When your child is not feeling well during the school day, our TPS School Nurses are available in the School Health Office to assess your child. We ask parents/care providers to please have a plan in place to pick up your child in case he/she needs to be dismissed from school for illness or accidental injury. If a student has symptoms of illness needing to be dismissed, the school nurse will contact the parents/care providers as listed on your child's Emergency Contact sheet. We will contact all names you listed on the Nurse Emergency Contact sheet until someone is reached.
Please keep in mind that your child can be ill and contagious without the presence of a fever.
Below is a list of common health issues for your reference. This is a partial list as your School Nurse’s assessment determines when a student is unwell and in need of a nursing dismissal from school. Thank you.
- FEVER- We consider a temperature of 100 degrees or higher a fever. Children should remain at home fever-free for 24 hours without taking Tylenol or Motrin.
- VOMITING/DIARRHEA- Children should remain at home symptom-free for 24 hours and are able to ingest fluids and food comfortably.
- COUGHS/COLDS- If your child has discomfort from their cold symptoms, consider keeping them home. A continuous cough and/or continuous or green nasal drainage may need to be evaluated by your child’s physician.
- CONJUNCTIVITIS- Your child may need to be on an antibiotic for 24 hours after the first dose before returning to school or a note from your student Pediatrician/MD with other guidance. Good hand-washing for the entire family is essential to prevent its spread.
- STREP THROAT- Children cannot return to school until 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic is taken. They should feel well enough to return to school. Some children feel ill for several days with strep infections.
- SUSPICIOUS RASH- Children with rashes that are suspicious should have them evaluated by a physician and be cleared to return to school.
- MONONUCLEOSIS- Please contact the school nurse if your child is diagnosed with mono. Your child’s physician will most likely place restrictions on their physical activity and temporary accommodations can be arranged at school.
- HEAD LICE- Please refer to our link section for specific information on treating head lice. Children are to be treated with pediculosis: such as Nix. Please contact your child’s physician for advice on which product / treatment they recommend.
- FIFTH’S DISEASE- Children are no longer contagious by the time symptoms appear with this viral illness. Fifth’s disease is of concern to pregnant women and should be reported to the school nurse.
- CHICKENPOX- Your child should remain at home five days or until all areas are crusted over, completely dry and no new areas are breaking out. Cases of Chickenpox should be reported to the Schools Nurse
- IMPETIGO- Your child must remain at home until 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics.
'Note: School Nurses are responsible for providing care for students so they can be successful, healthy and safe in school. Current state and district guidance for School Nursing Practice in Massachusetts includes:
- Prescription medications that have multiple doses per day should be given at home as much as possible: for example, antibiotics are often prescribed three times a day, for five, seven or ten days in a row. Families should plan to administer their children's antibiotic medication at home. For example: a three-times-a-day antibiotic can be given at home: before school, after school and at the students' bedtime,
- Other supplements, like homeopathic or herbal supplements, and/or dietary supplements, e.g., vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids, that do not meet meets the definition of a drug under Mass State regulations (105 CMR 700.001) will not be administered in school by a school nurse. Parents are always free to administer supplements to their children off site, before or after school."