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A. General Health Services.

The Board may appoint a school nurse to function in the school health program and to provide school health services.  

B. School Nurse Qualifications and Responsibilities.

A school nurse shall be a registered professional nurse licensed in New Hampshire and certified by the state board of education.  The Board may employ or contract with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) to work under the direct supervision of the school Registered Nurse (RN).

Nurses hired on or after July 21, 2022 shall be certified in accordance with RSA 200:29. District administration is responsible for maintaining the nurse certification on file.

Responsibilities of the school nurse include, but are not limited to: providing direct health care to students and staff; providing leadership for the provision of health services; promoting a healthy school environment; promoting health; serving in a leadership role for health policies and programs; and serving as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and health care providers.  

Additionally, the school nurse is responsible for the oversight of other school services, including but not limited to: assessing and responding to student health needs, maintaining accurate health records, screening for vision, hearing and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to national recommendations, participating on 504 and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) teams (if requested), health promotion, disease and injury prevention initiatives, student wellness, and other responsibilities and services as dictated by law or Board policy.

Additionally, the school nurse is responsible for developing procedures to address and meet special physical health needs of students.  Such procedures may be developed and implemented on a case-by-case basis.

C. Injuries and Illness.

All injuries or illnesses occurring during the school day are to be reported to the school nurse or the building principal.  Students attending school during the extended day, night, or summer school programs, or any other time when the school nurse is not in the building, are to report to the supervising adult.  The school nurse, principal or designee will notify parents/guardians before a student who is injured or ill is permitted to go home.  Students will not be allowed to leave school without first notifying either the school nurse or principal of his/her injury or illness.  Additionally, parent/guardian notification and authorization is necessary before any student will be released from school due to injury or illness.

Emergency medical care will be provided pursuant to the guidelines of Board Policy Safety 102: Emergency Care and First Aid.

The administration of medications to students will be done in accordance with Board Policy 140.1: Administering Medication to Students.

Legal References:

RSA 200:27, School Health Services

RSA 200:29, School Nurse

RSA 200:31, School Health Personnel

RSA 326-B, Nurse Practice Act

NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 306.12(b), School Health Services

NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 311, School Health Services

New Hampshire Student Board Association Code JLC        

Revised: 11/26/18; 06/27/22

First Reading Policy Committee: 06/15/22

Second Reading and BOSC Adoption: 06/27/22