Nurse Clinic

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The role of the school nurse is to support student education by promoting health and wellness!


Health Promotion:

 

As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools. 
   
Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash.  If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.  Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.  If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene.  Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine.  Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill."  

 

Immunization Requirements

Reminder: School Vaccine Requirements

The deadline for students to meet the immunization requirement for mandatory immunizations for public school enrollment is Thursday, August 17, 2023. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse or visit the immunization requirements webpage.

Tdap Vaccine Required for Rising 6th Graders

Beginning July 1, 2014, a Tdap booster will be required for all students prior to entry into 6th grade regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. Any dose of Tdap administered after the age of 7 years will satisfy this requirement.

Students who do not have documentation of having received the Tdap vaccination will not be permitted to attend school. Please contact the school nurse at Rippon Middle School for further information at 703-491-2171.

Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine Required for Rising 7th Graders

Effective July 1, 2021, a minimum of two doses of MenACWY vaccine. The first dose should be administered prior to entering grade 7. The final dose should be administered prior to entering grade 12.

Vision & Hearing

Vision and hearing screenings take place every year, starting in the fall, for all 7th grade students and students who are new to Prince William County Public Schools. The screenings are a requirement in accordance with state regulations from the Virginia Department of Health. You will be notified if the screening results indicate a potential problem that requires further evaluation by a doctor.

Is My Child Too Ill to Attend School?

Regulation 757-1 - Attachment, "Illness or Injury Exclusion Criteria

Parents are often confronted with this decision when their child complains of not feeling well. The following guidelines may be helpful but they do not cover every medical condition and does not take the place of seeking medical attention.

  • Fever - 100 degrees or higher - A fever is a sign of illness. A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should not attend school until student has been fever free for at least 24 hours (without fever reducing medication).
  • Colds - Minor cold symptoms are common and usually don't interfere with school attendance. A child with thick or constant nasal discharge or constant cough should remain home.
  • Rash - A rash may cover the entire body or only one area. A student who has a rash of unknown origin or accompanied with a fever should not attend school.
  • Vomiting/diarrhea - Student should not attend school until symptom- free for at least 24 hours.
  • Head injury - student should not come to school until doctor has cleared to do so.
  • Conjunctivitis - pink eye, strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school.
  • Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.

Medication Administration

School personnel cannot administer any medication until a form, signed by the parent is on file in the clinic of the school. All prescription medication must also have a physician's signature.

All medication, prescription and over-the-counter (e.g., Tylenol, cough drops, contact lens solutions etc.), brought to the school must be in the original container and kept in the clinic. An adult needs to bring the medication to school.

Students may keep in their possession certain medications, such as prescription inhalers and Epi-pens when the need for such medication is urgent and a delay could result in a serious health event. This is permitted, provided it is cleared through the clinic in advance, and a form is on file with a physician's signature.

Health Concerns

Please notify the school personnel if your child is absent due to a contagious illness. Also, notify the school nurse of your student has a health concern or condition that may affect their school day.

Emergency Contact Information

Please ensure that the emergency contact information for your child is up-to-date in ParentVUE.

Support for Parents: Health Information Links