School Nursing Services
School Nursing Services
DoWEA School Nursing Services supports student learning by promoting health, wellness, and readiness to learn. The school nurse serves as the school’s health services expert, providing care to students and implementing interventions to address actual and potential health and safety concerns. In collaboration with school administrators, the school nurse advances student health and academic success while serving as a vital liaison among the school, families, community resources, and health care providers. Through these partnerships, school nursing services help build students’ capacity for self-care, resilience, well-being, and lifelong learning.
The school nurse's responsibilities include:
- Providing leadership to advance a safe and healthy school environment by managing communicable diseases, monitoring immunization requirements, and delivering consultation, health condition education, and guidance to students, staff, and families to promote health, safety, and academic achievement.
- Promoting student health and readiness to learn by delivering quality health care and addressing actual and potential health needs through routine health screenings and school nursing services. With parent consent, students may participate in vision and hearing screenings. Additional school nursing services include nursing assessments and interventions, care coordination, and the development of individualized health and emergency care plans that support safe participation in the educational environment.
- Providing case management services to support students with chronic health conditions by coordinating care, reducing health-related barriers to learning, and ensuring safe participation in the educational program.
- Providing care coordination and community collaboration to connect students and families with health and social services, reduce barriers to learning, and foster school-community partnerships that support student health, academic achievement, and lifelong success.
Applicable DoW Policies
Parent Notification
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
As a general rule, the parent or sponsor will be notified by the school administrator or school nurse if a child has:
- Any illness or injury that causes concern or inability to participate in school activities;
- Eye, ear, or teeth injuries;
- Head injury;
- Second- or third-degree burns;
- Severe pain;
- Sprains or possible fractures;
- Temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees Fahrenheit;
- Vomiting or diarrhea; and
- Wounds that may require stitches.
Applicable DoW Policies
Student Illness
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
To support your child’s recovery and help prevent the spread of illness, please do not send your child to school when he or she is sick. Children who are ill benefit from rest, proper nutrition, hydration, and parental care. Keeping sick children at home also helps protect other students and staff from exposure to contagious illnesses.
A student should remain home if he or she has any of the following symptoms or conditions:
- Fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher. Students must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications before returning to school.
- Vomiting or diarrhea. Students should remain home until they have been free of vomiting and diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
- Symptoms of a contagious illness. Students should remain home until they are no longer considered contagious or are cleared to return by a health care provider, when applicable.
- Symptoms that interfere with learning or participation, such as significant abdominal pain, ear pain, painful or itchy eyes, light sensitivity, or excessive eye drainage.
- Severe or persistent respiratory symptoms, including uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, rapid or difficult breathing, or a cough that persists for more than five to seven days and is not improving.
- Frequent loose or watery stools that are not related to diet or medication. A student should remain home if diarrhea is accompanied by a fever of 100°F or higher, vomiting, or signs of illness.
- Skin infections or lesions, including impetigo and other bacterial skin infections that cause weeping, crusting, or drainage. Students must be medically evaluated, receive at least 24 hours of appropriate treatment, and be determined noninfectious by a health care provider before returning to school. Any remaining lesions must be covered.
- Ringworm. Students may attend school if lesions are appropriately covered and treatment has been initiated, as directed by a health care provider.
- Eye infections or significant eye drainage, especially when accompanied by redness, pain, or light sensitivity. Students should remain home until symptoms have improved or they have completed at least 24 hours of prescribed treatment, if applicable.
- Vaccine-preventable or other communicable diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis (whooping cough), or influenza. Students must remain home until cleared to return in accordance with public health guidance or by a health care provider.
If your child becomes ill or is injured during the school day, the school nurse will contact a parent, legal guardian, or designated emergency contact to arrange for the student's pickup.
In general, students may return to school after they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours and fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Depending on the illness, injury, or communicable disease, additional medical clearance from a licensed health care provider may be required before the student may return to school.
