Role of the State School Nurse Consultant
As a school health nurse, you will:
- Act as a liaison and resource expert in school nursing practice to schools, school districts, school nurses, local public health, and other state agencies.
- Seek out and apply for grants to support school nursing initiatives.
- Provide guidance to ensure that all children, including individuals with disabilities, have equitable access to quality school health programs and services.
- Report state-specific school health data to the National Association of School Nurses annually.
- Support and promote the connection between health and academic achievement.
- Disseminate updates regarding health and education topics and evidence-based practices that are pertinent to school nursing practice.
Getting Started as a School Nurse
Tips to help you get started
- Join the school nurse listserv
- Contact Heather Kapella at hkapella@nd.gov to get added.
- Join the North Dakota School Nurse Organization (NDSNO)
- New School Nurse Orientation Program
Professional Organizations
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
- NASN position statements
- American Nurses Association
- American School Health Association
Rules & Regulations
Emergency School Health Guidelines
- School Nursing Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines: Medication Administration in Schools
- If you are not a NASN member but would like access to this document, please contact hkapella@nd.gov for access to this resource.
- Model Policies
- If you are not a NASN member but would like access to these documents, please contact hkapella@nd.gov for access to these resources.
- Delegation
- Administration of Oral Medication
- Medication Administration
- If you are not a NASN member but would like access to this document, please contact hkapella@nd.gov for access to this resource.
- Documentation
- Medication Reconciliation Form
- Medication Error Procedure
- If you are not a NASN member but would like access to these documents, please contact hkapella@nd.gov for access to these two resources.
- Emergency Medications
- Emergency Medication Administration 1
- Emergency Medication Administration 2
- Model Procedure
- If you are not a NASN member but would like access to these documents, please contact hkapella@nd.gov for access to these three resources.
Asthma and Allergies
- Asthma Law
- Asthma Action Plan
- Asthma Legislation: ND Century Code Chapter 15. 1-19
- Parent Consent Form for Asthma or Anaphylaxis Medications
- Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
Diabetes
Delegation
Scope of the School Health Technician (SHT)
School-required vaccines
Vaccine exemption information
Children may be exempt from immunization requirements for the following reasons:
- Medical Exemption: Requires a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating that the physical condition of the child is such that immunization would endanger the life or health of the child
- History of Disease: Requires a certificate signed by a physician stating that the child has a history of disease. History of disease exemptions may be claimed for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, or hepatitis B
- Personal Belief or Religious Belief Exemption: Requires a certificate signed by the parent or guardian who’s sincerely held philosophical, moral or religious belief is opposed to such immunization has context menu
By collecting accurate data regarding the health services provided to North Dakota children, this can give school nurses a voice to the role they play in removing health-related barriers to students’ education and the role school nurses have in promoting and protecting the health of North Dakota children. We share this data with the National Association of School Nurses.
Top Reasons to Collect Data
- Develop a national database showing the true prevalence of health conditions of the 95% of U.S. children who attend school every day.
- Create reports for stakeholders that demonstrate the complexity and many roles of the school nurse (Dispel stereotypes, create an accurate
school nurse narrative). - Set yearly, dynamic school nurse goals and priorities based on the needs of students.
- Advocate for policy change, (i.e. improve immunization policies).
- Advocate for other changes, safety, injury reduction, additional resources, i.e. EHRs.
- Identify the safest, most effective school health care models that meet the needs of all students.
- Identify trends in complex students needing nursing care.
- Data to write grants or apply for community partnerships.
- Identify students at risk, for social determinants, substance abuse, etc.
- Create and maintain a culture of evidence based and data informed practice.
- Show the link between school nursing and academic success.
- And the #1 Reason School Nurses Should Collect Data…To Enhance the Well-Being of Our Students so they are Healthy, Safe, and Ready to Learn!
Templates for Data Collection
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires that all athletes at Division I and II schools be tested for sickle cell trait before competing or sign a written release declining the test. The North Dakota Newborn Screening Program (NDNSP) began screening for sickle cell disease and trait(s) in 2003. Athletes born in 2003 or after can request a copy of their newborn screening results, which includes sickle cell screening, at no cost.
NBS results can be requested in the following ways:
- The athlete can contact their hospital of birth directly to request a copy of their Newborn Screening results from their medical record.
- The athlete requesting the result could submit a request through their primary care provider (or sports medicine provider) and the results can be sent securely to them and then given to the athlete.
- Lastly, the athlete can request their Newborn Screening results from the NDNSP by emailing nbs@nd.gov. They must also attach a completed release of information form to the email. The link can be found here.
COVID-19
Learn more about COVID-19 in schools, universities, child care and congregate settings.
Behavioral Health
Browse our behavioral health services, mental health resources and initiatives, and promotion and prevention efforts.