School Nurse

Nurse Lisa Dishman E-Mail

Clinic Hours 6:45 am - 2:15 pm M-F Phone Number: 833-3614 ext 624

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

The Okaloosa County School Health Services Program provides a full time nurse at Choctawhatchee High School.  The School Nurse provides emergency care and services, administers regularly scheduled medications and performs health screening procedures as needed.  A student who is unable to continue in a class due to illness should report to the Nurse in the Clinic, located between Main Office and Attendance.

STUDENT HEALTH AND EMERGENCY CONTACTS

It is imperative that parents fill out an Emergency Contact Card at the beginning of each school year.  One is sent home with every student at the beginning of the school year.  This provides our school officials with valuable information regarding a student’s physical and academic special needs, as well as information regarding who to contact in an emergency situation.  Contact Cards are provided in the guidance department and should be turned in as soon as possible to ensure the safety of all the students. 

If it is determined that the student needs to leave campus due to illness or injury, the parent/guardian will be called from the nurse’s office. Students are not permitted to call from a classroom or their cell phones.

This policy is for the individual student’s health and safety! It also helps the nurse track any unusual illnesses or excessive occurrences of a disease. This is important for the protection of the entire school population.

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

Medications for headaches, upset stomach or other ailments must be provided by parents/guardians of the student.  All medications to be administered must meet the following conditions:

• An Administration of Medication In the School Permission form must be filled out and signed by the responsible party for the student.  This form may be obtained from the Nurse and/or from our school website and must be turned in to the Nurse at the time that the medication is brought to school.
• All Medication is to be in the original container or a pharmacy labeled container.  They must have the name of the student, name of the drug, dosage and administration times clearly indicated on the label.  Medications are received and stored under locked conditions in the Clinic.  Please check the expiration date on all medications.
• When it is necessary for a student to keep medications with them at all times, (i.e. inhalers, enzymes, or Epipens) physician’s order stating such must be obtained and kept with the Administration of Medications In the Schools form in the nurse’s office.  It is the responsibility of the student to report to the clinic at the appropriate time to take regularly scheduled medications.
• Students participating in a school sponsored trip should provide a separate Administration of Medications in the Schools form and appropriately labeled medications to the trip sponsor.

Help Us - Help You
Health information should always be shared with the nurse, either through a written health history or an individual personal interview. The information provided is considered both privileged and confidential. This means the information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis for the safety and well-being of the child. Please contact the nurse with any questions or to update your child’s health history. NOTE: written requests are periodically sent home to update important health information.

GENERAL ILLNESS GUIDLINES

Please follow these general guidelines when considering your child’s attendance at school. Please check with your child’s physician if you have a question about whether he/she should return to school.  
Pinkeye/ eye infections with discharge: may return when eyes are clear or have been treated with antibiotics for 24 hours.  
Vomiting/Diarrhea: may return 24 hours after symptoms are gone.  
Strep Throat/Scarlet Fever: may return 24 hours after start of antibiotics AND no fever. 
Impetigo/Ringworm: may return when skin is clear or child has been under treatment for 24 hours.  
Fever or Undiagnosed Rash: may return when symptoms are gone for 24 hours or note from physician permitting attendance at school.  
Chicken Pox: may return when old blisters have formed scabs, and there are no new ones.  
Head Lice: may return after hair has been treated and ALL live lice removed.  Do not send your child home on the bus until his/her hair has been checked by school personnel.  

IMMUNIZATIONS

The law requires all students entering into Florida public schools have a physical that is less than one year old and current immunizations.  Since all state laws are different regarding immunizations the student may be required to take additional vaccinations to stay school.   Students may get immunizations at the Okaloosa County Health Department or your private doctor. Immunizations required for school entry are FREE at the Health Department. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse.

SCHOOL HEALTH NEWS

To help you keep tabs of all the nuts and bolts for starting a new school year, the school nurse has compiled a comprehensive checklist.
• Is your child up-to-date on immunizations?
• When was your child’s last physical?
• Have you filled the health information and emergency contact forms for the school?
• Does your child have enough time for breakfast? It is hard to learn and do well with no energy to burn!  What are your child’s lunch and snack plans?
• Does your child need medications at school or for emergencies? This is particularly important for kids with asthma, food allergies, and diabetes.
• If your child has identified learning issues, does the new teacher know? Is a plan in place that you are satisfied with?
• Does your child know the traffic rules if walking, biking or driving to school?
• Did you review stranger safety with your child – to never accept rides, or any other invitation?
• Have you reviewed with your child what to do with bullies?
• Make sure after school plans include time for homework, a snack, some free time and a reasonable bedtime. Kids learn best with down time and enough sleep!
• Is your child nervous about starting the new year? Are there any lingering concerns from the past year?
• Is this a new school for your child? Have you made arrangements to see the school and a typical classroom?

Paying attention to a few extra details and being available those first few weeks for extra TLC will go a long way in helping you and your child adjust to another year filled with new challenges and new experiences.
Keeping the connection between health and achievement,
 Lisa D. Dishman , School Nurse