No IEPs?!?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2016

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It is! Who does the health record review at your schools?!?

We only require that info for evaluation reviews every 3 years (though IEPs meeting happen every year to check progress). I provide info like Becky stated about - hearing, vision, last physical, and known medical issues. The psychologist that does the eval gives me a one sheet form to fill out and return and she includes the info in her eval.

So those forms...I have filled out 20+ already this year.

NanaPoo · Dec 9, 2016

I'm almost afraid to say this, but...I'm in a small, private school and I don't do IEPs, 504s (don't even know what that is), or health or visions screenings.

I have about 320 students in K-8th grades and know every single one of them by name and can probably tell you all of their allergies and health backgrounds and know most parents on a first name basis. My kids all have insurance and are well cared for. Most parents can even be called good parents...my biggest issue is probably that many of them are career-focused rather than family-focused.

On the flip side, my pay is horrendous. Just slightly above poverty scale for a 2-person household and half of what a public school nurse is paid in my area. The kids can be spoiled and dramatic and precious snowflakes but I'm pretty sure kids are like that everywhere and not strictly a private school issue. I consider returning to acute care at times for the $$ but leaving this incredible schedule and fantastic environment would be a tough decision to make!

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Dec 9, 2016

We only require that info for evaluation reviews every 3 years (though IEPs meeting happen every year to check progress). I provide info like Becky stated about - hearing, vision, last physical, and known medical issues. The psychologist that does the eval gives me a one sheet form to fill out and return and she includes the info in her eval.
So those forms...I have filled out 20+ already this year.

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Yep I only do them every 3 years too but, my goodness it seems like a lot of kids are up for their 3 year re-eval this year! Like I said I've done 50 already. I'm probably doing too much. As a newbie school nurse I'm not always sure how much effort to put into these things.

For example, I try to get a release of information form signed by the parents of all my SPED eval kids so I can request clinic records and just found out this week that none of the other nurses in my district worry about getting that release signed unless it's an ADHD kid who needs a verification of medical diagnosis form filled out by the doctor or if we need specific documentation for a TBI or something similar. They rely on school attendance records, pupil health files and past evaluations to fill out the health record review portion. So once again I am doing too much. At least I know now. That's a big chunk of work I can cut out, I guess. So I can focus on the fun stuff like actually taking care of the kids. :yes:

allnurses Guide · Dec 9, 2016

I don't write or attend IEP meetings unless it is directly health related. We have a student support team; each member has a load of kids and they run the meetings and write the IEPs.
Now 504s? Yep, I attend all those. The meetings are run by our principals, but I do write a lot of the purely medical ones and do a lot of the talking for those.

That was my experience as well with IEP's and 504's.

However, the principal was in charge of the typing part - we had the info up on a white board on the back of an office door and during the discussion, the principal would type up the info. I never wrote up anything. Just signed it at the end of the meeting.

I did write up a report about H&V's and medical info though . . . simply a template where I type in the info and make a copy. Easy peasy.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Dec 9, 2016

I only attened 504 meetings, no IEP's, and only ARC's if my district health coordinator is unavailable. And I don't type them up, the counselor does.

Hang in there!

allnurses Guide · Dec 9, 2016

I only attened 504 meetings, no IEP's, and only ARC's if my district health coordinator is unavailable. And I don't type them up, the counselor does.
Hang in there!

You just reminded me that the school psychologist types up the mental health and physical health H&P's so when I do a health report, I read his first. For some reason, some parents were more forthcoming with him vs. me. Probably because it is redundant - he interviews them and then I interview them.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Dec 9, 2016

I'm almost afraid to say this, but...I'm in a small, private school and I don't do IEPs, 504s (don't even know what that is), or health or visions screenings.
I have about 320 students in K-8th grades and know every single one of them by name and can probably tell you all of their allergies and health backgrounds and know most parents on a first name basis. My kids all have insurance and are well cared for. Most parents can even be called good parents...my biggest issue is probably that many of them are career-focused rather than family-focused.
On the flip side, my pay is horrendous. Just slightly above poverty scale for a 2-person household and half of what a public school nurse is paid in my area. The kids can be spoiled and dramatic and precious snowflakes but I'm pretty sure kids are like that everywhere and not strictly a private school issue. I consider returning to acute care at times for the $$ but leaving this incredible schedule and fantastic environment would be a tough decision to make!

This.

ohiobobcat · Dec 9, 2016

I have nothing to do with IEPs unless there is a medical component to it, then I provide an IHP to be included in the IEP ASAP. SpEd runs the IEP meetings and writes the IEPs. I fill out the hearing/vision/health problem form only on new IEPs or every 3 years, which only happens once or twice per student in high school.

I sit in on 504 meetings that are health related as well and provide input and update the action plan as needed during those meetings.

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Dec 9, 2016

I also happen to work in the two schools with the largest SPED populations in the district. At my elementary school we have about 600 kids and 90 of them are SPED. My middle school is 800 kids and we house the DCD program so we have all of the medically fragile kids as well. That's probably why I feel like I have so many all the time. I think they try to front load the SPED evals at the beginning of the year as well so, fingers crossed, our spring semester shouldn't have too many. I probably just jinxed myself by saying that. :blink:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 9, 2016

Pst...what is a 504? I know IEP's.

always learning in this forum.

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Dec 10, 2016

Pst...what is a 504? I know IEP's.
always learning in this forum.

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504s are sort of in the same realm as an IEP but have fewer requirements in terms of formal evaluations. We use them for situations where students require accommodations but do not fit the criteria required for an IEP. For example our diabetics have 504 plans. It allows them to postpone tests if their blood sugars are too high, allow an open pass so they can come to the nurse's office at any time, allow extra absences for the school year, etc.

kidzcare · Dec 10, 2016

Pst...what is a 504? I know IEP's.
always learning in this forum.

IEPs are for special education services. They provide accommodations based on a student disability (physical or otherwise). IEPs contain goals for the student to meet.