It has long been the philosophy of the Health Department that children and youth have their own health problems and concerns that need to be addressed. The school division recognizes that having a nurse dedicated to serving those specific needs relieves teachers and staff of an added demand. My feeling is one of relief and comfort knowing that we have medical staff, should the need arise, and that our teaching staff doesn't have to make medical decisions. This is the first school year Monacan has had a nurse designated to the school full time. Needs range from physical assessments and simple medical advice to more complex problems, such as suspected physical abuse and communicable disease issues.
Nurses always encourage students to discuss their concerns with parents.
Still, some students consult the nurses about topics they may feel uncomfortable discussing with another adult. Others need case management for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and seizures. Beyond bandages Obviously, the role of a public health school nurse goes far beyond the stereotypical thought of bandaging playground scratches and taking temperatures in the school clinic. These include minor injuries, illness and administering medications. They also perform certain administrative duties, such as attendance and notifying parents when children are sick.