Student Services - Health Services
Healthy Students Learn Better
Recognizing that healthy students learn better, the School District has a licensed nurse in each school. The purpose of school nursing is to enhance the educational process by the modification or removal of health related barriers to learning and by promotion of an optimal level of wellness. School nurses accomplish these activities in partnership with students, parents, school staff and the Greenville Medical Community.
All school nurses are licensed and attend a minimum of twelve hours of annual in-service education directly related to student services. In addition, all are American Heart Association certified in CPR and AED trained.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s health or school nursing services, please contact your school nurse. It is especially important to report any illness or condition that your child has that may require medical support during the school day.
Health Room Policy and Procedures
Medication Policy
All medication must be delivered to the School Nurse or other designated school employee by the student’s parent, legal guardian or a previously designated adult. It is against School District Policy for a student to carry ANY medication on their person without physician permission, parent permission and school district permission to self-administer and self-monitor.( SC Law S144) All medication will be maintained in the health room. Violations of the medication policy are dealt with sternly. Medication needed on field trips is also covered by this policy and must be given to and administered by an employee of Greenville County Schools designated by the principal. There are separate permission forms for medications on field trips.
For your child’s safety please remember:
- ALL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION must have written parental and physician authorization before medication can be administered at school. Form MED-1.
- All PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION must be administered as labeled and OTC medications may not exceed package directions.
- ALL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION must be brought to school by a legal guardian or designated person over 18 years of age and given directly to the school nurse or designated school personnel.
- OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS may be provided by the parent if it is in the original container, clearly labeled with the student’s name and is accompanied by written parental permission. Form MED-3.
- Parents are responsible for knowing the expiration date of any medication brought to school and replacing medication before the expiration date. School Nurses will not administer any medication passed the expiration date.
- ALL MEDICATION MUST BE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
- School nurses are legally required to administer only medications with FDA approval.
- No medication containing ASPIRIN can be given at school without a doctor’s authorization. This includes but is not limited to Pepto Bismol, Excedrin, and some OTC cold medications.
- If your child forgets to take a morning dose of medication, school nurses are not allowed to give that dose at school. Parents may come to the Health Room to give the missed dose.
- Students with medication prescribed by a health care provider contained in the original packaging and appropriately labeled may carry these medications, may self-monitor and may self-administer these medications only if we have permission from the prescribing doctor and the parent/legal guardian. If there is sufficient evidence that unsupervised self-monitoring or self-medicating would seriously jeopardize the safety of the student or others, (stimulants, pain relief medication, anti-depressants for example) the school district may refuse to allow the student to carry his/her medication. Medications that are approved for self-administering are asthma inhalers, insulin for diabetic students, and Epi-Pens for severe allergic reactions. Please use form MED-2.
Contacting Parents
If your child comes to the Health Room and needs to go home, we must contact a parent or legal guardian. We cannot send a student home with anyone until a parent has been notified. This is why it is so very important that we have current information about how to contact you at all times. If your child has an emergency situation or needs immediate care that cannot be provided at school, those contacts you list on the Health Card will be called IF we cannot reach a parent first. Please understand that this is for your child's protection.
Student Emergency Information Form
On the first day of school your child will be given an Emergency Information sheet to be completed by a parent. This is very important. Please print all information clearly. This will be the only way we have to reach you in case of an emergency at school. If at anytime ANY of this information should change please notify your school nurse immediately.
State Immunization Requirements
A child cannot be admitted to any school or child development program without a valid SC Certificate of Immunization or a medical,religious, or special exemption.
Immunizations required by SC law are Tetanus containing vaccine (Dtap, DT or TD), Polio, Measles (two doses), Rubella (German Measles), and Mumps. Hepatitis B Immunizations is required for students entering all grades. The Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine or history of disease is required for all students admitted to K5 through 12th grade.
If your child does not have a valid certificate, take his/her shot records to your physician or the county Health Department (282-4100). A parent or adult authorized by the parent must accompany a student under 16 who requires shots. For further information, call Medical Health Services at 355-3170.
Beginning in school year 2012-2013 a Tdap will be required for all 7th graders. Follow DHEC guidelines for appropriate Tdap administration.
Our Services
Vision Screening
All students in grades K-4, K-5, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th grades will be screened for distant vision problems. If your child does not pass this screening, he will be screened again in two weeks. If he/she does not pass this screening, you will be notified that your child needs further evaluation by a Physician or Optometrist. Please have this letter completed and return it to your School Nurse. If your child is not in one of these grades, and you would like to have their vision screened, please send a note to your child’s Nurse and he/she will be glad to screen your child.
Hearing Screening
All students in K4, K5, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades will have their hearing screened. If your child should fail this screening, he will be rescreened at a later date. If he/she does not pass the re-screening the Nurse will refer your child to the District Audiologist. You will be notified by mail from her office concerning further evaluation. If your child is not in one of these grades and you wish to have screening, please send a note to your School Nurse and he/she will be glad to screen your child.
Partners For Healthy Children
This is state insurance program offered to low income families for children under 19. If you are interested call 1-800-549-0820.
Permission Forms
- Prescription Medication Authorization Form
- Over-the-counter Medication Permission Form
- Authorization for Self-Administration of Medications at School
- Anaphylaxis Medication Authorization Form
- Student Emergency Information Form
- Authorization for Medical Procedures at School
- Physician and Parent School Asthma Management Plan
CPR/AED Demonstration Videos and Information Links
- Adult CPR Video Demonstration
- Child CPR Video Demonstration
- FRx Defibrillator Information
- ZOL AED Defibrillator Information
- Cardiac Science AED Demonstrations
- Medtronic LIFEPAK CR Plus AED Information
Other
Contact Us
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Catherine Storey, RN, Coordinator of Medical Health Services Lisa Skorzewski, RN, Nurse Supervisor Deborah Helm, RN, Nurse Supervisor Larie Tripp, RN, Nurse Supervisor |
Sharon Lothridge, RN, Nurse Supervisor Kori Adkins, CPR/FA/AED Nurse Karen McDaniel, RN, Medicaid Billing Nurse |
