School Health and Nursing

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is committed to student health and wellness and provides education, programs, and activities that help improve the quality of life for students attending our schools. CMS provides health care services throughout the district, delivered by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses through a collaborative partnership with the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

School Health Services and Nursing

School Health Services promote a healthy and safe school environment. We aim to prevent health problems and injuries and ensure care for students, including: preventative services, education, first aid, emergency care, assessment, referrals, and management of acute and chronic health problems.

School Health Nurses provide a broad range of care and services for students:

minimize or eliminate health problems that impede learning
reduce the incidence of health-related problems to maximize the quantity of class time
support school staff in the safe administration of medications in school
ensure compliance with state mandates for immunizations and physical exams for school entry and attendance
increase the school community's knowledge and behaviors in positive health, mental health, physical activity, and safety and nutrition practices

If the need arises to contact a Nursing Supervisor for a particular school, contact Monica Adamian for assistance.

Contact Us

Health-Related Conditions

Health Links

Does your student have a medical condition that may impact them at school?

See Coordinated School Health

Need support getting medical care or immunizations?

See Immunizations and Health Assessments

Worried about your student's mental health?

Think your student may have a problem with drugs, alcohol, e-cigarettes, or vaping?

See Student Assistance Program (SAP)

Social-Emotional Supports

In need of school counseling information?

See School Counseling website

How do we teach social-emotional skills in schools?

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social and Emotional Learning Teacher Resources
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

Is your child having behavioral difficulties?

School Psychology website

Need to know about school-based mental health services?

School-Based Mental Health website

Are you concerned about bullying?

Please report your concern anonymously here.

Academics

Do you need information about what classes your student should take, college advisement, or graduation requirements?

School Counseling

Is your student struggling with reading, writing, or math?

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
School Psychology website

Is your student struggling with organizational skills, time management, or other critical skills that impact academics?

Home & Family

Are you homeless or doubled-up with another family?

McKinney-Vento website

In need of food assistance or other community supports?

School Social Work website

Does your student have attendance problems?

Truancy website
School Social Work website

Do you need to talk with someone about your child's behavioral challenges at home?

School Psychology website

Minor Illness at School

School staff or School Nurse will notify the parent/guardian and arrange for children to go home when a student has the following symptoms:

- Oral temperature above 100.4 (CHILD MUST GO HOME AND REMAIN AT HOME UNTIL FEVER-FREE FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS WITHOUT USING FEVER-REDUCING MEDICINE).
- Child appears severely ill (e.g., lethargic, lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathing, or has a quickly spreading rash). Call 911 for emergency conditions.
- Vomiting two or more times in the previous twenty-four hours unless vomiting is determined to be caused by a non-communicable condition. (Child must go home and remain out of school for at least 24- hours after symptoms have resolved.)
- Diarrhea that exceeds two or more stools above normal for that child.( Child must go home and remain out of school for at least 24- hours after symptoms have resolved.)

School Nurse or School staff will notify parents/guardians when students appear ill but do not require exclusion (Examples: an elevated oral temperature below 100.4 , abdominal pain, headache or sore throat).
School staff will educate students to prevent disease spread through personal hygiene measures.
Principals will ensure that proper handwashing supplies (soap, paper towels) are maintained in all restrooms and other hand washing areas.

Head Lice

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that it is unlikely that all head lice infestations can be prevented because young children come into head-to-head contact with each other frequently. Therefore, it is prudent for children to be taught not to share personal items such as combs, brushes and hats. Still, one should not refuse to wear protective headgear because of fear of head lice. In environments where children are together, infested children should be treated promptly to minimize the spread to others. Regular surveillance by parent/guardian is one way to detect and treat early infestations, thereby preventing the spread to others.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (Volume 135, number 5, May 2015) and the National Association of School Nurses (Head Lice Management in the School Setting Position Statement) recommend against excluding children for live lice or nits. Because a child with an active head lice infestation likely has had the infestation for one month or more by the time it is discovered and poses little risk to others from the infestation, the child should remain in class but be discouraged from close direct head contact with others. Parent/Guardian of the child should be notified on the day of discovery that prompt treatment is in the child's best interest.

