• District Nursing Services, Information & Resources

     

    Important reminder for parents/guardians of MPS students

    Please update contact information to be accurate at all times in the event of an emergency at school! Phone numbers and email addresses can change, so please contact your child(ren)'s school(s) to update contact information whenever there is a change.

     

    School Health Services

    School health services is the link between the complex systems of education and health. In partnership with parents and staff, school nurses identify and assist in removing health-related barriers to learning and academic success. The ability of a child to learn is directly related to their health.

    We are here to provide whatever nursing assistance is necessary that would allow for a child to adequately access the curriculum. Please feel free to call your child’s school nurse with any concerns especially if their health status has changed, they have been diagnosed with a serious/contagious illness or injury or will be absent for an extended period of time (three or more days).

     

    Emergencies

    If a child becomes ill at school, a parent/guardian must pick him/her up. There must be current emergency numbers for parents and contact information for those who can be responsible for a child if a parent cannot be reached or is unable to pick the child up. Please update the school whenever your contact information changes.

     

    Medication Policy

    In conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Board of Registration of Nursing and in collaborating with our school physician, the MPS Medication Policy is highlighted as follows:

    All medications required to be given during school hours, including inhalers and epi-pens and ANY over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen, cough drops etc., require a written order from a physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or dentist. This order can be faxed to the nurse’s office. For short-term (10 days) medications like antibiotics, the pharmacy label may be used in lieu of an order.

    Parents must sign a Medication Administration and Permission Form. This form gives the school nurse or school personnel designate permission to give the prescribed medication.  This includes medication required during field trips.

    All medication must be delivered to the school nurse by a parent or an adult designated by a parent. All medication must be in a properly labeled pharmacy container. Students are not permitted to transport medications to and from school.

    The exceptions to the above are those students who must carry critical medications such as insulin, inhalers or epi-pens and who have the written permission of physician, parent and school nurse to transport medication.

    Strict compliance with this policy will be followed by the school nurse. See the link at left for contact information for all school nurses.

     

    Illness/Contagious Disease Policy

    Students should not come to school if they are ill. They should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

    They should not come to school if they have had vomiting or diarrhea within the last 12 hours or if they are unable to eat and drink normally.

    Students should not return to school until 24 hours after the start of treatment/medication for conditions such as streptococcal infections (strep throat), impetigo, conjunctivitis (pink eye), ringworm and scabies.

    Rashes of unknown cause especially on the face and/or accompanied by fever should be checked by doctor before returning to school.

    Pediculosis (head lice) – Child may return to school after treatment and after nits have been removed. (See lice elimination checklist.) Student must be checked by the school nurse before re-entry to school.

    A doctor’s note is needed upon return to school for the following:

    • Surgery
    • Concussion (see: athletic concussion policy, head injury reporting form, post head injury clearance form)
    • Hospitalizations
    • Rash of unknown origin
    • Fracture/Sprain – crutches, casts, sling

    The note should state any limitations and accommodations necessary for class, gym and recess attendance.

     

    Required State Mandates

    Please see the link (left) to important information regarding immunization requirements and physical examination and student screenings.

     

    Note to Marlborough families about the Zika virus (2/16/16)

    The district is continuing to monitor reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other organizations regarding precautions and recommendations about the virus. According to the CDC, this remains a rapidly evolving situation, and new guidance will continue to come out as more is learned about specific risks linked to Zika virus infection. Resources, guidelines and updated information can be found at www.mass.gov/dph by clicking on the link for Zika. The district will update families of any effects precautions and travel guidelines could have on school-sponsored student trips should the situation change.

    PARENTS: Please read the attached letter regarding the Enterovirus D-68, the district's vigilance in watching for trends in illness patterns, and what students, parents and staff can do to help prevent spreading of the virus should it occur in our community.