Updated September 3, 2020

Greetings! As many have probably guessed the procedure this year for The Nursing Department will look different than it has in the past. It is our goal to further regulate the traffic that comes through the Nursing Clinics as well as highlight some changes in protocol when a student is sick. Please find the biggest changes below:

• Any student who is febrile or symptomatic of respiratory illness on the way into school or during the school day will be put into isolation with a Nurse from their respective division. From this point, parents will have 1 hour to pick up their students before other arrangements are made to get them to a medical facility off-campus.
• If a student is dismissed for having a fever or being symptomatic, their siblings will also be required to leave school.
• Any student who is dismissed with a fever this year will require a doctor’s note from a medical facility with a clear diagnosis and/or documentation of a negative of COVID-19 test to re-enter campus before 14 days.
• We request that if anyone tests positive for COVID-19 in the home that this be communicated with ASD’s Nursing Department and that students in the home are out for at least 14 days. These students will need documentation of a negative COVID-19 test to gain access to campus.
• ASD Nurses will be tracing points of contact this year in the event there are any confirmed cases on campus. Parents will be contacted if their student is suspected to have been in contact with a case and will be given further guidance as to the next steps.

As we navigate through this pandemic and return to school the ASD Nurses are moving with compassion. Any sensitive information shared with us will be shared with other parties on a need to know basis. We want to ensure the confidentiality of our students and families while we keep the ASD community safe and healthy. We encourage transparency with any illness in the home and in return we vow to handle the information responsibly. We will be communicating with you all more in the upcoming weeks as we get closer to students returning to campus

In Safety and In Health

The ASD Nursing Team

We at ASD Nursing are able to:

• Mandate a child to go home if they have a temperature about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
• Mandate a child to go home due to any discharge from the eye or redness indicative of conjunctivitis
• Mandate a child to go home if lice are observed in the Student’s hair
• Mandate a child to go home due to any signs or symptoms of infectious disease
• Strongly urge parents to pick up Students with possibility of fracture
• Strongly urge parents to follow up outside of school regarding issues with the Student’s health

We at ASD Nursing are NOT able to:

• Excuse Students from classes UNLESS Student is febrile
• Formally diagnose any illness
• Force parents to pick up Students that are medically cleared by Nursing (If Teachers feel that a Student is not well once Nurses clear them, then the Teacher must reach out to the parents.)

We encourage temperature checks if the Student feels unwell and/or does not look well.

Rules for illness

• Any child sent home with fever must be “fever free” for a full 24 hours (without the use of anti-pyretic medication) before returning to school
• Students sent home with head lice will be checked upon their return to school and if live nits or bugs are found will be sent home again
• Any highly infectious illness would require a Doctor’s note to return to school.

Medications

• Nursing should be notified of all medications that a Student is taking at home or needs to be taken in school even if they are not housed in the Nursing Office. This includes psych medications. Please keep in mind that all of this information is confidential and not a part of the Student’s permanent record. This information is needed in the event of an emergency we can verify medications that your child is taking to prevent any adverse reactions.
• In the Elementary School it is routine that parents must provide consent each time Panadol/Brufen etc is used unless this is a scheduled routine medication discussed with Nursing.

Mental Health

ASD Nurses take mental health just as serious as physical health. Students who we see frequently that we suspect “school avoidance” will be referred to their Counselor for follow up. We will continue to work in partnership with Students, Families, counselors, and the School Psychologist if needed to ensure that Students mental health needs are addressed and taken seriously.

Vomiting

There are many physiological reasons for vomiting and not all of them are infectious. Therefore, any Student who vomits will be evaluated on an individual basis and next steps will be decided. Vomiting DOES NOT mean that a student will automatically be sent home. In the event of vomiting the student’s stomach will be trialed with warm water and crackers. If they are able to tolerate this they will return to class. In the event that the student vomits again they will be sent home. Parents are notified via phone of all vomiting witnessed by faculty and/or nursing.

Coughing

Even with diagnosed illness, such as the flu, there may be residual cough after it is treated. If a recurrent cough is present and the student cannot engage in class, parents will be called and will decide how to proceed. If a child is on treatment and a cough is present parents DO NOT have to pick up the student. If this is a problem in class the teacher should contact the parent directly.

Headache

In the MS/HS pain medication can be given to students as long as they have consent in PowerSchool for pain relievers. In ES headaches are treated with water and crackers. In upper ES tiger balm is also used to treat headaches. If students have a history of headaches or come to the office repeatedly complaining of headache parents will be called to see if we can give medication.

Stomach ache

Issues with the stomach often cannot be diagnosed unless a Student has emesis or fever. Therefore, stomach ache is treated as vomiting where the student’s belly is trialed with dry crackers and water. If the student has no issues with emesis they will be cleared to remain in school. Diarrhea is often another diagnosis that we cannot see. Therefore, student’s will not be excused by nursing for reports of diarrhea.

Other Injuries

If the nurses suspect a fracture parents will be notified and advised to take the student to the hospital. Often signs and symptoms of fracture are not evident immediately. Therefore, if a student complains of pain with no swelling or bruising they are sent back to class and urged to return if the problem persists for another assessment.

Head Injuries

In Elementary School any head injury will be reported to parents via phone. If parents cannot be reached they will receive an email. In MS/HS head injuries are evaluated and it is decided based on nursing judgement the next steps. All MS/HS students get concussion education paperwork if a head injury is sustained.

PE Excuses

Only parents can excuse students from PE unless nursing has diagnosed a physical problem prohibiting their ability to engage in activity. If students cannot participate in gym parents MUST email the teacher directly. Nursing is not able to excuse students. If teachers have doubts about student’s ability to participate in PE when the student has a note the teacher must contact the parent directly and discuss.

Sign Out Procedure

If a student is febrile they will be given a nurses pass to leave school. Other signs and symptoms of sickness deemed appropriate by nursing staff will be provided with a nurse’s pass. If a student is deemed okay to stay in school and parents still would like to pick them up they will need to be signed out by parents directly from the main office of their respective division.