Students should be taught not to share personal items like combs, brushes, ribbons, hats and avoid direct head-to-head contact.
The best way to interrupt a chronic lice problem is by regular checks by Parent/Guardian and early treatment with safe, affordable, over-the-counter pediculicides.
Students with a confirmed case of head lice should be treated at once. However, never initiate treatment unless there is a clear diagnosis with living lice.
Choose one of the non-prescription treatments on the market. Follow directions carefully. Many products require follow-up treatment in 7-10 days.
Following treatment, the eggs or nits should be removed from the hair. Complete nit removal either by hand or with a fine-tooth comb is the most important step in resolving this problem.
Regular nit checks are recommended for up to a month.
Examine all persons in the household for the presence of head lice. If lice or eggs are detected, all infested persons need treatment.
Washing, soaking, or drying items at temperatures greater than 130°F will kill stray lice or nits. Clothing (hats, coats, scarves, etc.), bedding, linens, towels should be washed in hot water. Vacuuming carpeting, upholstery, and mattresses are suggested. (Follow treatment recommendations on labels regarding clothing, etc.).
Upon return to school, send a note with the student stating that treatment was completed. In addition, provide the name of the product used.
To minimize the disruption to learning, class-wide screenings are not recommended
Class notification only occurs if multiple cases are identified.

Asthma

Asthma is the number one chronic disease among students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over 14,000 CMS students have been identified with asthma. It is also one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. In an average classroom of 30 students, three students may have asthma. In addition, several students with asthma may go undiagnosed or unidentified.

If asthma symptoms are uncontrolled, students with asthma may:

Lose sleep because of coughing at night and then being tired the next day at school.
Have a hard time in school or physical activities
Avoid physical activity, fearing that it may trigger an asthma attack
Avoid taking their asthma medication because they do not want to be seen as "different."
Express feelings of embarrassment, frustration and isolation.

If your child has asthma, it is very important to tell your child's school nurse, teacher, coach, and caregivers. Contact any CMS school nurse for more information or assistance managing your child's asthma.

See Asthma Education Program-LINK for additional information.

Article: 10 Steps to Safety for Kids with Allergies and Asthma by Kathleen May, MD

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the fluids and covering of the brain or spinal cord that bacteria can cause. While viral meningitis is fairly common, and people usually recover fully, bacterial meningitis is rare but more serious. Meningitis is spread by the close exchange of saliva and respiratory secretions through sharing of drinking glasses, cigarettes or kissing. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include severe headache, high fever, nausea/vomiting and stiff neck. Symptoms can worsen very quickly. Therefore, children with these symptoms should be checked by a doctor right away. A vaccine against bacterial meningitis is available through private physicians and the Mecklenburg County Health Department and is recommended for children in their early teens.

Meningitis Information

Meningococcal Meningitis

Influenza (The Flu)

Influenza (the flu) is a viral infection that can cause illnesses ranging from mild to severe to life-threatening complications. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat and runny, stuffy nose. Children sometimes also have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Flu is spread through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze or from droplets on unwashed hands. Vaccine against flu is available every year beginning in October through private physicians and at the Mecklenburg County Health Department. The vaccine is recommended for people at high risk for flu complications (the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, including asthma) and people in close contact with them (including household contacts). When vaccine supplies are in good supply, flu shots are also available for children and adults in the general public.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus, and most people will be infected with it at some point in their lives. In the United States, approximately 13 million people, including many teens and young adults, become infected each year. While many HPV infections go away on their own within two years without treatment, some types can persist and lead to six different types of cancer. HPV vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect children and adolescents from HPV infection and the cancers it can cause.

HPV Information