New School Nurse in NJ

[CindySchoolRNBSN]

Hello Everyone,

I am a new school nurse in a new charter school in NJ. We are starting with 70-80 kindergartners. I just wanted some guidance on the state required immunizations forms and the state of NJ health hx and appraisal A-45. I have been collecting the Universal Health physical forms and NJIIS (immunization records or the IMM-8 yellow immunization card).

On the NJ Depart. of Health Audits it states the following:

Every school, preschool, or childcare shall maintain an official state of New Jersey Immunization Record for every pupil. Official documents include:

1. IMM-8: NJ Department of Health; Standard School/Childcare Immunization Record (Yellow Card)

2. A-45: NJ Department of Education; State Health History and Appraisal Form

3. New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) Official Immunization Record

So I think my confusion is we are required to have all 3 of these forms?? the NJIIS is the immunization record so why do we still need a copy of the Yellow Card since providers are moving away from this and putting vaccines in this system.

Secondly this A-45 Health hx and appraisal is something we use and document for each student?

Lastly, do I also need the last dental record for these children entering kindergarten? I didn't see anything regarding it put I have parents sending me copies of this.

I am currently enrolled in Rowan to obtained my School Nurse Cert but I am not on this section yet regarding health records.

Thanks for everyones help. :)

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i've been a nj school nurse for a while and have been audited annually. I will be honest - i am not entirely certain what a imm-8 card is. Is it the card that the doctor's office fills out at every visit that parents bring to registration?? Maybe it's a college record? I don't know much about college school nursing except they have similar rules and audits.

I rely on filling out A-45 cards for my audits - but you have to have documentation in the file to back it up. If you haven't gotten a log in for the njiis system, look into it. it's so valuable, but like everything, it 's only as good as the info being put into it. I noticed that my own daughter was missing an MMR in it (which i know she had had) and mentioned something to her pediatrician one day. The office staff gave me a look. I can't edit, nor would I, i can only view records.

Personally, i don't mind if the proof of vaccine comes in on a physical form, piece of rx pad, written on a napkin, whatever. As long as it's signed and STAMPED be the doctor. And i've never gotten any grief at any audits with vaccine backups.

Regarding dental visits. We recommend them - they aren't required. I send notices out again when the letter comes for Give kids a smile day. My dental report return rate is very low.