The Republican., 1925-10-01
The Public Health Nurse In the
Public School.

Recent scientific studies have shown
that the sturdy, healthy child makes
the best all-round student. 1t is,
therefore, good economy for Boards
Of Education, as well as individuals,
to take all possible measures to safe
guard the health of school children.
Prominent among these safeguards is
the work of the public health nurse,
Asked to outline the work of the
nurses in the schools, Miss C. Ethel
Monroe, Advisory Nurse forthe State
Department of Health, said, "The
school work, like all other public
health activities in the counties, is
directed by the deputy State health
officer. Under his direction, the nurse
visits each school in her district and
makes preliminary inspection Of the
children to be examined, preparatory
to the examination to be given by the
doctor. In this inspection, each child
is weighed and measured, and his
hearing and vision are tested. The
nurse looks for the scar Of a success
ful vaccination against smallpox and
inspects the child's head for vermin.
A card, which serves as a permanent
health record, is made out for each
child, giving name, age, home ad-
dress, name Of parent or guardian,
and the results of the test.
when the health officer or the doc
tor who is acting for him, visits the
school to make the physical examina-
tion of the children, the nurse is pres
ent to assist. If conferences are ar
ranged between the health officer and
the parents Of the children who are
found to have physical defects, the
nurse is present at these conferences.
Her most important duty however, is
found in the follow-up visits to the
homes of these children, where she
urges the parents to take the neces-
sary steps for the correction of the
defects found. If an operation is rec
commended by the family physician
Ito whom the health officer Invariably
refers the child needing care), the
nurse helps to make the necessary ar
rangementS for the child's hospItali-
zation. 1t Will be interesting to note
that a very large part Of the work
done by the nurses during the past
summer has been among the children,
the nurses trying to get them in good
physical condition to start the school
year.
"The nurses duties in the school do
not end with this. OF equal impor-
tance is the work she is called upon
to do in assisting in the control of
communicable diseases. When ar
outbreak threatens. with the approval
of the school authorities. and under
the direction Of the deputy State
health officer, she visits the school
each day, and inspects the children
sending home those who present sus-
picious symptoms, recommending
that the parents place these children
Z under the supervision Of their family
physicians. She follows this up by
visits to the homes to explain the
reasons for the actions taken, and to
enlist the cooperation of the mem
bers of the various households il
carrying out the precautions against
the spread Of the disease recommend
ed by the State Department OF
Health.
SIN addition the nurse often gives
assistance to the teachers in THEN
classroom work on health. providing
them with suitable literature ans
other material. Very often, too, hen
work includes courses in home hy
giene and care Of the sick-thest
courses being given to-the high schoo
girls
Owing to the distances that many
of the nurses are required to cover
it is not possible for them to carry
on all Of these activities in detail, il
addition to their other work. The
above, however, is the general plat
recommended, and our hope is for
sufficiently large staff Of nurses Ct,
be supported locally) to make posi-
bic d well developed service in all tn,
counties of the State"