School Nurses Provide Back-to-School Checklist for Parents

NASN Highlights Student Health and Wellness

For Immediate Release                                          

August 30, 2011              

(Silver Spring, MD)– As our Nation’s children go back to school, parents may be wondering how to best prepare their child for a safe and prosperous school year. This is often of particular concern for parents sending children to school with special health care needs. School nurses are often the only link to students’ health care, and for all students they are a key resource in the back-to-school process. To assist parents, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has developed a checklist of topics to consider ensuring children stay healthy, in school and ready to learn.

For Students with Health Concerns:

• Inquire if there is a full-time registered school nurse in the building all day, every day.
• Advise your school of your child’s health concern.
• Bring current, signed health care provider orders for health care needed at school.
• Give permission for the school nurse to speak to the health care provider.
• Provide parent contact information, and update the school with changes.
• Ask if non-nurses will be providing care (for example, who will administer medication) and how will they be supervised.
• Ask about the school’s disaster/emergency plan (for example, what health care supplies are needed for your child).

For All Students:

• Inquire if there is a full-time registered school nurse in the building all day, every day.
• Review cough and sneeze etiquette/prevention for spreading germs.
• Make sure immunizations are up-to-date.
• Agree upon a bedtime and wake-up time to ensure adequate sleep.
• Establish a routine for homework and afterschool activities.
• Establish screen time limits.
• Wear clothing appropriate for school (for example, the appropriateness of flip flops for the playground).

For Parents:

• Inquire if there is a full-time registered school nurse in the building all day, every day.
• Become involved! Sign up for the parent organization (PTA/PTO). Put back-to-school night and other parent/teacher meetings on the calendar. Parent involvement in school is an important predictor of student success.
• Sign up for the school Wellness Committee. Become familiar with the provisions of the school or district’s wellness policy (for example, nutrition and activity guidelines).
• Ask about the school’s disaster/emergency plan (for example, what procedures should parents expect in the event of a lock down).

“Parents are encouraged to talk to their school nurse and be involved in their child’s health care at school,” said NASN President, Linda Davis-Alldritt. “Every child deserves a school nurse every day, all day. And every parent deserves to feel their child’s safety and well-being are a school’s top priority,” stated Davis-Alldritt.

NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has over 15,000 members and 51 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas.  The mission of the NASN is to improve the health and educational success of children and youth by developing and providing leadership to advance the school nursing practice.  To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.

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Contact: Kenny Lull, Manager of Communications

(240) 247-1628

klull@nasn.org

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