School Nurse

The primary role of the School Nurse is to support student learning. School Nurses are a critical link between health and educational communities.

In the school system, School Nurses monitor students with chronic health problems and assist in planning and providing individual accommodations to optimize learning. Students with diabetes, ADHD, asthma, and other chronic conditions require care and case management by a registered nurse. 

School nurses also provide specialized care for students who depend on the use of medical equipment and technology during the school day. This includes nebulizers, catheters, feeding tubes, glucose meters, insulin injection, and insulin pumps. Their skill and training cannot be replaced professionally or legally, by teachers, aides, and other staff unless delegated by a School Nurse.

Health Assistant

The primary role of the health assistant is to care for the students’ health needs when they present them to the health office each day.  A student’s health needs can range from illness to injury to administering daily medication to insuring that individual health care plans are being implemented.

The health assistant monitors the immunization records making sure each child is compliant with state immunization laws. They support the School Nurse in many ways such as planning for the health needs of students when on field trips, gathering required medical orders, and communicating with staff and parents about a child’s injury, illness, or diagnosis.