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Health Services

The Hanford Elementary School District (HESD) certificated school nurses function as a part of the school's multi-disciplinary team to bridge the gap between health, wellness and learning.  

Working with parents, students, school staff and other health professionals, the school nurse provides services for students that promote optimum health for academic success.  The school nurse provides the expertise to identify, assess, plan, implement and evaluate the health needs of the school community.  This care often begins with the development of a health care plan.  The school nurse is responsible for overseeing medication administration and the performance of health care procedures that are within the scope of nursing practice and are ordered by an appropriately licensed health care provider.
Health services in HESD emphasis the prevention and treatment of health problems and the promotion of student’s well-being and academic success.  To address potential health problems that are barriers to learning, the school nurse often engages in screening activities.  Screening activities may include vision, hearing, postural, body mass index, or other screening.  Determination of which screenings should be performed is based on several factors, including legal obligations, the validity of the screening test, the cost-effectiveness of the screening program, and the availability of resources to assure referral and follow-up.  Additionally, the school nurse monitors immunizations, assures appropriate exclusion from and re-entry into school, and reports communicable diseases as required by law.  The school nurse provides leadership to the school in implementing precautions for blood borne pathogens and other infectious diseases.

Healthy children are successful learners.  The school nurse has a multi-faceted role within the school setting, one that supports the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of students and their success in the learning process.