Kathy Borniger, RN

St. Thomas Aquinas School Nurse

(Updated 12-20-2005)

The most important job of a school nurse is to assist students in attaining and maintaining their optimum level of health so that they can grow physically, emotionally, spiritually and academically. As the school nurse motto states, "Healthy students learn better."

School nurses are in partnership with parents who have the primary responsibility for the health of their children. If a specific treatment or medication has been prescribed for your child to use during the school day please let me know. I maintain a very open door policy to students, teachers, staff and parents. Please let me know if you or your physician has any concerns about the health and well being of your student. Your visits always remain confidential.

The flu and holiday season is upon us. Take extra good care of yourselves. Get enough sleep and exercise, eat nutritious foods, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and dress for the weather. As always the best advice to prevent the spread of infection and disease is to………….

WASH YOUR HANDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some students tell me that they are not really hungry at breakfast time so they either skimp on it or do not eat breakfast at all. Studies have shown that students who eat a healthy breakfast perform better at school. They also have fewer headaches and stomach aches. Doughnuts and pastries are okay once in a while but as a general rule, a breakfast that is high in protein will stay with you longer. Fortified cereals with milk are good, as are eggs and breakfast meats. However, if these are foods you do not like or cannot tolerate there are some healthy options. Try some of the following ideas:

Milk shakes with fruit and milk Instant breakfast mixes with milk
Low fat yogurt with dry cereal Peanut butter on crackers Apple or banana (with or without peanut butter) and milk Fruit and cheese
Granola bar with milk
Leftover pizza, spaghetti or a sandwich

An interesting study on brain development was released recently. Dr. Jay Giedd, a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health reports that an important new finding is that the frontal cortex area of the brain, which governs judgment, decision making and impulse control, doesn’t fully mature until around age 25. While most teens and young adults are very healthy, accidents remain the leading cause of death in adolescents followed closely behind by suicide. While eventually, scientists want to use these studies to treat illness and enhance development, Dr. Giedd wants parents to know that they can influence children’s brain development by modeling. He states “…one thing that seems especially intriguing is this notion of modeling... that the brain is pretty adept at learning by example. As parents, we teach a lot when we don’t even know we’re teaching, just by showing how we treat our spouses, how we treat other people, what we talk about on the way home…Things that a parent says in the car can stick with them for years. They’re listening” he said, “even though it may appear they’re not.”

Some of my duties include conducting health screenings, maintaining current health records on each student, upholding current health department and Diocesan regulations and caring for students who are ill or injured.

If your child becomes ill with a serious or communicable disease, please notify the health room so that other possible contacts can be monitored.

Health Records

Each student has a health record on file in the health office. This is a confidential record that contains copies of student physicals, Kansas Certificates of Immunization, health histories and screening data.

Physical Exams

A physical examination is required for new preschool, new kindergarten students and out of state students who are 8 years or younger. These may be obtained from your family health care provider. Forms are available in my office or the physician may choose to use his or her own form.

Athletic physicals are required for participation in sports and are the responsibility of the athletic department.

Immunizations

Preschool, kindergarten and transfer students must present proof that they have received or are in the process of receiving all immunizations required by the State of Kansas. If necessary, medical exemptions may be obtained from the family doctor and must be resubmitted each school year. Immunization records must be submitted to the health office prior to the student’s first day of school so that they may be audited for compliance.

Health History

A current health history listing any changes in your student’s health should be filled out and signed at the beginning of each school year.

Screenings

Hearing screenings are conducted in September and October of each school year. Students in Kindergarten, 1st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th, all new students and those students who failed the screening last year are checked.

Vision screenings are given in October and November of each school year. Students in Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, all new students and those who were referred last year are screened.

Dental screenings are held in February of each school year for all students who do not have a dental card on file. You may pick up dental cards at your dentist’s office after your child’s check-up.

Communicable Diseases

Students with contagious diseases such as chicken pox, strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, ringworm, scabies and lice, to name a few, must remain at home until they are no longer contagious. Please call the health room if you have any questions.

Other Reasons to Keep a Child Home from School (These precautions are for your child’s protection as well as for the other students and staff in the school.)

Fever-Any temperature of 100 or above. Your student must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

Vomiting and Diarrhea—Your child must not have had any episode of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

Colds and Nasal Discharge—If your student has a new cold that is "juicy" or a runny nose with lots of uncontrollable green or yellow discharge, please keep him or her at home.

Rashes—Any unidentified rashes should be checked by your doctor. A note from your doctor should be sent to the school, identifying the rash and any treatment necessary.

Medications at School Policy

Whenever possible, parents should arrange to give medications to their students at home, outside of school time. However, when a medication must be given during regular school hours, Diocesan policy and state guidelines state that that a written request signed by both parent and physician must be submitted for each medication. The medicine must be in its original container, marked with the student’s name. All medications are then dispensed from the health room. A medication form is available in the health room with the complete set of guidelines listed. This policy applies to prescription as well as over the counter medications. Parents may come to the school and administer the medicine if they prefer.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all our students well and in school. Please feel free to call or visit me any time with any questions or concerns you may have. My extension number is 114. You can also e-mail me at kborniger@yahoo.com.