Health Services

According to the National Association of School Nurses, "School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential." (NASN, 2021)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Coordinates, collaborates and implements mandated School Health Screenings including, but not limited to, vision, hearing, and scoliosis

• Prepares and files mandated reporting, as follows:

  • Annual Kindergarten and 7th Grade Immunization Assessment

  • Annual Report of Hearing Testing

  • Annual Report of Oral Health Assessments

  • Other reports as necessary

• Train Senior Health/Medi-Cal Technicians (LVNs) and act as a resource on matters related to their duties including: immunization compliance, health record keeping, administration of first aid, universal precautions, medication administration, communicable disease reporting and exposure notices, and coordination of health screenings

• Train employees and coaches in emergency medical interventions for students, as appropriate

• Interprets the health and development status and results of medical findings concerning the student and communicates relevant information to the appropriate school personnel. 

• Confers with family health care provider, as appropriate and needed, concerning the health and development status of students 

• Serves as a member of the IEP team, as needed, when health issues are identified

• Plans actions for eliminating, minimizing or accepting health conditions that interfere with student's learning and motivates and guides the persons responsible for student's health to appropriate resources

• Serves as a liaison to the parents, school, and community in health matters

• Provides information to children and/or their parents about the Medi-Cal system and where and how to access applications

• Serves as health consultant and resources to teachers in health education and growth and development curriculum

• AR 5141.31 Immunizations- provides information regarding required immunizations, exemptions, conditional enrollment, exclusions due to lack of immunizations, exclusions due to exposure of disease, records, and audits.

• BP 5141.33 Head Lice- provides information on how to manage students found with active head lice. 

• AR 5141.1 Accidents, Ill and Injured Students- provides information on procedures for either a major injury or emergency illness, basic criteria for calling 911/paramedics, list of items to include when calling 911/paramedics, guidelines for determining when a student should be sent home, transportation of ill/injured students, when an ill student may return to school, and accident/injury reports.

• Permission to Dispense Medication at School- Form needed for administration of medication to students

• Asthma Action Plan- Additional detailed order for treating asthma at school

• Allergy Action Plan- Additional detailed orders for treating severe allergies at school

• Allergy Verification Form- Form to verify student allergies

• Allergy Release Form- Form to acknowledge that allergies are no longer an issue

• Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information to School Districts- Medical release to communicate with student's healthcare provider

• Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations- Form needed to accommodate food allergies or other medical conditions

• Parental Request for a Fluid Milk Substitution for School-Age Children / Spanish- Form for students who are unable to tolerate traditional cow's milk

• Procedures for Care of Diabetic Students

• Seizure Action Plan- Specific orders on how to treat a student's seizure disorder at school

• Modified Physical Activity Form

Vision Screenings

Each student's vision shall be appraised by the school nurse, or other personnel authorized under Education Code 49452, during the kindergarten year or upon first enrollment or entry in a district elementary school and subsequently in grades 2, 5, and 8. The vision appraisal shall include tests for visual acuity, including near vision. Male students shall also be tested once for color vision in grade 1 or later and the results of the appraisal shall be entered in the student's health record (Education Code 49455).

Hearing Screenings

Each student shall be given a hearing screening test in the following grades (17 CCR 2951): 2, 5, 8, 10, or 11, and upon first entry into the California public school system. Each student enrolled in a special education program, other than those enrolled because of a hearing problem, shall be given a hearing test when enrolled in the program and every third year thereafter. Hearing tests may be given more frequently as needed, based on the individualized education program team's evaluation of the student (17 CCR 2951). A follow-up hearing threshold test shall be administered to any student who failed to respond to any of the required frequencies in the screening test or is otherwise determined to need further evaluation (17 CCR 2951). 

Local Health Resources

San Bernardino County Department of Public Health- Hesperia Health Center

16453 Bear Valley Rd., Hesperia, CA 92345

• This clinic gives immunizations at a low cost, or free, depending on each family's ability to pay. Please call (800) 722-4777 for an appointment. The Hesperia Health Center is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Child Health and Disability Prevention Program can also help uninsured children receive well-child care. Please call (800) 722-3777 for an appointment. 

Resources for Chronic Health Conditions

• American Diabetes Association

• Epilepsy Foundation

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Food Allergy Resource and Education 

• Type 1 Diabetes Fact Sheet / Spanish

• Type 2 Diabetes Fact Sheet / Spanish

Medi-Cal Resources

• Medi-Cal Information Pamphlet / Spanish

• How to Complete Your Medi-Cal Renewal Form / Spanish

Health Promotion Information 

• Nutrition- My Plate (CDC)

• Concussion Resources (CDC)

• Vaccines and Immunizations (CDC)

• Fitness for Children (Healthier Generation)

• Poison Control

• COVID-19 Related Plans, Updates, and Student Quarantine Protocols

Employee Resources

Company Nurse Information

Teacher/Staff Requests for Student Hearing and Vision Screenings

Employee Wellness- Go365