School Health Nurses

Trained, Certified School Health Nurses

Feel confident your child will receive exceptional care from registered nurses who hold certification from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN). That means they have the knowledge and preparation to care for your child.

Our school health nurses also have specialized training to:

• Respond to and manage an emergency situation because they are American Heart Association First Aid and CPR instructors
• Perform vision screenings with training and certification from Prevent Blindness North Carolina

Keeping Kids in School

Expect our school health nurses in Wayne County to provide quick, thorough care that helps keep your child healthy, safe and ready to learn. When your child receives dedicated, professional nursing care, they can continue with their school day. And you can stay at work.

Health Screenings at School

Rely on health screenings to keep your child healthy, prevent injury and promote academic success. Trust our school health nurses and other health care professionals to administer:

• Dental screenings – Public dental hygenist checks teeth and school nurses follow up to secure care
• Head lice exams – Check hair for head lice and nits
• Hearing tests – School audiologist performs screening and school nurses follow up to secure care
• Vision screenings – School nurses perform vision screenings to identify vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness
• Body mass index (BMI) screenings – Measures your child’s height, weight and growth

Help With Chronic Health Conditions

Meet with the school nurse to talk about your child’s chronic health condition, such as asthma or diabetes. You may need to complete a health care plan and other paperwork to ensure proper care and monitoring of health conditions. With optimal documentation from a doctor, school health nurses can care for your child during school with health checks, such as:

• Blood glucose monitoring – Tests the amount of glucose, a type of sugar, in the blood
• Blood pressure monitoring - Screens blood pressure for abnormalities and reports to student's primary care provider
• Peak flow monitoring – Checks breathing during an asthma attack
• Pulse oximetry – Tests the oxygen levels in your child’s blood

Medications at School

Manage your child’s prescription and over-the-counter medications delivery at school through the school nurse. Submit an authorization form [Word] completed by you and your child’s doctor. Bring this form along with the medication in its original packaging and the correct label to school. You must submit a separate form for each medication.

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

If your child has severe allergies, meet with the school nurse to complete a health care plan and medication authorization in case your child needs emergency medication.

Receive accommodations for your child’s special food needs at school. Complete the form, Medical Statement for Students with Unique Mealtime Needs for School Meals [PDF]. You’ll need a doctor’s signature along with yours.

School Health Requirements

Review North Carolina state laws for student immunizations and health assessment requirements to attend school.