When the DoWEA School Nurse contacts the sponsor/parent/legal guardian regarding a health concern, injury, illness that may require medical evaluation, families should provide documentation from the student's licensed health care provider. This documentation should include recommendations for follow-up care, any activity restrictions, and any accommodations necessary to support the student's safe participation in school and school-related activities.
When a student requires the temporary use of a medical device at school, such as crutches, a cast, a knee scooter, a wheelchair, or other mobility-support equipment, the sponsor/parent/legal guardian must provide written documentation from the student's health care provider. The documentation should specify the medical need for the device and identify any restrictions, accommodations, or limitations necessary to ensure the student's safety and successful participation in educational and extracurricular activities.
Maintaining open communication between families, health care providers, and school personnel helps ensure that students receive the support they need and can safely participate in the educational program. By working together and keeping ill children at home when appropriate, we help maintain a healthy learning environment that promotes the well-being, safety, and academic success of all students.
Applicable DoW Policies
Medication at School
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
When medication must be administered during the school day, it must be provided to the school nurse in its original container and appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or prescribing health care provider. The label must include the student's name, medication name, dosage, route of administration, administration schedule, and current prescription date.
Parents or guardians should contact the school nurse to obtain the required parental medication consent form. This form must be completed and signed by both the prescribing licensed health care provider and the sponsor, parent, or legal guardian. The completed form and medication must be delivered directly to the school nurse. If the school nurse is unavailable, the medication and signed form should be given to the principal, acting principal, or health aide for secure storage until the nurse is available.
Parents may also provide over-the-counter medications for their child's use during the school day. These medications must be accompanied by a valid prescription or written authorization from a licensed health care provider and a completed parental medication consent form.
Student Self-Carry of Emergency Medications
In limited circumstances, students may be authorized to carry and self-administer emergency or rescue medications while at school or participating in school-sponsored activities. To qualify for self-carry privileges, the prescribing health care provider must submit written documentation stating that the student has a life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate access to the medication and is capable of safely possessing and administering it. Written parental medication consent from the sponsor, parent, or legal guardian is also required.
Sponsors/parents/guardians should contact the school nurse to obtain the appropriate forms for medication administration at school or authorization for a student to self-carry emergency medication.
Supplement A - DoDEA Form 6000.01: Medication During School Day and School-Sponsored Activities
Supplement D - DoDEA Form 6000.01: Student Retention of Medication
Applicable DoW Policies
Allergies and Chronic-Acute Conditions
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
To help ensure your child's health, safety, and well-being at school, parents and guardians are encouraged to inform the school nurse of any medical conditions, health concerns, allergies, or special health care needs. Sharing this information enables school personnel to provide appropriate support and emergency care in accordance with applicable DoDEA health services policies.
Food allergies, including peanut and tree nut allergies, are a significant health concern in the school environment. Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms to severe, life-threatening emergencies. Maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students is a shared responsibility among families, school staff, and students. To reduce the risk of accidental exposure and promote allergy awareness, parents and guardians are asked to:
- Notify the school nurse of any allergies your child may have, including food, medication, insect, latex, or other allergies.
- Provide current medical documentation and all required forms, including health care provider orders, prescribed medications, emergency action or care plans, and parent/guardian consent forms.
- Teach your child about their allergies and the importance of avoiding known allergens and never sharing food, drinks, utensils, or snacks with others.
- Inform your child's teacher of any allergies and consult with the teacher before sending food or treats for classroom celebrations, special events, or school activities.
Working together, families and school personnel can help create a safe environment that supports the health, safety, and academic success of all students.
Applicable DoW Policies
First Aid and Emergency Care
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
School personnel will provide first aid and respond to student illnesses and injuries in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 2720.1, First Aid and Emergency Care (September 8, 2003). Care will be provided as promptly and appropriately as possible to address injuries and illnesses that occur during the school day.
