• Nursing & Health Services

    One of the health services provided by CMSD School Nurses is to make important health information available via the Internet.

    Links to information is available for parents, students, CMSD employees and the community at large. So please feel free to use this site as a resource to gain information regarding health issues and practices. Have fun browsing!

     

    STATEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL NURSES OF THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (CMSD)

    CMSD Health Services looks at the whole child and focuses attention on ensuring that all students are healthy and feel supported, challenged, engaged and safe (Lewallen, et. al, Journal of School Health, Nov. 2015).  The health needs of each student are recognized and met in ways that are appropriate to the student and the situation and should be served regardless of his/her nationality, race, color, creed, socio-economic status or sexual orientation. The student should be viewed as a member of a family and the community, which should be taken into consideration when performing a health service. All students have the right to come to school healthy and ready to learn and a student’s ability to learn is directly related to his/her health. (Developed by the Nursing Procedure Committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, 2002)

    MISSION STATEMENT

    The mission of the school nurses of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is a commitment to work with the families, schools and community to promote optimal health and educational success of all students of the District.

    Definition of School Nursing

    School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement and health of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety including a healthy environment; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy, and learning (NASN, 2010).

    Who is the School Nurse?

    • A registered nurse (RN) licensed to practice nursing by the state board of nursing.
    • A professional, accountable to practice in accordance with current Professional Standards of School Nursing Practice, as stated by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) state laws, rules and regulations
    • A nursing professional who advocates for children’s health and safety within the educational setting.

    What Preparation Does the School Nurse Need?

    • CMSD requires that all school nurses have a license from the Ohio Department of Education in School Nursing. This means that all CMSD nurses are highly qualified and take educational courses to renew this license along with their nursing license.
    • A School Nurse needs expertise in the following areas:
      • Pediatric, public health and mental health nursing with strong health promotion, assessment and referral skills
      • Education and health laws impacting children
      • Teaching strategies for the delivery of health education to students and staff

    What Does the School Nurse Do?

    The primary role of the School Nurse is to support student health and academic success. The school nurse is the link between school, students, families, health care and other community providers.  The school nurse, with appropriate preparation, takes a leadership role in serving as the coordinator of all school health programs and is has a key role in the WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WHOLE CHILD (WSCC) approach (www.cdc.gov/healthy/wscc/components.htm).  School Nurse's role in support of  WSCC includes:

    • Health Services—serves as the coordinator of the health services program (i.e. School Based Health Clinics, Vision, Dental, CPR/AED training) and provides direct nursing care
    • Health Education—engages students in actively participating in their health, provides health education to students, staff and parents
    • Social and Emotional School Climate—supports the whole child to be healthy, safe, supported, engaged and challenged
    • Physical Environment—identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment
    • Nutrition Environment and Services—supports healthy food services programs
    • Physical Education/Activity—promotes healthy physical education, sports policies and practices
    • Counseling Psychological and Social Services—provides health counseling, assesses mental health needs, provides interventions and refers students to appropriate school staff or community agencies
    • Community Involvement—actively collaborates with community resources to addressing social and economic barriers to health
    • Family Engagement—connects families to school staff, community healthcare providers, and community services to increase ability of students and families to adapt to health and social stressors.
    • Employee Wellness—provides health education and counseling, promotes healthy activities and environment for school staff. 

    What Services Does a School Nurse Provide?

    As the health services expert, the School Nurse serves as the health professional for the school community and provides the following services:

    • Assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of students' physical and mental health concerns
    • Participating in Individualized Education Plan development and academic team meetings
    • Performing pediatric nursing procedures: ventilators, gastrostomy feedings, tracheostomy care, catheterization, medication administration
    • Screening for health factors impacting student education and refer to healthcare providers
    • Monitoring of immunizations, excluding students with infectious diseases, monitoring school environment for safety
    • Education to promote healthy choices: prevention of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
    • Case management of chronic diseases (such as asthma and diabetes); working with students, families, and other health care providers
    • Creation of Individualized Nursing Care Plans and care for students with disabilities and/or health conditions that interfere with learning 
    • Participating in crisis team response
    • Contributing to school district health policies, goals and objectives
    • Liaison to school/community/health care provider  
    • Providing first aid and emergency care 
    • Coordinating outside agencies' programs with CMSD.