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, 2022 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 will need to stay home from school and see their PCP if needed for the following symptoms:
Fever
If your child’s temperature is 100.4 or higher, keep your child home from school. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
Mild Cough/Runny Nose
Keep your child home from school, call your child’s doctor, and have them seen by their PCP or tested for COVID-19 if advised. Environmental or Seasonal allergies may cause mild cough/runny nose. If your child has any allergies that may cause these symptoms, please provide appropriate medical documentation to the school nurse.
Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms
Keep your child home from school, call your child’s doctor, and have them seen by their PCP or tested for COVID-19 if advised. Cough and cold symptoms can also be symptoms of COVID-19 and or Flu.
Diarrhea and/or Vomiting
Keep your child home from school, call your child’s doctor, and have them seen by their PCP if advised.
Sore Throat/Strep
Keep your child home from school, call your child’s doctor, and have them seen by their PCP or tested for Streptococcus. If your child is diagnosed with Strep Throat, they may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.
Flu and COVID-19
Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but different viruses cause them. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in 2019. Flu is caused by infection with an influenza virus. Both COVID-19 and flu can have varying degrees of symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/having chills (Not everyone with flu will have a fever.)
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (more frequent in children with flu, but can occur in any age with COVID-19)
- Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19.
If your child has any of the above symptoms, please keep them home from school, call your child’s doctor, and have them seen by their PCP if advised.
The below symptoms may require medical attention
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.
These guidelines have been updated for the 2024-2025 school year and may change based on Centers for Disease Control recommendations.
If at any time you have questions, please feel free to contact your child’s school nurse.
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:
2024-2025 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. All parents can complete the over the counter medication form online via: 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