Idividual Education Plans (IEPs)

michigooseBSN · Sep 16, 2008

Hi. I used to do that also but now the SPED coordinator for our school does it. I'm only involved when there is a medical issue which isn't all that often. However, I'm more involved in 504 plans which aren't SPED. These are written for children who need special accommodations for physical reasons rather than academic reasons. I've got them for children with albinism, diabetes, dwarfism, severe vision impairment and I'm actually meeting today with a specialist to write one for a child who needs amplification in the classroom for hearing loss. It's frustrating and time consuming to have to keep hounding parents for necessary paperwork. If you're not getting response, perhaps it is time to get help from administration (SPED personnel, principal etc). Good luck

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Sep 16, 2008

I only attend IEP meetings if they have a specific health componant in them. The IEP's are for learning disabilities, not health issues. Otherwise, I deal with 504 plans.I have them written for kids with diabetes, ADHD, asthma, food allergies, etc. It is a little hectic at the beginning of the year, but I find once you get a plan written that the parent likes and works for the student, you only need to update it yearly and make any changes dependant on the student's conditions. Try to get your director of student services involved. They may be able to assist in writing ones especially ones like ADHD that even though it is a health issue, most of the accomodations are educational.

cali_nurse_1976 · Sep 16, 2008

So are you both telling me that you DON'T do a health history on each student that is getting an IEP? How do you know if there is a health problem? I am all for not doing health histories on everyone, it's just how it's always been done at my district. By the way, thank you so much for answering my post!

michigooseBSN · Sep 17, 2008

Well, I have a physical exam report and a health history sent in by parents on every one of my 450 K-5 students. So I do know if there is a health aspect. And I'm invited to IEP meetings if anyone questions a health component. I do work closely with the teacher and councelor so they usually come to me if they have concerns about that. And all the IEP meetings are listed on the computer SPED calendar which I check just to be sure if there are any meetings I ought to attend.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Sep 17, 2008

On the back of our emergency information card we send home every year for the kids, there is an area for the parent to list health problems, so I usually know if there is a health problem-although the parent sometimes chooses to check "no health problems" when there are-I have no control over what they choose to tell us. I do not know when the IEP meetings are and do not attend unless I am invited.

I do know if the student has an IEP-our computer tells us. Sometimes a student has a 504 and it will be changed to an IEP after testing is done to determine that student, in addition to accommodations for health issues, needs learning support. Those meetings, I am always invited to.

cali_nurse_1976 · Sep 17, 2008

Thank you so much, this info really helps. The district nurse before me was calling every student's parents to get a health history and putting together a report for each one. I had brought up the idea of sending out a health history form and following up on only those who document certain health problems. You are right...I can't make them tell me everything and in reality parents may not know when there is a problem and only a thorough health exam would uncover a some health problems. I think I'll move along with sending out a form and encouraging parents to get a physical by their PMD. As I said, the prior nurse was spending a lot of time on this and eventually quit because she had no support and felt very frustrated. I am determined not to let that happen to me, and I know there's much more effective things I can do as a school nurse. Things that actually are "nursey". Thank you all!