School Nurse
South Shore School Nurse
Please ask about free and low-cost vision and dental resources.
What does a school nurse do?
Schoolnurses are trained to provide on-site services that are culturallysensitive, focused on prevention and wellness, and to be effectiveoutreach and medical liaisons between the school, students, family, andhealth care providers. They act as educational catalysts by helping topromote, plan, and implement successful school-wide programs to improvelearning readiness.
EachSeattle Public Schools’ school nurse has completed a four-yearbachelor’s degree in nursing, holds a current Registered Nurse license,and is required to have a Washington State Educational Staff Associate(ESA) certificate. Many school nurses have advanced degrees andadditional health education training. Seattle school nurses are alsorequired to hold valid American Red Cross CPR and First Aid cards.Comprehensive preparation is increasingly important as more and morestudents are attending school with severe and/or life-threateningmedical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, and food allergies),injuries, or birth defects.
Besides caring for students who become injured or ill at school, school nurses also:
- conduct state-mandated vision, hearing and scoliosis screening
- act on direction from the Health Department to prevent communicable diseases and respond to disease outbreaks
- develop emergency care plans for life-threatening situations such as bee stings or peanut allergies
- conduct health assessments for students being evaluated for special education’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
- provide input and training to school staff regarding the needs of technologically assisted students
- contribute to accommodation plans that allow students with substantial disabilities to have equal access to education
Prepare for Your Student’s Health at School
Washington state law requires that school staff and parents plan together for the safe care of their child throughout the school day.
Health Issues
Please report any health issue your child has that could impact safety and learning at school to the school nurse. You can contact the nurse directly by phone or email.
Medication at School
If your child needs to take any type of medication during the school day, even if it’s temporary, a medication form must be completed by the child’s health care provider and signed by parent. Authorization for Medications Taken at School (multiple languages)
School health rooms do not keep medications on hand for general use. Medications must be supplied to the school by the parents/guardians for their student’s individual needs. All medications must be brought to school in their original container/box with prescription label attached (if it’s a prescription medication) in order to be administered.
Medical Treatments at School
If your child needs a treatment at school, such as: G-tube feeding, insulin calculation, clean urinary catheterization, suctioning, nebulizer, dressing change, and others please have the health care provider complete the treatment form. Authorization for Treatments and Procedures to be Performed at School
School-Based Health Centers (SBHC)
Students have access to additional health services through the school-based health center located at this or a nearby school.
Please have parent/guardian and/or student (if accessing services that do not need parent consent) call the clinic to schedule an appointment before student goes to the clinic.
Please schedule an appointment in advance especially if student does not attend the school of the school based health center. The SBHC may not have the capacity (panel may be full) or due to other limitations may not be able to serve students who are not from the school.
Services are available to all students, regardless of their ability to pay. Your insurance may be billed and this program is also supported by the Seattle Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Plan.
Services include immunizations, sports physicals, prescriptions, reproductive healthcare, mental health counseling, lab tests, and nutrition counseling.
Families must enroll their student to receive most services. Students can enroll themselves for confidential health services.
When to Keep Your Student Home
COVID-19 When to Keep your SPS Student Home – COVID-like symptoms take priority over symptoms from “Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?” guidelines
Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School? (English)