Health Screenings and Immunizations > Other screenings
Screenings are essential to identifying students at risk for health problems early. This reference provides guidance and considerations for modifying existing school based health screening practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school setting is unique and therefore, your school specific strategies may vary.
The role of the school nurse is to plan and advocate for resources to ensure the health and safety of students and staff when conducting health screenings.
Key Considerations:
- Collaborate with state and local education agencies and local school administrators to understand region-specific recommendations for school health screenings (e.g. BMI, scoliosis evaluations, BP readings, ect).
- Collaborate with school administrators and follow the school’s policies and procedures for wearing masks, hand hygiene, grouping (cohorting, alternate schedules, staggered schedules) and transporting students to support physical distancing.
- Consider a location for screenings that has an open space, has adequate ventilation, allows for physical distancing students and staff, and temperature controlled.
- Planning for the following hand hygiene recommendations to be performed by students and staff.
- Students wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before and after screening.
- Screeners wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before screening, after any child contact, and regularly as needed.
- If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Face masks are to be worn according to school policy by students and staff at all times.
- Determine appropriate additional personal protective equipment necessary for screeners to use when performing each screening procedure (e.g. gloves, gowns, face shields/goggles).
- Cleaning and disinfection: Equipment
- Clean and disinfect all non disposable equipment and instruments after each use (e.g. blood pressure cuffs). Follow manufacturer's recommendations.
- Cleaning and disinfection: Location
- Clean and sanitize the physical location using EPA-registered disinfectants per the most recent school, state, and CDC recommendations.
- Develop a schedule for increased routine cleaning and disinfection, with special attention paid to high-touch areas such as doorknobs, table tops, and chairs.
- Consider limiting the number of screeners, volunteers, or school staff to three or less. School policies regarding visitors and outside volunteers entering the school are to be followed.
NASN Resources
Podcast Reviews Study on Strategies to Affect Physical Activity
Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Schools - The Role of the School Nurse
CDC Resources
Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention