School Nurses are nursing professionals that strive to advance the well-being of students and staff within the school environment. School Nurses promote healthcare and safety by handling the daily health issues that arise at the schools where we practice.
Below is some information on common public health illnesses:
- Coronavirus: COVID-19: https://www.covid19.nh.gov/
- Enterovirus D-68: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/enterovirus-d-68
- Flu: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/influenza-flu
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/mosquito-borne-illnesses
- Tick Borne Diseases: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/tickborne-diseases
Does Your Child Have Health Insurance?
If Not…
Please visit this website for information about medical assistance with the state of New Hampshire
HOOKSETT HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Sixth grade: Students entering 6th grade need to have a physical on file by the first day of school. A physical done after September 1, 2021 will be considered current. A copy of the updated immunization record must be supplied.
All new students need to have the following by the first day of school:
- Current physical or appointment card if scheduled for a physical. Students will not be allowed to try out or participate in interscholastic sports if a copy of the physical or appointment card is not on file.
- Copy of their immunization record.
Students will not be able to start school if these requirements have not been met.
STUDENT ILLNESS
Your child may need to stay home or will be sent home if any of the following symptoms are present:
Fever 100.4 or higher:
If your child’s temperature is 100.4˚F or higher, keep your child at home. While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without medicine) before returning to school. Recommended: Rapid at home, at school(with written parental/guardian permission), pharmacy, or medical provider COVID-19 test. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.covid19.nh.gov/
Mild cough/runny nose without medical provider documentation:
Recommended: Rapid at home, at school(with written parental/guardian permission), pharmacy, or medical provider COVID-19 test.
Bad cough/cold symptoms without medical provider documentation:
Recommended: Rapid at home, at school(with written parental/guardian permission), pharmacy, or medical provider COVID-19 test.
Diarrhea and/or Vomiting:
Recommended: Rapid at home, at school(with written parental/guardian permission), pharmacy, or medical provider COVID-19 test. Keep your child home until the illness is over and for 24 hours after the last episode (without medicine).
Sore Throat:
Recommended: Rapid at home, at school(with written parental/guardian permission), pharmacy, or medical provider COVID-19 test. If the COVID-19 test is negative, your child should stay home until feeling better without medication for 24 hours. Sore throat could also be strep throat even without fever and a negative COVID-19 test. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Keep your child home and contact a medical provider. Your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. If positive for strep throat, your child can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.
Flu:
All of the above can be symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu. It is never too late to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza. For more information on the flu please visit the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/infectious-disease-control/influenza-flu
Earache:
Your child needs to see a doctor when complaining of an earache.
Pink Eye:
(Conjunctivitis)– redness/drainage from eye(s). Pink eye is highly contagious. Most cases are caused by a virus, which will not respond to an antibiotic. Bacterial conjunctivitis will require an antibiotic; your doctor will be able to determine if this is the case. Your child must be on medication at least 24 hours before returning to school and/or no longer experience drainage from the eye(s).
Rash:
Children with an unexplained skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases. If your child is sent home with a rash, he/she will need a physician’s note to return to school.
DTP/DT/DTaP/Td/Tdap
6 Years of age and younger: Four or five doses, with the last dose given on or after the 4th birthday.
7 years of age and older: Three or four doses, with the last dose given on or after the 4th birthday.
Grade 7-12: 1 dose of Tdap is required for entry into 7th grade. A Tdap vaccine given on or after the 7th birthday meets the school requirement for 7th grade.
POLIO
Grades Kindergarten-Grade 10: 3 or 4 doses with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday adn the last 2 doses separated by 6 months or more
Grades 11-12: 3 doses, with the last dose given on or after the 4th birthday or 4 doses regardless of age at administration
MEASLES-MUMPS-RUBELLA (MMR)
Grades Kindergarten-Grade 12: 2 doses; the first dose must be administered on or after the 1st birthday
HEPATITIS B VACCINE
Grades Kindergarten – 12: Three doses at acceptable intervals.
VARICELLA (CHICKEN POX) VACCINE
Grades Kindergarten-Grade 12: 2 doses with the first dose administered on or after the 1st birthday OR laboratory confirmation of immunity. History of natural immunity without lab confirmation of immunity is NOT acceptable.
For more information about the State of New Hampshire Immunization Requirements, please visit:
2022-2023 NH School Immunization Requirements
Please call or email your child’s school nurse if you have any questions regarding your child’s immunizations or other health requirements.
At David R. Cawley Middle School: Over the Counter Medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and First Aid Treatments can be administered with parent/guardian written consent.
ALL OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION PERMISSION FORMS NEED TO BE FILLED OUT YEARLY. The link to the parent/guardian permission form is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKGV6MrBr8z_-xMySZHWWJUn58E4pHBUmBtxgM9GbVA/edit
Any prescription medication that needs to be administered during school hours must be accompanied by a signed health care provider’s order and also signed by the parent.
The medication must be in the original container, properly labeled with the student’s name, the health care provider’s name, the date of the prescription, name and strength of the medication and directions for taking the medication.
The medication is to be delivered to the school nurse or Principal by a parent or responsible adult over the age of 18.
GETTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S NOTE:
- Ask the health care provider for a prescription medication note.
- Ask the pharmacy for a second bottle with a label so you have a labeled bottle for home and school.
ALL MEDICATION ORDERS NEED TO BE RENEWED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR!
The link to the prescription medication form is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/174hmxnHnHnqgoRZ6M_AICHlmQaHm2OQjpJOK1tr-fmE/edit