Clinic Policies

The clinic policies are not meant to keep children out of the clinic, but to minimize lost educational opportunities and instill lifelong character traits (i.e. responsible use of time and medical facilities).

1. If your child has a fever, he/she should be kept out of school until your child has been fever free (temperature < 31°/100.5°) for at least the past 24 hours.
2. Should a child vomit while at school, the clinic will notify the parent, and the child will be required to be picked up from school. If your child has vomited with or without diarrhea, it is important that your child has had no vomiting for 24 hours, and fewer than 5 stools/day prior to returning to school.
3. Should your child need to take an antibiotic as prescribed by the doctor for strep throat, he/she may return to school after at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and no fever for 24 hours.
4. Rashes: Some children may need to be cleared by a physician before attending school.
5. It is important to consider the overall condition of your child (such as energy level, appetite) to see if he/she is able to attend school. You should keep your child at home if he/she might spread a contagious disease to other children and teachers, or if he/she is too sick to get through the school day. Children who are sick have a hard time learning and may get other children and teachers sick.
6. Teach your student to wash their hands. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “hand washing is the single most important procedure for preventing the spread of infection.”
7. In case of an emergency, each student is required to have, on file at the school office, the information required in the OIS Handbook.

1. A Hall Pass is required to visit the clinic.
2. Students who do not have an issue that requires a mandatory call to parents for pick up (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, open weeping sores, head lice, etc.) will be asked to return to class and to come back to the clinic at lunch or recess (whichever occurs first) if they continue to feel poorly.
3. If you feel that the child needs to go home, and they do not have any of the conditions listed above, please write a note explaining why so that the nurse can pass this information along to the parent and note it in the clinic log.

1. Sore Throats: Are a very common complaint. They are not emergent and should not be sent to the clinic during class, unless other symptoms are present as well. (i.e.: temp, vomiting, rash, strep odor) They may be assessed by the clinic nurse at break. If reddened or sinus drainage is observed, fluids may be encouraged and a note may be sent home. If blisters or swollen tonsils are observed, a parent will be contacted.
2. Stomachaches: This is a very frequent complaint, often exaggerated, and difficult to medically evaluate. It can become a very time consuming evaluation for the student, clinic nurse, and teacher. If child states vomiting, there must be verification from school staff. If the student has been in clinic 20 minutes without fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, they may return to class. Upon initial complaint to teacher, the student should be given opportunity to use bathroom or eat a snack. If a child has a medical condition that causes frequent stomach problems, it should be reported to the school nurse or principal so that a Plan of Care can be written and special arrangements can be made.
3. Splinters will be removed if visible and accessible with tweezers. They will not be “dug” out. A Band-Aid may be given and a note sent home to parents alerting them of the splinter.
4. If pink eye is suspected, child will be sent home and referred to a doctor for evaluation & treatment.
5. Students with draining wounds that cannot be covered with appropriate bandages will not be allowed at school.
6. Head Lice: If lice are visible, student will be sent home. They may be excused one day from school for treatment. Upon return to school, a parent/guardian must accompany child to clinic and have the nurse check head for lice. If no lice are found, child may stay at school. If lice are still present, they will be sent back home. They will be checked every 3 days for new nits & lice.
7. Fever of >=37.8 º /100º the student will be sent home. They may return the next day if no fever, unless it is during flu season then they must be fever-free for 24hrs without the use of fever-reducing medication.
8. All head traumas will be reported to parent/guardian immediately. Student will be sent home if needed.
9. Ringworm: Students will be sent home if ringworm is present. They may return to school after appropriate medical treatment is started. Two applications are preferred.
10. Chicken pox: All students with open/draining lesions will be excluded from school. They may not return until ALL lesions are crusted & healing.
11. Scabies: If scabies is suspected, your child may be sent home and referred to a medical professional for diagnosis. They may not return to school until treated and released by doctor.
12. Rashes: If allergic reaction is suspected and student is at risk for respiratory difficulty, your child may sent home or to a medical facility immediately. Rashes of unknown origin will be reported to parent and treated accordingly.
13. Headaches: If student complains of a headache, and no other symptoms, they may be asked to remain in class until break. Exceptions to this would be diagnosis of migraines or other medical condition that includes frequent headaches. Questions to ask students before sending them to the clinic during class:

Hungry? Allergies? Sensitive to smells? Eyestrain? These are not emergent and can wait until class breaks. This is also a very frequent complaint and hard to evaluate/diagnose. Parents, please talk with your school nurse if there is a history or medical problem so that special adjustments can be made.

14. Earaches can be a common complaint, especially among the elementary age. Unless it is a chronic pain or drainage is apparent, the child may be kept in class until break. The school nurse can check for inflammation and drainage, but cannot diagnose an ear infection; therefore, the child may be referred to a physician for further evaluation. Most children with earaches without temperature can stay at school.
15. Over-the-counter medicines such as cough syrup, antihistamines, decongestants, etc. may be given at school if necessary and as long as the parent brings the medicine in the original unopened container, labeled with student’s name, to the school nurse/aid with instructions (dose & time). They will be administered for a maximum of 5 days, after 5 days, the child will be referred to his/her physician for further evaluation. We do not encourage giving medicine at school when doses can be given at home or if it will make stt make student drowsy or impaired.

When a medical practitioner has prescribed medication that must be administered during the school day, parents are responsible for:

• bringing this need to the attention of the school
• Prescription medication must be in the original container and labeled, including the patient name, name of medication, dosage, and time to be given.
• ensuring that the information is updated if it changes
• supplying the medication and any ‘consumables’ necessary for its administration in a timely way
• collaborating with the school in working out arrangements for the supply and administration of the prescribed medication.

Only the school nurse, school doctor, or other staff member who is a medical professional will administer medications.

16. Nurses will not be responsible for “pulling” baby teeth. Do not send those students to the clinic.
17. If a student has a piercing that is infected (red, drainage, foul odor) they will be sent home.
18. Nurse will keep a logbook of all students visiting the clinic and disposition. The office will be informed when a student is being sent home. The office will annotate the attendance files accordingly.