Teaching about Epilepsy

Published

Specializes in Peids.

I am a school nurse for a 6-8 grade. I was just asked to teach all of 6th grade about epilepsy. There is a new child coming into the school that has major epilepsy. How would you teach other school kids about epilepsy? Any ideas would be great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

The Epilepsy Foundation has a ton of programs specifically for this. Check out their website. 6th-8th grade is old enough to understand. Explain to them what epilepsy is, what kinds of seizures they might see their classmate having and what they should/shouldn't do when one happens.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

Be sure the family has agreed to have their child identified if you're going to speak to his situation specifically.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
Be sure the family has agreed to have their child identified if you're going to speak to his situation specifically.

Ugh when I was working per diem at a school, we had a student with epilepsy whose mother didn't want ANYONE other than the school nurse to know. I wasn't the full time school nurse and didn't have any contact with the student's mother but I adamantly disagreed. It was necessary for other faculty/staff to be aware of the child's condition since he spent far more time with his teachers than he did with the nurse... and this was a boarding school with a campus. The faculty at his side would need to respond if he had a seizure while the nurse was traipsing across campus to get to him.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

I was thinking more of the other students. I agree that faculty should be informed. Our parents sign a form annually that says health information will be shared with pertinent staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The epilepsy foundation has an education program directed at 5th&6th graders. Let me see if I can find the link.

Here's one:

http://www.akfus.org/programs/fifth-grade-program

And the epilepsy foundation of NJ has the S.H.A.R.E. Fifth grade education program. Can't pull link from my phone

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Here are the epilepsy foundation of NJ trainings, including staff training:

http://www.efnj.com/what-we-offer/training-events/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peids.

Thank you guy so much. The links that JustBeachyNurse shared are great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion