School Nurse
School nursing is a healthcare specialty requiring specific expertise in nursing, public health, and education. Our school nurses are licensed, registered nurses educated to address the wide range of health topics that impact students at school. They are a pivotal role that bridges health care and education so students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
Illness
Admission and Exclusion
Northwood Preschool Center determines whether the ill child can attend school. Children will be excluded if: 1) The child‘s illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities that the preschool routinely offers for well children. 2) Keeping the child in school poses an increased risk to the child or to other children or adults with whom the child will come in contact. If the child’s staff is uncertain about whether the child‘s illness poses an increased risk to others, the child will be excluded until a physician or nurse practitioner notifies the preschool that the child may attend.
Children who show any of the following signs or symptoms should not be in school:
- Oral temperature of 100.4 degrees or more within 24 hours
- Vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours
- Earache lasting more than a day
- Persistent cough, croup or chest congestion
- Labored or painful breathing
- Reddened, mattering or crusty eyes
- Moist, draining lesions on the lips or skin
**If you need to keep your child home, please call the school at 268-2470 by 8:30/12:30. Please provide your name, student’s name, teacher, reason for absence, and a number where you may be reached. If the school is not notified, our administrative assistant will call your home to check on your child.
If the child is too ill to stay in school, the child will be provided a place to rest until the parent, legal guardian, or designated person arrives. The child needs to be picked up within one hour of notification.
Reporting Requirements
Some communicable diseases must be reported to public health authorities so that control measures can be used. In August, families and staff will be reminded to notify the school health nurse/classroom instructor within 24 hours after the child or staff has developed a known or suspected communicable disease, and to inform the school health nurse or principal if any member of their immediate household has a reportable communicable disease. While respecting the legal boundaries of confidentiality of medical information, the school health nurse will notify the appropriate health department authority about any suspected or confirmed reportable disease among the children, staff, or family members of the children and staff. Families of children who may have been exposed to a child with a communicable disease or reportable condition will be informed about the exposure according to the recommendations of the local health department.
Medications
Most students taking medication can be adequately treated by taking the medication before and after school. However, some students’ health and educational needs require that they take medication during the school day. For these students, the District will assist in administering medication upon written request of the parent/guardian and under the direction of a legal prescriber. The District accommodates families by allowing the parent/guardian to personally administer medication, over-the-counter medication, or an alternative medicine product at school
Head Lice
The Iowa Department of Health recommends that parents/guardians screen their children for lice weekly during the school year. This approach recognizes that parents/guardians can screen their children more thoroughly and frequently than in the school setting. Having parents/guardians do the screening prevents disruption of classroom activity. In addition, quicker recognition of lice provides the opportunity for prompt treatment, resulting in minimal or no absence from school.
Injuries or Illnesses Requiring Medical Care
The classroom staff member who has had pediatric first aid training at the time of an accident will stay with the child until the nurse arrives. A classroom staff member will notify the school nurse or building health staff when immediate medical help is required. The school nurse/classroom instructor will contact a parent or legal guardian or, if the parent or legal guardian cannot be reached, the alternate emergency contact person. Prior to a specific medical emergency the school nurse/classroom staff will contact the emergency facility to find out what procedures are followed for emergency treatment of children not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Parent/Guardians are responsible for payment of all medical expenses.
Insurance
The school does not provide medical insurance for your child and is not responsible for medical costs resulting from accidents or injuries at school.
Insurance is available for families who qualify. You may phone the school nurse or Student and Family Advocate with any questions you may have. For more information, see Iowa Medicaid website.
Snacks
Northwood Meal and Snack Guidelines
Meals are not served at Northwood Preschool Center. Snacks are a part of each classroom’s schedule and are served at regularly established times. At each snack two food groups will be represented.
Food Allergy and Dietary Restrictions
There will be a plan in place to accommodate and ensure the safety of children who have food allergies and other dietary restrictions.
Before classes begin, if a student requires a special diet due to a medical reason, the parent/legal guardian must inform the classroom instructor/school nurse, so that the Diet Modification Request Form and/or the Food Allergy Action Plan forms can be completed. The parent will bring the forms to the child’s physician to be filled in and signed by the physician. The parent will bring the signed forms to the child’s classroom instructor/school nurse. The staff in charge of ordering snacks will be given diet information from the nurse and will create prep cards for each classroom to accommodate diet modifications and food allergies. The list of Food Allergies/Diet Modifications with the student’s name shall be posted for all classroom staff to see. This list will be covered with a “confidential” sheet. There will also be a process in place for classroom staff to triple check all students receive the appropriate snack. All items served are peanut-free, however, it is pertinent to inform all personnel of a peanut allergy.
Screenings
Vision
Iowa law requires all children be screened for vision impairment at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in third grade. To be valid, the screening must be performed no earlier than one year prior to the date of enrollment in kindergarten/third grade and no later than six months after the date of enrollment. A screening may be done by a doctor, advanced nurse practitioner, physician assistant, eye doctor, local public health department, public or accredited nonpublic school, community based organization, free clinic, or childcare center. Vision screening forms are found on the Ames School District website. If your child has been screened within the past year, please take this form to the provider to be filled out and return to school.
The school provides basic vision screenings at school for preschool, kindergarten, third and fifth grades annually. While a basic vision screening does not replace the need for a complete eye exam by a physician, it will satisfy the new school requirement. If you do not want your child to be screened please contact the school.
Dental
Iowa law requires dental screening within the year prior to students’ enrollment in kindergarten. Please bring the dental screening form completed by your child’s dentist to the school office.
For specific medical concerns, contact:
