Nursing Services manages the health needs of students in the Newark School District and at non-public schools. Two licensed school nurses and nine health aides provide an array of services including:
- Vision screening
- Hearing screening
- Medication management
- Development/implementation of health care plans
- First-aid and illness management
Each building has either a nurse or aide staffing the clinic daily. The health staff is responsible for basic first aide tasks in the schools---everything from putting band-aids on boo-boos to administration of prescription medications, as permitted. Further, they check for documentation of immunizations, conduct vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings at various grades.
The health aides are certified in first aide/CPR and also receive training annually by the nurses on topics such as treatment of seizures, asthma, diabetes, allergies, and other building-specific health needs. The registered nurses may be called upon to train health care teams in buildings whose students have special/specific needs.
In order for any child to receive medication at school, the parent must have the doctor complete and sign an authorization form that includes all pertinent information about the medication and directions for administration. NO medication will be given without the form, which must be completed annually or whenever the prescription changes. All medications are kept in locked areas.
The health staff often works collaboratively with the school social workers, who also have offices in many of our buildings. Together, they assist families whose children need medical, eye, dental, or psychological care.