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For Immediate Release
August 22, 2016
Contact: Margaret Cellucci, Director of Communications
mcellucci@nasn.org / 240-247-1628

NASN PROVIDES BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLISTS FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL NURSES

Your 2016-17 Back-to-School Toolkit

Silver Spring, MD [August 22, 2016] – As our Nation’s children head back to the classroom, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has developed a back-to-school checklist of topics to assist parents/caregivers about how to best prepare their children for a safe and healthy school year. Heading back to school is often of particular concern for parents/caregivers whose students have special health care needs. School nurses are the managers of health care at school and they are a key resource in the back-to-school process. Included is also a checklist specific to school nurses. NASN created the back-to-school checklists to ensure children stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

“School nurses are looking forward to the new school year as we greet returning students and welcome our new students. Be sure to connect with your school nurse before or when school starts, particularly if your child has a special health care need,” said NASN President Beth Mattey. “NASN encourages families to work with school nurses throughout the year to prevent missed school days and to enable best performance. School nurses safeguard the physical and mental health of students, helping them to achieve academic success. We wish all students a healthy, safe, and productive school year.”

For All Parents/Caregivers:

• Make sure required and recommended immunizations are up-to-date.

• Review hygiene tips to prevent the spread of infections.

• Establish a bedtime and wake-up time to ensure adequate and consistent sleep.

• Develop a routine for homework and after-school activities..

• Eat breakfast each day at home or at school.

• Help make appropriate clothing choices, e.g., wear comfortable and safe shoes.

• Keep an open line of communication with your child to ensure that he/she remains safe at school. If a concern arises, e.g., bullying, contact the appropriate school officials immediately.

• Get involved! Sign up for the parent organization (PTA/PTO), school Wellness Committee, and mark events such as back-to-school night and parent/teacher meetings on your calendar.

• Ask about the school or district’s wellness policy, e.g., how are nutrition, activity, stress and/or mental health concerns addressed?

• Know the specialized instructional support personnel available to your child including the school nurse and school counselor.

• Know your school’s policy regarding when to keep a sick child home.

If Your Student Has a Health Concern:

• Make your child’s health concern known to the school and school nurse.

• Bring current, signed healthcare provider orders for treatments and all medications to be given at school.

• Bring the medication in the original pharmacy container.

• Together with the school nurse and other appropriate school officials, develop an individualized healthcare plan or other educational plan as needed, e.g., 504 and IEP.

• Give permission for the school nurse to communicate with your family’s healthcare provider.

• Provide parent/caregiver contact information and update the school with any changes.

• Ask if non-nurses will be providing care and how these authorized individuals will be supervised, e.g., verify who will administer medication.

• Confirm the school’s disaster and/or emergency plan. Make sure your child’s medication and/or medical devices, e.g., epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma inhalers, and insulin, will be readily available in an emergency.

• Let the school know how important it is to have a full-time registered school nurse in the building all day, every day.

• Introduce yourself and your child to the school nurse.

For School Nurses - Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice^TM:

• Standards of Practice

• Care Coordination

• Leadership

• Quality Improvement

• Community/Public Health

For more information and NASN’s Back-to-School Toolkit, visit the link, http://www.nasn.org/ToolsResources/BacktoSchoolToolkit.

NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 16,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas. The mission of the NASN is to advance school nurse practice to keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.