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Welcome to the BDHS Nurse’s Corner. I am Rosemary Mills, R.N., BSN and I am very pleased to be a part of the BDHS Student Support Team. If you are new to BDHS, please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with PWCPS policies and regulations. I have provided links to the most common health related regulations for easy reference. Regulation 755-1 addresses immunization requirements and Regulation 723-4 is the Tuberculosis Screening requirement. Students are not permitted to carry medication on their person in school. (Exceptions – Inhalers and Epi-pens with signed releases.) Please review Regulation 757-4. Prescription medication requires both physician and parent signatures. Over the counter medication, given according to manufacturer’s recommendation, requires parent signature.
If your student has a chronic or long term health condition, please contact me for specific accommodations. As your child receives updated immunizations through your primary health provider, please provide me with a copy so that I may keep his/her school records updated. Please make sure that the information that you provide on the Emergency Card in the beginning of the year remains updated with any changes throughout the school year. We truly rely on this information as students are not permitted to use cell phones while school is in session.
Here are links to the most common health related PWCPS Regulations:
723-4 Tuberculosis Screening
755-1 Immunization Requirement
757-3 Guidelines and Form for School Staff to Carry Out Health
Treatment and Emergency Treatment Procedures in the School Setting
Treatment and Emergency Treatment Procedures in the School Setting
757-4 Administration of Medication
757-5 Asthma Medication Authorization Form
757-6 Diabetic Health Treatment Plan/Administration of Insulin/Glucagon
757-7 Management of Epileptic Seizures in the School Setting
757-8 Mental Health Procedures
What Services Does the School Nurse Provide?
Health Services: Assesses health and development, provides nursing interventions and evaluates students’ responses to care. The School Nurse is NOT a replacement for a primary care medical provider.
Health Education: Provides education to students, staff and parents.
Healthy Environment: Identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment.
Nutritional Services: Supports healthy food services programs.
Physical Education/Activity: Promotes health and physical education in supporting healthy behaviors. Promotes staff wellness activities.
Counseling/Mental Health: Assesses needs, provides interventions and refers students to appropriate staff or community agency. Participates in the school crisis management team.
Parent/Community Involvement: Promotes community involvement and serves as a liaison between home, school and the community.
As part of the team of staff, teachers and administrators at Brentsville District High School, my goal is to maximize your child’s learning potential and to make the most of the high school experience. It all starts with a positive attitude and requires a well rested body and mind, and regular nourishment. It is very important for students to eat and hydrate early in the morning to learn well, have more energy, feel better, look better, and be healthier.
Students who leave the house in a rush and skip breakfast lose their ability to concentrate around 9:30 am. This is typically when I see students in the clinic for complaints of headache, weakness, and stomachache. Some suggestions for getting your student into the habit of fueling up in the morning are:
- Setting an alarm that requires getting out of bed to turn it off.
- Packing the backpack, sports bag, etc the night before to allow extra, unrushed time in the morning.
- A nutritious breakfast does not have to be a time consuming project. It can be as simple as peanut butter on whole grain toast, yogurt and graham crackers, cheese on a wheat bagel, melted in the microwave for a few seconds.
- Students frequently will tell me that they have sensitive stomachs in the morning and can’t possibly eat when they get up. That is a generally a habit that can be changed with a little effort. In the meantime, those students should plan ahead and keep a snack in their backpack, a granola or cereal bar or a baggie of cereal, a cheese stick or pretzels should be sufficient to get them through the morning.
The school cafeteria serves breakfast from the time students get off the bus until the bell rings. For information about menus or to make application for free or reduced meal pricing, please call Food and Nutrition Services at 703-791-7314.
Typically students are sent back to class after visiting the clinic. When students are not in the classroom, they miss learning opportunities. Because they didn’t get adequate rest the night before for whatever reason, does not warrant an extended stay in the clinic to get a nap to “just get them through the day”.
There are reasons for sending a student home from school or for parents to keep a child at home:
- Fever of 100 degrees F or higher.
- Infections – conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep, ringworm, impetigo. These must be treated for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Unexplained rash.
- Head injury.
- Other injuries that impact student’s mobility where he/she is unable to ride the bus or walk or drive home.
- Colds with constant nasal drainage, severe cough or difficulty breathing.
- Diarrhea or vomiting.
- Stiff neck associated with fever or recent injury.
- Inadequate Immunizations.
The most common complaints I hear from students are:
“My head hurts and I can’t concentrate.”
Solution - Adequate rest the night before, adequate food and hydration, keeping Tylenol or Motrin in the clinic for the student to take for the occasional headache.
“I think I’m going to throw up.”
Chances of this actually happening are about 1 in a 1000. They will be told to put a trash can next to their desk and come back if they actually do throw up.
“I feel sick after eating the school lunch”
Solution - Pack a nutritious lunch from home.
“I just started my period.”
Solution - Plan ahead. Keep feminine products in purse or backpack. Taking Motrin or Aleve a day or two in advance of the expected start day decreases cramping. Keep a pain reliever in the clinic for the student to take during the day.
If your student has sustained an injury at home, it is expected that treatment is received before coming to school. The supplies and equipment in the clinic are designated to triage and treat student injuries and illnesses as they happen during the school day. Any equipment that a student borrows from the clinic during the school day, i.e., wheelchair, crutches, ace wrap, hot pack, etc., he or she must sign out the item. This is school property and must be returned promptly so that it is available when needed.
It is a violation of PWCPS regulations for a student to carry over the counter (Tylenol, Motrin, cold or allergy preparations, Midol, etc) or prescription medications around school in their backpacks, pockets or purses. The only exceptions are those rescue medications for life-threatening illnesses that the student’s physician has indicated in writing (Regulation 757-2, 757-5). The clinic is equipped with a large lockable cabinet where medications can be stored and dispensed safely. Students with asthma may carry their rescue inhalers by having their doctor complete the asthma card. Refer to PWCPS regulation number 757-5. All medications, prescription or OTC, brought to the clinic, MUST be in the original bottle. It must be accompanied with the completed Medication Authorization form. The PWCPS regulation for the administration of medication is 757-4. The attachments for parent and/or MD signature can be printed, or copies obtained from the nurse or the main office.
DO NOT PUT PILLS IN A BAGGIE WITH HAND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS!!
The clinic is not a pharmacy. Each student must have his or her own supply of medication as well as written parental consent in accordance with PWCPS regulations.
If your student has a chronic health condition with needs during the school day, please call or visit the nurse to determine how the school can best meet those needs.
Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to call the school nurse.
Rosemary Mills, RN, BSN
School Nurse
