School Nurse Programs
Checklist for Schools
R A dedicated phone line for the school nurse in either a health or school nurse office. (When a child’s health is in danger, the situation may require urgent communications with a doctor’s office or other emergency personnel. A dedicated phone line will provide the ability for swift communication.)
R A dedicated space with running water, commode, and privacy.
R Supplies provided for the school nurse (e.g., office equipment including a lockable cabinet for medicine and a lockable cabinet for confidential files, as well as first aid supplies and other items for nursing care.
R Supplies provided for the teacher in each teacher’s room. These supplies should meet OSHA Requirements for Universal Precautions.
R Provisions for the school nurse to accomplish a school health needs assessment that identifies your school system’s needs for school health services. (A needs assessment is necessary to develop a school health program customized to meet your school system’s needs and to develop school health program objectives that are measurable and provide for program outcome measurements.)
R The required Tennessee “Guidelines for Use of Health Care Professionals and Health Procedures in a School Setting.”
R Provisions for school health policy development to be approved by you.
R Provisions for your school nurse to attend school nurse in-service programs each year.
R A Registered Nurse as your School Nurse. The Tennessee Nurses Association recommends a minimum of a baccalaureate degree for the registered nurse employed as your School Nurse.
R A Registered Nurse employed to supervise LPNs and other personnel who are not licensed as Registered Nurses (RNs) employed in your system.