Welcome to the nurse's office at New Roberto Clemente School

The role of the school nurse is to provide ethical and evidence-based healthcare to all students at NRC. The school nurse manages acute, emergent, and chronic medical conditions. Early detection of medical problems can be identified during yearly health screenings. Additionally, prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases is targeted through immunization compliance. The school nurse welcome parents to call for any concerns. The more we know, the better care that can be provided to your child.

What happens if your child become ill or injured at school?

Your child will be assessed and cared for by the school nurse. In case of minor illness or injury, parents or other designated caregivers may be contacted and/or sent a note from the nurse. In case of serious illness or injury, we will call "911" and then contact parents or other designated caregivers. It is very important that you update your contact information whenever it changes.

When should you keep your child home from school?

• It is sometimes difficult to determine if a child really needs to stay home and miss school. Here are some guidelines for parents:
• If a child has vomiting or diarrhea -- they must stay home until they are vomit or diarrhea free for 24 hours.
• If a child has a fever (100 degrees or higher), they must stay home for 24 hours after the fever has subsided (without fever-reducing medication). Keep in mind that a mildly elevated temperature may be an early indication of illness.
• If a child has a sore throat with fever and/or vomiting, consider a visit to the pediatrician. Students who test positive for strep must stay home until they have taken antibiotics for 24 hours.
• If a child has discharge or crusting from the eyes, please consult with a pediatrician. Students should be discharge-free before returning to school.
• If a child has a bad cold or any other illness that prevents them from being able to focus in the classroom - or might disturb/infect the rest of the class - a day of rest at home can be very therapeutic. 

You may prevent a more serious illness by giving your child time to recover.  

Medications at school:

Medications can only be administered in school by the school nurse upon receipt of medication administration form completed by physician and parent. Parents must deliver the medication to the nurse in the original container. The doctor’s orders must include the following:

• Student’s name
• Medication dosage
• Medication administration time
• Purpose of medication
• Written permission from the parent/guardian to administer the medication

Students are not allowed to carry medications while at school; including, prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, home remedies, etc. Medications on students will be confiscated and must be picked up by parent/guardian.

Covid-19 guidelines:

Individuals with covid-like symptoms (at least one symptom from column A or two or more symptoms from column B) are to stay home and obtain PCR covid-19 test and/or doctor’s clearance to return to school. If any individual is to test positive for covid-19, you must notify the school nurse to obtain quarantine period and return to school instructions.

Column A	Column B
New onset or worsening cough	Fever
Shortness of breath	Chills
Difficulty breathing	Shivers
New loss of smell	Muscle aches
New loss of taste	Headache
	Sore throat
	Nausea or vomiting
	Diarrhea
	Fatigue
	Congestion or runny nose

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals that have been within 6 feet of someone with Covid-19 for at least 15 cumulative minutes or more over a 24-hour period are close contacts. If you have had recent close contact with an individual positive with covid-19, it is required you wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days post exposure to covid-19. If covid-like symptoms are developed at any time during the 10-day period, the individual must stay home and obtain covid-19 PCR test and/or medical clearance. Please notify the school nurse should this occur.

Physicals

It is required students obtain a physical by their medical provider at time of enrollment. It is recommended students obtain a physical by their medical provider on a yearly basis. Students participating in a sports team are required to provide a sports physical completed by their physical prior to the first practice.

 

Thanks,

Marta Sanchez, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ

School Nurse

New Roberto Clemente

482-506 Market Street

Paterson, NJ 07503

973-321-0249

IMPORTANT HEALTH FORMS