Nursing Services

• Registered nurses (RNs) and are assigned to one or more schools
  • School Nurses List
• Registered Nurses review student health information provided by parents and health care providers
• Registered Nurses case manage and develop individual health care plans and emergency care plans for student’s individual health needs during school. 
• Registered Nurses train teachers, administrators and other school staff to support individual student health needs
• Registered Nurses collaborate, develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention programs to educate the school community about public health concerns such as immunization, nutrition, fitness, chronic disease and emotional well-being
• Registered Nurses provide consultation on health issues related to Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and Section 504 Plans.
• Registered Nurses follow the Colorado Delegation clause to delegate to unlicensed personnel in schools, supervise, train and work closely with School Health Room Paraprofessionals
• Registered Nurses link students and families to community resources
• Registered Nurses collaborate with other district departments and partnership towards the goal of supporting students to access their education

• Are assigned to one school
• Health Room Paraprofessionals are not nurses (RN’s)
• They work under the clinical oversight of a School Nurse (RN)
• Provide first aid for students who become ill or injured at school (CPR/AED/First Aid) certification, Diabetes, Seizures, Severe Allergy, Asthma, Medication Administration in Schools training requirements. 
• Help to ensure students take medication appropriately according to physician orders and training/delegation by the school RN. 
• Help support  & coordinate mandated health screening for students
• Support the social and emotional well-being of students
• Immunization compliance 

School Health Services staff provide care to students who become ill or are injured at school, respond to emergencies, monitor immunization compliance, manage communicable diseases, administer medications and treatments, support the social and emotional well-being of students and maintain health records. 

• Providing health information about their children to the school nurse
• Notifying school health room staff (health assistant/nurse) whenever their child’s health needs change
• Providing properly labeled medication and health care providers’ order for medication to be given in school (see medication administration form located on this site)
• Keeping their child home when they are sick (reference how sick is too sick document) for more information 
  • Parent expectation when called to pick up an ill student: Parents are expected to maintain most current contact information on your student's Power School information for emergency contact.  Parents are highly encouraged to respond quickly and make arrangements to quickly pick up their ill student from school. 
• Encouraging healthy nutrition, sleep and exercise

If parents/guardians have questions about school health services at their child's school, please contact your school's health room. 

D49 follows Colorado Department of Education Screening Protocol for Hearing and Vision programs to identify and refer students at risk for vision and hearing problems.  Screening sessions are scheduled early in the school year for children in PK-9th grades, by teacher referral and for students newly enrolled in District 49.  To opt out your student from any school screenings please contact your school's health room at the beginning of the school year. 

Meal Modification needs: Please contact our D49 Nutrition Services for any school meal modifications/requests.

Medication Policy:  Colorado State law governs our medication policy and under District 49 procedures for administration of medications to students pursuant to school board policy JLCA, Student Health/Nursing Services and requirements.  If your child must take medication during school and/or during any school-sponsored events, you must provide the following. 

•     The school nurse shall have received written orders for administration of the medication from the student's licensed health care practitioner with prescription authority.  Also, the parent shall authorize school personnel to confer with the prescribing healthcare provider by providing written permission for medication administration to students. This includes all over-the-counter, prescription, and homeopathic medications. (The only exception is cough drops, which are supplied from home, and may be given with written parent permission. The cough drops will be kept in the health room, and your student may have up to 3 per day.) The physician may fax medication orders to the school.  PLEASE NOTE: The pharmacy label applied to the medication bottle will NOT suffice for a doctor’s order.

• Medication will be administered by the school nurse, or by unlicensed school personnel trained and delegated by the Registered Nurse registered for the task of giving such medication. A parent is always welcome to come to school and administer medication to his/her own child as necessary. 
• Medication shall be in the original, properly labeled pharmacy container with the current date printed on the container, and all other parameters required for medication administration (student name, prescribing physician's name, drug name, dose, route, time and/or frequency). 
• All non-rescue medications must be kept in a secure cabinet in the school health room.  If a student must carry rescue medication with him or her, such as an inhaler, Epi-Pen, diabetes supplies, a physician order is required, and the student must sign a self-carry contract. 
• D49 will allow high school students ONLY to self-carry ONLY 1-2 doses of over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol and Motrin which must be in the original store-bought container and follow strict OTC medication self-carry contract and safety guidelines.  All OTC Self-Carry contracts for high school students must be signed by a parent/guardian, student and school nurse and renewed every school year. 

