a current physical exam form on file. Please provide a copy of the physical exam to the school nurse.
A physical exam is mandatory each year for all students prior to participation in sports.
Exams
Postural Screening
Postural Screening is done for all ninth grade students. The purpose of this screening is to find early signs of possible spine problems during the years of rapid growth between the ages of 10 – 16 years. Ninth grade is the final year of screening.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening
All 10th grade students are weighed and measured to determine BMI. BMI is a way to determine if your son/daughter is a healthy weight. Screening results are confidential and will be mailed to the parents/guardians whose children fall into the underweight, overweight, or obese category. A BMI Screening can be requested at any time.
Vision/Hearing
Vision and Hearing Screening is done for all 10th grade students and as needed for all students. Screening can be requested at any time by parents/guardians, faculty and students.
SBIRT
(Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) screening is done for all ninth grade students. This screen focuses on the use of alcohol, marijuana and other substances, and the importance of health decisions.
All SBIRT screenings will be conducted confidentially by our trained school nurses and counselors in private one-on-one sessions. We will utilize the CRAFFT II screening tool, the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts.
Influenza
Prevention is the best tool to combat the flu.
According to the CDC & Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the best way to prevent Influenza is vaccination. Contact your son/daughter’s healthcare provider soon regarding vaccinating your child.
Please discuss with your son/daughter additional steps that may help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like influenza. These include:
- Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Stay away as much as you can from people who are sick.
- If you get influenza, stay home from work or school. If you are sick, don’t go near other people to avoid infecting them.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
Mass. Dept. Public Health
Flu Symptom Check List for Families and Schools
Should I Keep My Child Home?
- Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees or more in the past 24 hours?
- Does your child have a cough OR sore throat?
If you answered YES to both questions above, keep your child home. Your child has an influenza-like illness.
Can My Child Return To School?
- Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees or more in the past 24 hours?
- Has your child had acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) in the past 24 Hours?
If you answered NO to both questions above, your child can return to school.
If you answered YES to either one of the questions above, your child CANNOT return to school. Keep your child home for at least another day to observe for additional symptoms. Then use the check list questions again to decide whether you should continue to keep your child home.
Where can I find more information about Influenza?
- Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line: 211
- Go to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health influenza website: mass.gov/flu
Procedures
We encourage the parent/guardian to administer medication before and after school if possible. If medication (including over the counter medication) needs to be administered during the day, a parental permission form and a written medication order by the licensed prescriber must be on file along with the medication. All forms are available at the nurse’s office.
All prescription medication must be delivered to the nurse’s office by an adult in the original pharmacy labeled container.
Students are allowed to deliver over the counter medication to the nurse’s office in the original sealed container.
No student is allowed to bring their own medication to school. All medication orders need to be renewed each school year. All medication needs to be picked up by the parent/guardian on or before the last day of school each year. All medication not picked up will be destroyed.
All medication will be kept in the nurse’s office unless it is determined by the school nurse that it is safe and in the best interest of the student to carry the medication on his/her person for the purpose of self administration.