School Nurse and Health Suite

STUDENT HEALTH INFORMATION

The School Nurse is here to assist with identifying and eliminating medical barriers that may interfere with a student’s education and to promote the health and well-being of all students. I look forward to working with you and your child to provide a safe, healthy school environment.

Early Dismissal Due to Illness

If your child becomes ill during school hours and needs to be picked up from school, only a parent/guardian or an individual listed as an emergency contact may sign the student out of school.

Please make sure your emergency contact information remains current. If you move, change your telephone number, or experience a significant change in your circumstances, please update your information through the Main Office. Proper identification is required when making changes to emergency contact information.

Guidelines for Keeping Students Home from School

Please keep your child home from school if they have:

● Cold or flu-like symptoms accompanied by a fever of 100°F or higher. Students should be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

● More than one episode of vomiting or diarrhea. Students should be free from vomiting and diarrhea for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

If symptoms are persistent, worsening, or not improving, please seek medical attention from your child’s healthcare provider.

Medical Conditions

If your child has been hospitalized or has a newly diagnosed medical condition that may impact their education please let the school nurse know and provide all necessary documentation, such as health plans for accommodations. Additional  support can then be considered as needed.

Physical Examinations

Pennsylvania requires comprehensive health examinations upon original entry to school, in 6th grade, and in 11th grade. A physical examination may be completed by the student’s healthcare provider or by the school healthcare provider. (Pennsylvania Government)

Please submit completed physical examination documentation to the School Nurse.

Immunization Requirements

Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations require students attending public, private, parochial, charter, and other covered schools to meet applicable school immunization requirements. (Pennsylvania Government)

The required immunizations include:

● 4 doses of DTaP (with one dose given on or after the 4th birthday)

● 4 doses of polio, subject to Pennsylvania’s timing requirements

● 2 doses of MMR

● 3 doses of Hepatitis B

● 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) or acceptable evidence of immunity

● 1 dose of Tdap for entry into 7th grade

● 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) for entry into 7th grade

● 1 additional dose of MCV4 for entry into 12th grade

A meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine does not substitute for the required MCV4 vaccination. (Pennsylvania Government)

Students Completing a Vaccine Series

Students who are in the process of completing a required multi-dose vaccine series may be permitted to attend school provisionally when they have started the required series and are following the appropriate schedule for completing it.

Students who do not meet Pennsylvania’s immunization requirements, and who do not qualify for an applicable exemption, may be excluded from school until the requirements are met. Pennsylvania law provides for certain medical, religious, and philosophical/strong moral or ethical exemptions. (Pennsylvania Government)

Medications During School

Students are not permitted to carry or possess medications in the school building unless specifically authorized under school district policy and applicable law.

Medications that require administration during school hours must have appropriate healthcare-provider authorization and required school documentation, including a completed MED-1 form, as applicable.

Students who carry inhalers must demonstrate to the School Nurse that they are able to safely and appropriately self-administer the medication in accordance with their healthcare provider’s orders and school district policy.

Students are prohibited from sharing, giving, selling, or using inhalers in any manner other than as prescribed. Violations may result in disciplinary action.

The District reserves the right to withdraw authorization for a student to self-administer medication when permitted under District policy.

Students who require Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen during school hours must have the required S-865 form completed by a parent/guardian each school year.

Pain Administration Form 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r1jsmc5p2p6qtmOc28C6Ku4z-zjqYDimUuPYU7M00Fs/edit?usp=sharing

School Nurse

Davelle Bynum, BSN, RN, CSN
South Philadelphia High School
Email: dbynum@philasd.org