When a student experiences a serious illness or injury, the school nurse will assess the situation and determine the level of care required. Based on the nursing assessment, emergency medical services (EMS) may be contacted when immediate medical attention or transportation to a health care facility is necessary. In such situations, the school will make every reasonable effort to notify the sponsor/parent/legal guardian, or designated emergency contact as soon as possible. If a parent or guardian is unavailable, a school administrator or designee may accompany the student to the medical treatment facility until the sponsor/parent/legal guardian or emergency contact arrives.
Depending on the location of the school, emergency medical care may be provided by civilian, military, host-nation, or other local health care providers and facilities. When emergency treatment is required, medical decisions will be made by the attending emergency medical personnel and health care providers in accordance with established medical protocols and standards of care.
To ensure timely communication during an emergency, it is essential that parents and guardians maintain current contact information with the school, including:
- Home address
- Home telephone number
- Mobile telephone numbers
- Duty/work telephone numbers
- Contact information for at least one alternate emergency contact authorized to act on the family's behalf
Accurate and up-to-date emergency contact information helps ensure that parents and guardians can be reached quickly, and that appropriate care decisions can be made when necessary.
Applicable DoW Policies
Immunization Requirements
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
Enrollment in DoWEA schools requires compliance with DoWEA Immunization Requirements. These requirements establish the minimum immunization standards for school entry and attendance and do not necessarily represent a student's optimal immunization status. Official documentation verifying immunization status may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Yellow international immunization records;
- State agency-generated immunization certificates;
- School-generated immunization certificates; and
- Physician, clinic, or hospital-generated immunization records.
It is the responsibility of the sponsor, parent, or legal guardian to provide the student's current immunization record at the time of enrollment and whenever immunizations are updated. Parents of newly enrolled students have up to 30 calendar days from the date of enrollment to provide documentation of any missing required immunizations. If a required immunization consists of a series, the first dose must be administered and documentation submitted to the school within the 30-day compliance period. Students with immunizations that become due during the school year must receive the required vaccine(s) and provide documentation to the school within 10 calendar days of the due date. A vaccine is considered due when the student reaches the minimum recommended age for administration of that vaccine.
DoWEA Immunization Requirements SY 26-27
Failure to provide proof of immunization compliance or a vaccine waiver request within 10 school days may result in the student's exclusion from school until the required documentation is received.
Applicable DoW Policies
Immunization Exemptions
This applies to:
Modification date
This policy is under review
Immunization exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons. Philosophical exemptions are not permitted.
Medical Exemptions
A medical exemption may be granted when a required immunization cannot be administered because of a permanent medical contraindication, a chronic medical condition for which the vaccine is contraindicated or documented natural immunity. A written statement from the student's licensed health care provider, or documentation from the medical facility, is required and must clearly identify the vaccine(s) involved and the medical basis for the exemption.
Requests for exemption based on vaccine contraindications or natural immunity must be submitted to the school at the time of enrollment or when the immunization becomes due. Once approved, a medical exemption remains valid for the duration of the student's enrollment and does not require annual renewal unless the student's medical status changes.
Religious Exemptions
If the sponsor/parent/legal guardian objects to immunization based on sincerely held religious beliefs, a written exemption request must be submitted to the school stating the religious basis for the objection.
Religious exemption requests must be submitted at the beginning of each school year. For students enrolling after the start of the school year, the request must be submitted at the time of enrollment and renewed annually thereafter.
Exclusion During Disease Outbreaks
During a documented outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, as determined by local DoW medical authorities, any student attending a DoWEA school under an exemption for the affected vaccine may be temporarily excluded from school. This measure is intended to protect the health and safety of the student, other students, and staff.
The exclusion will remain in effect until the applicable DoW Component command or public health authority determines that the outbreak has ended and that it is safe for the student to return to school.
DoWEA Immunization Requirements SY 26-27
For additional information about the DoWEA School Health Services Program, please contact the school nurse.
