Welcome to the Oakmont High School Nurse's Online Office

The goals of the Nurse's Office are:

1. To promote and protect student health and enable each student to reach and maintain the highest possible state of well-being so that the student may achieve success in his/her performance to his/her best capacity,
2. To administer first aid to students who sustain injuries and to care for those who become ill at school until their parents make arrangements to get them home, and
3. To perform screening tests and provide for medical examinations.

HEALTH SERVICES

The role of the school nurse includes emergency care, illness and injury prevention, health education, community relations and other staff responsibilities.

The school nurse is primarily responsible for the administration of emergency care. Emergency care is limited to first aid only. First aid is defined as the immediate and temporary care given in order to prevent further injury until medical care may be secured. Follow-up care of the student is entirely the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Students should consult with the school nurse when they have any concerns or questions pertaining to health issues. More students are reporting to the health office with headaches and stomach aches which is generally an indication that the student maybe upset or anxious about class work, family problems, or an after school job. This requires the nurse, counselor, teachers, and parents to collaboratively work together to resolve the issue.

STUDENTS' IMMUNIZATIONS

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires that students be properly immunized. All students attending school must comply with this requirement. The only exceptions that can be made are for religious and medical reasons. The school nurse reviews health records of students new to school as well as the immunization status of all students yearly, and informs parents of the need for boosters in order to comply with state requirements. Failure to maintain proper immunizations will result in the student’s exclusion from school until requirements are met.

Immunization Requirements for 2006

For 7^th grade students:

• Before age 13 years: 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox), unless they have a doctor’s note saying they have already had chickenpox
• After age 13 years: 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox), unless they have a doctor’s note saying they have already had the chickenpox
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
• 1 tetanus/diphtheria (Td) booster
• 3 doses of polio vaccine
• 2 doses of measles vaccine, 1 dose of mumps and 1 dose of rubella vaccine

Here is a chart of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Immunization Requirements for 2006. [Note: if you don't already have it, you will need ; it's free.]

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS

All students during the grade nine (9) year are required to have a physical exam either by their family physician or by the school physician.

All students who participate in competitive sports must have a physical examination ANNUALLY. The physical must be done prior to participation in the sport, which includes practice. The physical exam form must be forwarded to the school nurse BEFORE practice begins. The physical exam form must include the date that the physical was given and state that the student is physically fit for competitive sports.

Fitness Class Medical Excuse

A parent or guardian may request an excuse from fitness class for two (2) consecutive classes due to illness or injury. Any student who is unable to participate in fitness class for more than two consecutive fitness classes must submit a doctor’s note to the school nurse. The medical excuse form will be forwarded to the fitness teacher and the guidance counselor.

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION POLICY

All medications are to be administered or supervised by the school nurse. Prescription and "Over the Counter" medications will be administered by the school nurse using the following conditions:

FOR EACH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THE SCHOOL NURSE MUST HAVE:

1. A written order from a licensed prescriber and/or the original labeled pharmacy container. The written prescription order is needed for all long-term medications over ten days.
2. Written permission from a parent or guardian.
3. The original labeled pharmacy container if medication is to be given for 10 school days or less.

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This page updated October 2006.