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School Nurse Consultants

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School Nurse Consultant Role in Schools

School Nurse Consultants manage students with significant health concerns at individual schools, including elementary, secondary, charter, preschools, before and after child care programs, summer sessions and ChildFind. The goal of the School Nurse Consultant is to work closely with parents, health care providers, school staff and others to coordinate the health care of the student. School Nurse Consultants also provide direct services as needed by training and delegating to personnel working with students identified as having complex medical needs.

Collaboration with Special Education

School Nurse Consultants are an integral part of the Special Education Team and are responsible for a portion of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) that pertains to the students' health. The School Nurse Consultant attends school team meetings and IEP meetings of students with complex health issues to insure the implementation of necessary accommodations for students. This includes the responsibility for students needing individual health care plans (HCPs) and 504 plans written in accordance with Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act for a medical reason.

Health Assistants

Most schools have an identified person, called the Health Assistant, who carries out the medical duties for a limited time during the day. Other office staff members help fill this role in the absence of the Health Assistant. The Nursing Services provides oversight of the Health Assistants and other school personnel who are available to respond to the immediate health needs of students.

Typically, Health Assistants and other office staff members are not medical professionals. School Nurse Consultants provide general training and safety plans involving first aid training and the care of sick children who come to the classroom teacher or office staff with a health need. The office staff is also supplied with a Health Guidelines Manual that specifies actions for a variety of medical situations.

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