School Nurses

Key Center Nursing Staff

The unique nature of our school means that we have on staff a full-time school nurse and a public health nurse provided by the Fairfax County Health Department.

Our school nurse is responsible for caring for sick or injured; alerting parents or guardians and health professionals of the need for further care and treatment; and documenting care given. She also administers medications according to FCPS regulations and maintains statistics, reviews health records, monitors compliance with immunization requirements.

The public health nurse, whom we share with several other schools, is responsible for:

• Promoting and protecting the health of the school-age child by translating health needs of the school community into a plan of care;
• Identifying medical and health issues through registration information, screenings (vision and hearing), assessment of students, and teacher and parent or guardians contact. A medical flag list is made and updated from this information;
• Developing a school health care plan, in collaboration with the parent or guardian that meets the specific health care needs of a student who requires individualized health procedures or protocol;
• Functioning as a liaison between students, parents or guardians, and school staff members to assist students in functioning at maximum potential with greatest possible independence;
• Assisting family in finding appropriate health care to follow up identified needs;
• Providing training and information for school staff members about special health issues, such as the use of epinepherin, glucagon or gastrostomy tube feeding;
• Participating with the school administration in the investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect;
• Teaching health-related topics to individuals and groups as requested.
• Providing home visits for assessment, teaching, and monitoring health conditions and promoting compliance with medical recommendations.
• Serving as a member of a multi-agency team for students with multiple health and social issues.
• Providing information to school staff members about communicable disease, prevention of spread of disease, and advises course of action.
• Informing the school population about services of the health department, including maternal-child health, immunizations, family planning, adult health, and communicable disease.