Health Services

Framework for 21st Century school Nursing Practice

Director of Health Services

Avery Hines, MSN, RN, NCSN

Email:
ahines@medford.k12.ma.us

Phone Number: 781-393-2292

The National Association of School Nurse's (NASN) Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™ creates an overarching structure that includes concepts integral to the complex clinical specialty practice of school nursing. The framework provides a graphic illustration of the key principles of professional school nursing practice, reflecting the organization's stance for evidence-based best practice and providing focus to priority school nursing activities. The framework provides guidance for the practicing school nurse to reach the goal of supporting student health and academic success by contributing to a healthy and safe school environment. NASN believes it has a responsibility to its members and to the public they serve to develop a framework for professional school nursing practice.

School Entrance Requirements and Immunizations

A school nurse will review your child’s health information for clearance into school in order to maintain protection from communicable diseases, identify your child’s health needs and promote health safety in school.

The following is a list of health requirements required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for entry of students into public school. Please provide documentation from your primary care physician when you register at the Parent Information Center located at Medford High School. Free immunizations are available at the Medford Board of Health by appointment. Please call 781-393-2448.

Pre-school

Pre-school:

– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Lead Screening with results
– Tuberculosis skin test or risk assessment with results

Immunizations:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
DTAP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 4 doses
Polio: 3 doses
HIB (H influenza bacteria): >3 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 1 dose given after age 12 months
Varicella (Chickenpox): 1 dose given after age 12 months

Kindergarten

– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Lead Screening with results
– Tuberculosis skin test or risk assessment with results
– Vision Screening with stereopsis exam

Immunizations:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
DTAP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 5 doses (last dose after age 4)
Polio: 4 doses (last dose after age 4)
HIB (H influenza bacteria): >3 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses (first dose after age 12 months)
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses (first dose after age 12 months)

Grades 1-6

– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Tuberculosis skin test or risk assessment with results

Immunizations:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
DTAP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 5 doses (last dose after age 4)
Polio: 4 doses (last dose after age 4)
HIB (H influenza bacteria): >3 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses

Grades 7-12

– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Tuberculosis skin test or risk assessment with results

Immunizations:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
DTAP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 5 doses (last dose after age 4)
Polio: 4 doses (last dose after age 4)
HIB (H influenza bacteria): >3 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses
Meningitis: 2 doses
Dose 1: 7th Grade
Booster dose: 11th Grade
Tdap

Health Services Department Message

A message from the Medford Public Schools Health Services Department

Don’t Wait, Vaccinate!

The school nurses help maintain safety of our environment through careful monitoring of student immunizations. Vaccines work to safeguard children from illnesses and death caused by communicable diseases. They protect children by helping prepare their bodies to fight often serious, and potentially, deadly diseases. Should there be an outbreak of a communicable disease, students who have not been immunized will be excluded from school during the infectious period in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations.

Use of crutches

Physical Exams

Medford Public Schools requires a physical exam for all students new to the school system and students in Grades Kindergarten and 7. Yearly physical exams are required to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA ) for student athletes enrolled at the high and middle schools.

When your child enters Grade 4, an interval health history will be sent home so you may update your child’s medical information. The school nurses request you return it fully completed with all pertinent medical information to the school health office as soon as possible after you receive it.

Medications

It may be necessary for your child to receive medication during the school day. Our school district requires that the following forms must be on file in your child’s health record before we begin to give any medicine at school:

1. Signed consent by the parent or guardian to give the medicine. Please complete the enclosed consent form and give it to your school nurse.

2. Signed medication order. The written medication order form should be taken to your child’s licensed prescriber (your child’s physician, nurse practitioner, etc.) for completion and returned to the school nurse. This order must be renewed as needed and at the beginning of each academic year. Please download it here.

Medicines must be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer-labeled container by you or a responsible adult whom you designate. Please ask your pharmacy to provide separate bottles for school and home. No more than a thirty-day supply of the medicine should be delivered to the school.

When your child needs a medicine to be given during the school day, please act quickly to follow these policies so we may begin to give the medicine as soon as possible.

Thank you for your help.

MPS Medication Policy and Procedures

Health Screenings

Health screenings are conducted throughout the school year as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Massachusetts General Laws. The following chart illustrated the purpose and required grade level for each screening. Parents may opt out of screenings for their child with written permission, provided they provide documentation that their child has been examined by their primary care provider. All information is confidential and parents are notified whenever there is a finding after screening.

Vision

Hearing

Height/Weights/BMI

Postural Screening

SBIRT

Vision Resources in the Medford Community

Vision Resources in the Medford Community

If your son/daughter has failed the school screening, you will receive a letter requesting that you bring him/her to an eye doctor for evaluation and treatment. Your school nurse also requests that you return the completed doctor’s note back to her. Here are some places where you can obtain eyeglasses for your son/daughter if needed.

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In This Section

Health Services

Director of Health Services

Avery Hines, MSN, RN, NCSN

School Entrance Requirements and Immunizations

Pre-school

Pre-school:

Immunizations:

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Immunizations:

Grades 1-6

Grades 1-6

Immunizations:

Grades 7-12

Grades 7-12

Immunizations:

Health Services Department Message

A message from the Medford Public Schools Health Services Department

Use of crutches

Use of crutches and orthopedic appliances

Physical Exams

Medications

MPS Medication Policy and Procedures

Health Screenings

Vision

Hearing

Height/Weights/BMI

Postural Screening

SBIRT

Vision Resources in the Medford Community

Online Resources

Medford Public Schools Wellness Policy

Head Lice

Lead in Water

COVID-19 Information