Is there a School Nurse in my child's school?
There are School Nurses' assigned to every CMS school. School nurses may be in your child's building anywhere from one to five days a week. School Nurses may be supporting multiple schools. Please check with your school to find out which days the nurse is in your child's building. In the event of an important question or situation, a school nurse is always available by phone.
What if my child has a medical emergency?
In life threatening situations, or in situations where the need for immediate medical care is suspected, the school has a responsibility to act on behalf of the injured or ill student, employee or program participant.
Emergency medical services must be activated by calling 911.
The principal, designee or program supervisor must act on behalf of the parent or guardian when medical assistance and response time may be critical to preserve life or prevent major disability.
In life-threatening emergencies, medical services are called first and parents or guardians second.
What else can a nurse do?
Specialized physical health care procedures during the school day are performed by the school nurse or staff both trained by the school nurse and designated by the building principal. Some examples include:
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Gastrostomy feedings
- Urinary catheterization
- Nebulized medication for students with severe asthma
- Distribution of injectable medication such as Epi-Pen (epinephrine), Diastat and Glucagon may also be done by staff that have had special training by the school nurse.
Health education in the classroom by school nurses is designed to help students acquire knowledge and develop attitudes and behaviors that protect and improve their well-being. School nurses also provide individual and group counseling. School nurses find and case manage students with health care needs or needs for other medical services. They also develop Individualized Emergency Action Plans for staff or students that have significant medical needs. This is done to foster a safe learning environment for students and staff.
Does my child need a physical?
Any student entering NC public schools for the first time are required to provide a physical or health assessment. The form signed by the physician must be dated within 12 months prior to the start of the school year/school entry.
A dental examination and vision examination are also required. Parents of kindergartners are encouraged to arrange for their child's eyes to be examined by an optometrist or evaluated by a physician prior to starting kindergarten. Payment for all required examinations is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
What screening programs are available?
Parents must provide consent for students to receive any health screenings. Nursing/Health Services make referrals for early childhood, kindergarten and children with suspected hearing problems who are submitted from other grades. CMS audiologists do the initial hearing test/screen.
Nursing/Health Services coordinate the annual vision distance screening program for children in early childhood, kindergarten, and grades 2,4 and 6.
Children with suspected distance vision problems who are referred from another grade will also be screened. Children who fail the initial screening are re-screened .
What is the procedure for medication?
The following guidelines will be followed when medication is administered to students:
Non-prescription (over the counter) medication will be administered by district personnel upon receipt of:
- Written instruction and written consent by the parent/guardian.
- Written instructions by the practitioner and order of non- prescription including dosage to be given and time interval.
- Medication supplied by the parent/guardian in the original container with dosage instructions and labeled with the student's name.
- Medication Administration Form Also available at your child's school or in the CMS student handbook.
Prescription medication will be administered by district personnel upon receipt of:
Medication administered by school personnel will be kept in a locked and secured place. It is the responsibility of the student to get his/her medication at the designated time. For safety reasons only empty medication containers will be sent home from school with students. All medication must be reclaimed by the parent at the end of the school year or they will be discarded.
Can my student(s) keep their emergency medication with them?
An asthmatic student may possess and use a metered dose inhaler or dry powdered inhaler upon receipt of the completed District's Medication Authorization Form that states the student is capable and responsible in giving their own medication. This must be signed by the practitioner, parent/guardian, student, principal and school nurse. This form has the written approval of the student's practitioner and if the student is a minor, the written approval of the student's parent or guardian. The same is true for a severe allergy, where Epi-Pen injections will be necessary if an allergic response occurs.
Students may also carry their own over the counter medications and certain prescription medications if the same criterion noted above occurs.
When does my child need to be immunized?
CMS follows the North Carolina general statute 130A-152-157 which requires that all students Pre-K through grade 12 must present evidence that they have a completed immunization record for their grade within 30 school days of admission. If a complete immunization record has not been provided to the school, then the child will be excluded from school until a valid immunization record is provided to the school. Students whose parent/guardian signs a religious exemption or seeks and gains approval for a medical exemption are compliant with the law. For more information, go to the CMS immunization and health assessments page.
