School nurse

A school nurse is a nurse assigned to work in a school.

Schools have nurses to promote good health in students, and in preparation for illnesses and emergencies in students.

Some places have laws requiring schools to have nurses.

Duties

The duties of school nurses are:

• Give medicines to students who are on prescription medicines.
• Take the temperatures of students who complain they are feeling ill.
• Isolate sick students from other students to prevent spread of illness.
• Treat students who are injured in school.
• Decide if a student who has a medical problem in school needs to be sent home or to the hospital or doctor.

Complications

In some schools, liability concerns prevent school nurses from tending students. i.e. If a student is injured on school grounds, having the nurse tend to the student could indicate a sense of responsibility on the part of the school and leave it open to a lawsuit.

See also

• School nursing