The School Nurse
Essential Nursing Responsibilities at Our School
School nurses are essentially the unsung heroes of the education system. They sit at the intersection of health and learning, ensuring that students are physically and mentally ready to learn. While many people think of them as the "ice pack and Band-Aid" providers, their role is actually much more clinical and complex.
A school nurse's day is rarely predictable. Duties generally fall into these key categories:
- Assessing and providing first aid to injured students and staff
- Providing constant monitoring for those who are in urgent need until the arrival of parents or an ambulance, if necessary
- Administering physician ordered medications, treatments, and procedures
- Administering parent-approved OTC medications
- Insuring that students are in compliance with required immunizations
- Performing state-required screenings: vision, hearing, scoliosis, & BMI
- Providing health education including illness prevention, handwashing, dental hygiene, cover coughs, and other concepts to students and parents
- Assisting Administrators with drills for disaster preparedness and other emergencies
- Communicating with parents regarding their children's health needs and status
- Coordinating CPR training
- Training staff in life saving medications and treatments, first aid, & the proper use of a defibrillator.
Mrs. Pettibon's direct line: 262-9634
Arkansas Department of Health - Immunization information, requirements, & exemptions
