I am a new school nurse this year. The previous nurse told me that she never gave teachers a list of students with health concerns because she was "too worried about privacy" and "the teachers always leave those lists lying around", but as far as I can tell she never really told them at all.
I am trying to figure out a good way to tell the teachers about allergies, asthma, seizures, etc... in their classrooms. What do you guys do? Am I allowed to email a list to each teacher? Or is that not private enough.
Also, do you give them a copy of the student's IHP or emergency plans, so they know what the student and their responsibilities are? I am also interested in how all types of schools handle this (I am the nurse for a whole district), as I can imagine this problem would play out differently in the middle and high schools over the elementary schools.
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Your administration is in violation of FERPA. You could be a hero and point this out so they don't lose their charter. I would come at it from a funding standpoint. Good luck.
But most of the illnesses are allergies and asthma, and I got them off the database we have. So they are available to everyone at school, but I just put it on paper so they can see it all at once and not have to go through all the files on the database. Especially the ones with allergies, because our lunchroom is in the second floor and the teachers are monitoring it, so if someone accidentally eats something they are not suppose to, they can call me up and I can bring up their epi-pen. I sent it to our school health manager and she checked it out and told me it was fine.
But most of the illnesses are allergies and asthma, and I got them off the database we have. So they are available to everyone at school, but I just put it on paper so they can see it all at once and not have to go through all the files on the database. Especially the ones with allergies, because our lunchroom is in the second floor and the teachers are monitoring it, so if someone accidentally eats something they are not suppose to, they can call me up and I can bring up their epi-pen. I sent it to our school health manager and she checked it out and told me it was fine.
Where it goes astray is the printing. Could it be brought into it's own file on the desktop? One password and a click away may actually be more available than a paper.
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Where it goes astray is the printing. Could it be brought into it's own file on the desktop? One password and a click away may actually be more available than a paper.
I understand that, but I'm not sure how else I can send it to them. And I was told to send it by email.
I understand that, but I'm not sure how else I can send it to them. And I was told to send it by email.
Email is good, not able to be viewed by whomever. The illnesses may be pushing the law, though. Allergies are OK, other illnesses, even asthma, may be included in the scope of coverage. A teacher can be told to be alert for SOB, not the diagnosis. Fine line, I agree. I read this law to make sure it didn't pertain to me, thankfully it doesn't, our administrators will never take government money, even if it comes to vouchers, just for this reason.
Amethya
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