Start a routine prior to the opening of school
3 min read
In order to have a successful academic year, students need to begin it as healthy as possible. For tips and guidance, we consulted with Carlene Sehon, School Health supervisor for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Here’s what she had to say:
What are your tips for parents before the first day of school?
- Set an earlier bedtime one week before school begins to establish a routine.
- Make sure your children eat a healthy breakfast each morning, whether at school or at home, so they are ready and prepared to learn when school begins.
- Make an appointment with your child’s doctor prior to the start of each new school year to get a signed physician’s authorization form for any medication or treatments.
- Parents should indicate any updates or changes in your child’s health condition on the student registration form and discuss this with the school nurse.
- Bring prescribed and over-the-counter medication to the school nurse with the child’s photo and the label on each prescription matching the doctor’s order.
What should parents do if their children need special medical care at school?
If you have a child with specific medical needs who requires care while at school, notify the school nurse before school begins or at the start of school. A meeting can be scheduled with the parents, teacher, school nurse, and if needed, the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) coordinator or other collaborative school team members to review care needs for the student. The school nurse works closely with the team throughout the year to monitor the student and ensure his or her medical and academic needs are met.
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What are some of the challenges you experience as a school nurse?
School nurses are the only health resource on campus and respond to many requests each day. We are the nutritionists, counselors, healers, health educators, and so much more. We tend to injuries and illness and help students manage complex, chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.
One of the biggest challenges occurs when a child is sent to school sick. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a new norm. Public school students were able to safely return and remain in the classroom during the past school year thanks to the efforts of the over 175 Health Care District of Palm Beach County school nurses in partnership with the Florida Department of Health for Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County. The school nurses followed strict protocols of infection control and conducted COVID-19 screenings and rapid testing in their school health rooms.
It’s just as important this coming school year for parents to keep sick children at home and not send them to school. This will also reduce spreading germs to others on campus. If a child is sick at school, the school nurse cannot dispense medication without physician authorization, so it is best if parents take their child to the doctor for treatment directives.
It is crucial for parents to provide the school with their correct contact information and keep it updated so the school nurse can immediately reach the parents or guardians should their child become ill.
What motivates you?
As a former school nurse and now as a school health supervisor, I support school nurses in health clinics in 21 public schools in northern Palm Beach County. For many students, the school nurse may be the only health provider they see all year.
In my 20 years with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, I served as a resource for students, parents, staff and the community by assisting them with access to the appropriate medical care they need. It’s rewarding to be part of an organization with a mission predicated on the referral and provision of services that will promote optimal health and academic success.
