EDIT HTML BLOCK

Mrs. Cathy Albright-School Nurse

Welcome to my website. Columbia Health Services promotes health and well-being while minimizing absenteeism. Every building has a Certified School Nurse and an RN or LPN that assists in the role of Health Room Nurse. I hope that you find this information valuable.

WHAT IS SCHOOL NURSING? 

School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement and health of students. School nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety including a healthy environment; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy, and learning (NASN, 2010).

Duties of the School Nurse

School nurses provide first aid for students. They also educate students and faculty in safety and wellness and promote good safety and health practices in the school. School nurses work with dentists and physicians to provide health screenings, including vision, hearing, and spinal screenings. Duties of school nurses also include keeping health records for students and , when required, helping children manage long-term medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. Children of all ages must be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy so they are able to learn. The School Nurse works in partnership with parents to promote the health and safety of our students.

EDIT HTML BLOCK

Immunization Requirements

All students entering all grades are require by the PA Department of Health to have the following immunizations for attendance in Pennsylvania Schools:

• Minimum four (4) doses of polio vaccine-4^th dose on or after 4^th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given.
• Minimum four (4) doses of the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine-One dose must be administered on or after the 4^th birthday.

• One (1) dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussin (Tdap) on the first day of 7^th grade.

• Two (2) doses measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
• Three (3) doses hepatitis B vaccine.
• Two (2) doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity (disease).
• ***Two (2) doses of Meningococcal (MCV)-1st dose given for by the first day of 7th grade, 2nd dose given by the first day of 12th grade.

The student are required to complete the immunizations prior to starting the school year. Please check with your family physician or child’s pediatrician regarding a schedule that meets your child’s individual need.

Exemptions for the school laws for immunizations are:

• Medical reasons;
• Religious beliefs; and
• Philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction.

If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak.

Pennsylvania’s school immunization requirements can be found in
28 PA Code Ch.23 (School Immunization)

Contact your health care provider or Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).