class head checks

safarirn · Dec 21, 2010

If 1 student has lice, it's our policy to check the entire class. No, I don't wash my hands between each student. I take gloves & if someone has dirty hair, or lice I would remove gloves, sanitize, & move on to the next student. The kids don't notice that I changed a thing.

schooldistrictnurse · Dec 21, 2010

In my district we do a class check when there are three unrelated cases in the class or grade level. That is what triggers a letter home as well. I do wear a smock when doing head checks and leave it in my car otherwise. (it does not enter my home except to go in the washer!)

I don't wash hands between kids except if one is positive.

smily nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2010

we do a check of the class, and i wash in between, i don't wear gloves.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Dec 21, 2010

When i was elementary level i would check the whole class since they were with the same people all day. Now that i am in a middle school where the students are co mingled into different classes all day, i'd go crazy checking all those heads. Usually ask the student who they hang out mostly with and check those people, check student's family and other students with itchy heads as needed. So far this has worked.

As for hand sanitation - in a large group - no only wash hands if person has lice, if i had to really handle their hair or if they are unkempt. If it's only one child, of course i do wash up afterward and inbetween.

bergren · Dec 21, 2010

Reminder:

Both American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses discourage mass head checks as not effective in reducing infestations, not cost effective, and student confidentiality is difficult to protect.

AAP: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;110/3/638

'Screening for nits alone is not an accurate way of predicting which children will become infested, and screening for live lice has not been proven to have a significant effect on the incidence of head lice in a school community over time."

NASN: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=237 "classroom-wide or school wide-screening is not merited (Andresen & McCarthy, 2009)"

NASN headlice community education program: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=623

mustlovepoodles, RN · Dec 22, 2010

Reminder:
Both American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses discourage mass head checks as not effective in reducing infestations, not cost effective, and student confidentiality is difficult to protect.

I totally agree, but the policy in my district is that if two children in one class has lice they all get checked. Administration doesn't care what the medical establishment says, they're skeeved by lice and they go at it like it's bubonic plague. I think they are reacting to parent complaints. We recently had two families who had lice, a total of 7 kids. Parents were up in arms. The teachers and staff were completely crazed and it didn't matter what i said. I finally just did mass head checks, teachers included. :uhoh3: It was easier than fighting about it.

bergren · Dec 22, 2010

The Andreson and McCarthy article is about how to change peoples minds and get the policy changed. Prior to her intervention, Andresen, found that "responses suggested minimal knowledge among all groups (teachers, secretaries nurses and prinicipals) regarding evidence-based pediculosis management in the areas of classroom screening practices, exclusion policies, and treatment efficacy" and that practices and polices were based on the insufficient knowledge of this group.

article: Sign In â€" The Journal of School Nursing

Sign In â€" The Journal of School Nursing

abstract: A policy change strategy for head lice management. [J Sch Nurs. 2009] - PubMed result

momnurse23 · Dec 22, 2010

Thanks for all of the replies.

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 3, 2011

According to our state law that recently changed, it is against the law for us to single a child out for head lice. They can no longer be sent home, and they can no longer be sent to the nurse's office to be checked. If a child is suspected to have head lice,the entire class is checked and a call is made to the parents to inform them. If they wish to come get the child, that is entirely their decision. If not, the child remains in class as usual until the end of the day. We were informed of this policy change earlier in the year and I really thought there would be a big stink about it, but the reaction has actually been pretty good. I still deal with some staff who are completely freaked out about it and/or like to complain about the policy, but overall, I've gotten good compliance .

bergren · Jan 3, 2011

Thanks for sharing. What state passed that law?

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 3, 2011

Tennessee