Seizures in Elementary School

[amnesiac1c]

I'm relatively new to school nursing & have not previously had a student with a seizure disorder. This is also new territory for many of my teachers & administrators. Any pros out there have tips/suggestions/etc? Anything you think might be helpful in terms of classroom management, instructing teachers, field trips or anything else??

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The Epilepsy Foundation has a program for school nurses.

School Nurse Program

Every student with a seizure disorder should have an individualized seizure action plan written by their neurologist on file with the school. There is huge variability amongst students with epilepsy... the child could be well controlled on medication with minimal side effects, the child could have only partial or absence seizures (some of which you wouldn't necessarily recognize as such) or the child could be so compromised that he/she requires a one:one aide. Have you met with the parents?

I don't think there's anything specific that needs to happen for classroom management but the adults in the classroom should be aware that should the child have a prolonged seizure requiring Diastat, they need to help get the other kids out. No child wants to have their pants pulled down in front of their whole class.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I agree with all of the above. I keep a seizure kit in my clinic, containing doctor's orders, seizure documentation sheet, pen, gloves, and paper cover. I only have one this year with known seizures and he has Diastat. His teacher was VERY concerned about the possibility of him seizing, so we came up with a plan: Code Purple. She laminated a large purple heart and stuck it on the wall next to the door. In the event of a seizure another student will be directed to take the purple heart to the next classroom That teacher will be responsible for calling the Code Purple and getting the other students out into the hall.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i use the epilepsy foundation seizure emergengy plan included in the program. it's really complete and effective. I also give the staff a very brief seizure awareness training every year and advise them to search on youtube if they have never seen a seizure and are curious. You'd be surprised how many people have no clue about anything related to seizures. I started with the youbtube bit after i tended to a student's seizure but had to have a staff member escorted away when she totally panicked over the fairly benign seizure.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Not a school nurse, but the Epilepsy Foundation also offers a student education program about epilepsy geared towards 5th grade students and also for teacher education. Raising Epilepsy Awareness and Understanding Types of Seizures: EpilepsyClassroom.com - Home