Lexington School Nurses

Health care services are provided by registered nurses in each of our nine schools. Every school has a registered nurse available to provide health care services whenever school is in session. With over 57,000 office visits recorded during the 2010-11 school year, our primary mission is to provide exceptional health services to support every student’s academic success. A nurse leader supervises district-wide health office activities and assures compliance with regulatory standards set by the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health (MDPH) and Elementary and Secondary Education. A school physician serves as an advisor to the nurses.

Please help the school nurse care for your child by

• Informing the nurse if your child has any chronic or acute illnesses
• Communicating with the nurse directly if medication or health needs change or if they have been exposed to a communicable disease such as a strep infection or chicken pox
• Updating the phone numbers on your child’s emergency card so the nurse can always reach you
• Sharing with the nurse if there is an event at home or in the family that may impact your child at school such as serious illness or death of a family member, death of a beloved pet.
  

Please keep your child home when the following symptoms are present

• Temperature of 100 degrees F or greater within the past 24 hours
• Vomiting or diarrhea occurring within the past 24 hours
• Strep infections of any kind, ringworm, conjunctivitis, or impetigo. These are all contagious infections and must be treated with medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school
• Rash of unknown origin-this may indicate many different things and should be checked by your pediatrician
• Pain should be taken seriously, especially in young children. Earaches, toothaches, and headaches should be evaluated
• Untreated lice (pediculosis) infestation