The Plainfield Board of Education believes that good health is vital to successful learning. In an ongoing effort to ensure that children remain healthy and ready to learn, the Health Services Department will assist each student gain and maintain optimum physical, mental, and social health by providing the most professional and comprehensive health services possible.

Nursing Care
The school nurse employs a nursing process that includes assessing, planning, screening, and implementing nursing care. With an increasing number of students with specific health needs attending school, Individualized health care plans (IHP’s) and emergency care plans (ECP’s) are prepared and implemented by the school nurse for students with acute or chronic health concerns. The school nurse collaborates with the students, parents, and school staff in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating each health care plan. With improvements in health care technology, more students are attending school with health issues that may require specific nursing procedures and/or a variety of innovative medications that can both affect their learning and require continual monitoring by the school nurse.

Data Collection and Communication
The school nurse collects, documents, and analyzes pertinent medical information regarding students’ health. Health histories, health practices, environmental concerns, safety issues, communicable disease patterns and current health information are important when making referrals to health care providers and agencies. Consultations with students, parents, guardians, teachers, physicians, school administrators, health agencies, and school staff are imperative in educational decision-making.

Health Education and Counseling
The school nurse serves the vital role of health educator and resource person. Informal teaching takes place continuously on an individual or in group settings for students, staff and parents. The school nurse also serves in the role of health counselor to students, parents and staff alike regarding health issues and concerns. Referrals are made by the school nurse to guidance counselors, teachers, child study team members, parents, physicians and community health resources.

Child Advocacy
As a child advocate, the school nurse works closely with staff and families to facilitate addressing health needs and accommodations for students. Advocacy can extend beyond these areas to include referrals for health services, counseling, community programs, camps or DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services.