• Lauderdale County School Health Services

    Mission Statement: The Lauderdale County School Nursing program is a specialty branch of professional nursing that seeks to prevent or identify student health or health-related problems and intervenes to modify or alleviate these problems so that the student will function at their optimal level of wellness. The Lauderdale County School Health Program includes delivery of health services and health education which directly contributes to the student's education as well as the health of the family and community.

    School Nurses: The Lauderdale County Board of Education employs two lead registered nurses that coordinate health services for all schools. All schools have a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse on-site during school hours. School nurses administer medications, assist students with chronic health problems, assist with school screenings, monitor for communicable diseases, and provide health education information.

  • Serious or Life-Threatening Medical Conditions: The Lauderdale County Board of Education authorizes that a written emergency action plan be developed with students identified as having a serious or life-threatening medical condition such as:

    • Diabetes
    • Severe asthma
    • Severe cardiac disorders
    • Anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction)
    • Seizure disorder
    • Hemophilia
    • Other life-threatening conditions verified by a physician

    Medical Procedures That Require A Nurse: Specific medical procedures that require independent nursing judgment or intervention that shall not be delegated to unlicensed personnel include but are not limited to (Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code Chapter 610-x-6, Standards of Nursing Practice):

    1. Catheterization, clean or sterile
    2. Administration of injectable medications, other than EpiPen injectable medication for severe allergic reactions
    3. Administration of rectal medications
    4. Tracheostomy care, including suctioning
    5. Gastric tube insertion, replacement, or feeding
    6. Ventilator care
    7. Other invasive procedures or techniques
    8. Sterile procedures
    9. Receipt of verbal or telephone orders from a licensed prescriber

    Parents may contact the school nurse so that a plan may be developed and appropriate action taken for a student that requires assistance with invasive procedures or life-threatening medical conditions. (See Contact Information)

    Student Health Assessment Record: The Lauderdale County Student Health Assessment Record is required to be completed and returned to school at the beginning of the school year and when a new student transfers to a Lauderdale County School. This form is located in the student handbook (See Documents).

    Accidents: In the event of an accident on school grounds involving a student, the parent/guardian will be notified of injuries that require medical treatment. If immediate treatment is necessary, the educational employees serve under Alabama Law 87-390 which states, "When---public education employees gratuitously and in good faith, render first aid or emergency care at the scene of an accident, casualty or disaster to a person injured therein, he/she shall not be liable for any child's damages as a result of his/her acts or omissions...".

    Immunization Requirements for Entering School (see Documents)-A Certificate of Exemption or Certificate of Immunization (Blue Form IMM 50) against the following diseases: Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Poliomyelitis, Measles (Rubella, Rubeola), Mumps, and Varicella (Chicken Pox).

    The pneumococcal vaccine is now required for children entering Pre-K programs. Children entering pre-K programs must have four doses of the pneumococcal vaccine up to age 15 months.

    All students 11 years of age or older entering 6th grade will require a booster dose of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) prior to beginning each school year. (See Documents)

    Immunization certificates are available from the Lauderdale County Health Department, 4112 Chisholm Road, Florence, Al. and /or from local pediatrician or family physician.