New teachers & student privacy

[Unequaledbeauty_30]

Hi all, I'm a new nurse starting my first full year as a school nurse (last year I came in January) and my administration is asking me to do some inservice with the faculty. They want me to specifically review with teachers the importance of protecting the privacy of students health and medical information.

Other than the "Captain Obvious" answers...

1. Don't discuss with other teachers

2. Don't discuss with other students

3. Don't leave documents laying around/exposed

What other suggestions would you offer? It is a public school so FERPA is the law/guidelines we follow. Thanks.

Thanks,

UB

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I think it's also important to focus on what they can do as well. For example, they can make a list of their students with medical concerns, but they cannot share that with other staff. They can come to talk to you if they have concerns about a student visiting often, but shouldn't deny that student to see you or question their reasons.

[Unequaledbeauty_30]

Thanks, I will make sure to focus on the positive as well :)

I think it's also important to focus on what they can do as well. For example, they can make a list of their students with medical concerns, but they cannot share that with other staff. They can come to talk to you if they have concerns about a student visiting often, but shouldn't deny that student to see you or question their reasons.

[OldDude]

Well, since you're not administration I don't think it's appropriate for you to be placed in such a position. But in the spirit of cooperation and being a team player I would explain to the staff what is expected of you in regard to privacy issues and leave it at that. You're not the FERPA police.

[Kitiger, RN]

As a private duty nurse going to school with a child, I was amazed to learn that the teacher does not have the right to know any of the health problems their students have. I had one teacher in an ISD class trying to make her student reach for toys, because he could do it last year. She didn't know that he had Muscular Dystrophy!

I wasn't allowed to tell her; Mom didn't think she needed to know ...

[FloridaBeagle]

As a private duty nurse going to school with a child, I was amazed to learn that the teacher does not have the right to know any of the health problems their students have. I had one teacher in an ISD class trying to make her student reach for toys, because he could do it last year. She didn't know that he had Muscular Dystrophy!

I wasn't allowed to tell her; Mom didn't think she needed to know ...

That's so strange to me. When I was a teacher I collected the health forms at the beginning of every year and read them. Then I turned them into the school nurse. I can't imagine cutting the teacher out of the loop, it would have had a negative affect on my teaching and that student's education.

[OldDude]

It is necessary for anyone responsible for the student throughout the school day to be informed any health condition the child has that may need to be addressed at school. Once those individuals have the information it's their responsibility to use it in a manner that conforms with privacy laws. It's not the school nurse's responsibility to ensure staff are in compliance. It is the nurse's responsibility to decide what information should be given to whom.