Life-Threatening Allergies: 

Due to a growing number of students that may develop anaphylaxis if exposed to an allergen, District 49 strives to keep all students safe by educating staff and parents about allergy prevention. District 49 schools are Peanut/Tree Nut Protected, buildings are not Peanut/ Tree Nut-free. We encourage students who bring their own lunch (which may contain allergens) to not share food with their peers at school. Homemade food items are not allowed in classrooms to be shared for class parties. Teachers are encouraged to coordinate with parents to have the option to provide non-food items for parties. If food is a part of the classroom celebration, store-bought food MUST have an attached ingredient label and cannot contain nut/peanut ingredients. 

Due to the risk of latex becoming airborne as a result of balloon popping, latex balloons are not permitted in District 49 schools. Mylar foil balloons are an acceptable alternative to latex balloons for the school setting.

District 49 has adopted a policy for Stock Epinephrine for Schools. See link below: 

https://www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/stockepipenguidelines2014

For more information about life-threatening allergies, visit:

https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/what-food-allergy

https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/anaphylaxis

https://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/media/3067/teal-classroom-resources-pack.pdf

Personal Care Items: The following items may be applied to your child if needed ONLY for preventative care: Vaseline (for chapped lips), lotion, natural saline eye drops.  Please inform your school nurse if you do not want these items applied to your child. 

Use of crutches and wheelchair:  Each health room has a wheelchair for emergency use only.  If your student requires temporary use of their own crutches or wheelchair, please provide a Dr.’s note to the health room and accommodations will be made.  Parents must provide mobility devices for their students such as crutches, wheelchair since these will not be provided by the school.

Immunizations: Entry to KG and K-12th Grade School Required Immunization Parent Letter for 2024-2025 school years are posted on this site.  New Senate Bill 20-163 Non-Medical exemption process has changed effective July 1, 2021. 

Illness Guidelines: District 49 is following the Illness Guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Children’s Hospital Colorado.  Please refer to the Child Care Health Regulations posted on the CDPHE website.

School Required Forms to be completed by student’s primary care physician & signed by parent/guardian must be updated every school year.  If unsure of which form to download, please contact your school nurse and/or your school health room staff. 

Use this link and go to Health Care Plans “health care plan quick links within green box”: 

https://www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/snh_healthissues#care plan

Health Care Plan Quick Links/Allergy/Anaphylaxis

• Colorado Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan and Medication Orders
  • *If your student will self carry their Epinephrine, we will also require a self carry contract which will be completed at your student’s school. 

Health Care Plan Quick Links/Asthma/Health Care Plan

• Colorado Asthma Care Plan
  • *If your student will self carry their Asthma Inhaler medication, we will also require a self carry contract which will be completed at your student’s school. 

Health Care Plan Quick Links/Epilepsy/Seizures

• Seizure Action Plan

Health Care Plan Quick Links/Diabetes 

• Go To: Nursing Forms Resources/Nurse Files/Provider Order Forms (towards bottom of page).  
  • Form 201 Provider Order Forms for Insulin Injections
  • Form 202 Provider Order Forms for Insulin Pumps
    • *Barbara Davis Center and Children’s Hospital Diabetes Medical Providers are aware of which form the school will require, they will provide these orders at your medical appointment.  

Medication Administration Form

Please contact your school health room to obtain the “permission to administer medication in school” form if your student will require a daily medication during school hours such as ADHD/as needed over the counter medications. 

School Nurses will be sending annual health forms in student's communication folder sent by the classroom teacher at elementary level.  Secondary level school nurses for middle/high school these forms may be sent at the discretion of the school nurse, especially for new students to District 49.