Overview

• NC Health Assessment Transmittal Form 

• Back to School Parent Checklist

• NC K-12 Immunization Requirements

• Garrett's Law

• Required Annual Health Status Update  

• Medication Administration at school

• Diabetes Care Plan forms for parents and providers

• PSRC Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

• Student Health Advisory Council

• Return-To-Learn After Concussion

• School Nurses

• Keep Flu Out Of School

• Head Lice Information

School Health Services Overview

Contact Person: Jan Newman, Nurse Supervisor

910-671-6000

Email: james.newman@robeson.k12.nc.us

Our purpose is to:

• Maximize the quantity of in class time by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism

• Eliminate or minimize health problems which impair learning

• Promote the highest degree of independent functioning possible

• Promote student, staff and community awareness of and participation in healthy behaviors

The PSRC Health Services staff consists of a Supervisor and twenty four Registered Nurses. Nurses are assigned 2-3 schools each and make visits to their assigned schools weekly.

North Carolina K-12 Immunization Requirements:

https://www.immunize.nc.gov/schools/k-12.htm

Healthy Children Are Better Learners. To make this a reality school nurses:

• Identify students with health needs and develop a plan of care with the parents. This written plan is shared with the student's teachers and will help them to care for the student's health condition during the school day and in case of an emergency.

• Work with parents, teachers and health care providers to prevent health problems from becoming reasons for poor school performance.

• Provide training and supervision of school personnel in the proper administration of medications and treatments.

• Ensure proper immunization of all students in accordance with North Carolina law.

• Prevent and control contagious illness by screening and referring students who have signs of disease or illness that can be spread.

• Perform periodic health assessment of students. For example: health, vision and hearing screenings.

• Provide health promotion programs for students and staff.

• Serve as a resource to teachers and staff.

• Assist in developing and reviewing health related policies, goals and objectives for Public Schools of Robeson County.

• Provide staff training and surveillance to meet government requirements for bloodborne pathogens.

Meeting Health Needs During School

In order to best care for children during the school day the school nurse must be aware of the health concerns that exist. Parents are asked to complete a Required Annual Health Status Update when they enroll their child in the Public Schools of Robeson County School System. Parents are also asked to complete this survey at the beginning of each school year. Please contact the school nurse any time during the year when there are changes or newly developed health conditions. (Click here for Spanish version.) Communication is the key to making sure students' health needs are met during the school day. Remember- Healthy Children Learn Better!

The school nurse uses the information from the Required Annual Health Status Update to identify which students need Care Plans/Emergency Action Plans during the school year. The plan tells the nurse and staff how to care for a student's medical condition during the school day. The plan is developed by the nurse with input from the parent/guardian and at times the student's doctor. Examples of students who would need plans would be those with asthma, diabetes, seizures, sickle cell anemia, or hemophlia.

Health Screening Programs

The Public Schools of Robeson County Health Services Program maintains vision and hearing programs to help with early identification and correction of vision and hearing problems so that student learning potential is maximized. Distance visual acuity screening is conducted annually by school nurses for students in grades 1, 3, and 5. In addition, screening is completed on students who demonstrate possible vision problems, are being evaluated for the Exceptional Children’s Program (near and distance acuity), or are referred by teachers.

Hearing screening is conducted annually by school nurses for students in grades 1, 3, and 5. Additional screenings are conducted on students who demonstrate possible hearing problems, are being evaluated for the Exceptional Children’s Program or are referred by teachers.Parents/guardians are notified by the school nurse if the screening results are outside the normal range.

Dental screenings are conducted annually for students in Kindergarten and 5th grade by a Public Health Dental Hygienist with the North Carolina Dental Health Section.

Student Health Advisory Council

Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC) understands the important role a school district plays in promoting and supporting the overall health and well-being of students, which includes physical health. PSRC Office for Student Support Services’ primary mission is to support the safety, health, and welfare of students. As Director for Student Support Services, Jadell Hawks  serves at the district lead with oversight of the Student Wellness Policy and Triennial Assessment. In relation to other district staff who support implementation of the policy Student Support Services works collaboratively with the Curriculum and Instruction and Child Nutrition Departments as well as school nurses and principals in order to support the physical health and wellness of students in all schools. PSRC Board Policy 6140 Student Wellness plays a significant role in this work as it outlines all state and federal requirements for student wellness to be addressed by Local Education Agencies (LEA) to include the following:

The SHAC helps plan, implement, promote and monitor this policy as well as other health and nutrition issues within the school district. The Council serves as an advisory committee regarding student health issues and works in conjunction with district administrators charged with oversight of the student wellness policy and the school system’s efforts to promote student and employee health and wellness in compliance with state and federal requirements. The Council may also assist with making policy recommendations to the Board related to student wellness, including participating in periodic review and revision of the policy. The SHAC is composed of representatives from the school district. The council must include members of each of the following groups: the School Board, school district administrators, school district food service representatives, physical education teachers, school health professionals, students, parents or guardians and the public. The following people currently serve as members of the PSRC SHAC.

Click here to read about SHAC and PSRC's School Wellness Plan.