Section 1: How to use the School Nurse Toolkit

Table of Contents

Instructions

  1. All schools for accreditation purposes or programs have policies surrounding health services. Some schools or programs may have provision of health service delivery for enrolled children.
  2. Licensed registered nurses and licensed education practitioners working in all schools or programs are required to ensure acts for health service delivery that require licensure or qualification are carried out by licensed or qualified personnel in accordance with their licensing boards, policies and program standards.
  3. Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 281-14.2 requires school districts or accredited nonpublic schools to consult licensed health personnel working under the auspices of the school when developing guidelines and policies.
  4. Schools and programs receiving federal allocation or participating in federal programs may also be required to comply with other differing provisions of care based on the child's specific health needs who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  5. Schools and programs must obtain consent from parents for medication administration or ongoing special health services for a student. This process demonstrates respect and consideration for the parents' role in their child's health. Parent consent is kept on file, and the renewal time frame is locally determined.
  6. All learners health information and records received from parents are protected by the Family Education Rights Privacy Act.
  7. The department of education provides a free medication administration course provided to all public or accredited nonpublic schools or school sanctioned programs for free to meet policy and licensure requirements. The course is taken at the request from the registered nurse to the consenting unlicensed personnel every five years every 5 years by unlicensed personnel, The unlicensed school personnel are required to complete an annual hands on skills check of all delegated tasks and health services. The licensed registered nurse delegating medication administration signs the school personnel's certificate after completion of the skills check to be considered valid for safe medication administration.
  8. Documentation of the delegatee's consent, written instructions used to demonstrate competency, understanding of the role to complete documentation of health service delivery for a school, and the evaluation of the delegatee are located on the department’s website (2 pages) to meet Iowa Code 280.23.
  9. The school nurse maintains accountability and defines the level of supervision and evaluation of personnel performing special health service delivery in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act IAC 481-620.