Nurses dispense children s medications like Ritalin, and medicine for diabetes, asthma, and short-term medical problems like ear infections. All prescription medications come with a form signed by parent and doctor, and are in original pharmacy containers. Neither the mandates about drug dispensing to students, nor the special education students who need the meds, were part of our own school years. Nurses also screen students from PreK onwards for hearing and vision problems, notifying parents of problems. Parents are generally notified about testing via school newsletters.
Parents can opt out of the mandated testing by sending in a note with their child.
High doses can cause hallucinations, coma and brain damage. Students don t always know what s a safe dose for medicines like Tylenol, which can cause permanent liver damage in large doses. Nurses monitor health problems specific to the school building, such as head lice. During recent problems with air quality at Center School, the nurse there gathered epidemiological data - that is, information about which students, teachers, and other staff were sick, what their medical problems were, and which classrooms they worked in. If a child appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a faculty or staff member may ask the nurse to evaluate the student.