Florida school nurses prepare on a 'take no chances' approach as back-to-school plans unfold

More students likely to be sent home

THANKS FOR STAYING WITH LOCALCOVERAGE AT TEN-THIRTY ONW-F-T-X.

I’M PATRICK NOLAN.WHEN SCHOOL STARTS NEXTMONTH*SCHOOL NURSES* WILL BETHE EYES AND EARS OF ILLNESS ATYOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL.BUT WITH MOUNTING CONCERNS ABOUTSTUDENTS AND THE CORONAVIRU━WHAT WILL SCHOOL NURSES BELOOKING FORAND WHAT SHOULD YOUEXPECT IF YOUR CHILD IS SENT TOTHE CLINIC?

IF YOU’VE GOT A KIDIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM..4 IN YOUR CORNER’S KATIE LAGRONEWITH A HEADS UP OF WHAT TOEXPECT FOR BACK TO SCHOOL DURINGTHE PANDEMIC.(48-52)(147-151)(204-211)ASK ANY SCHOOL NURSE ABOUT GOINGBACK TO SCHOOL5:07- it’s going to be anextreme challenge for us.(PASCO SUPERVISOR)16:30- part of this is the fearof the unknownTHE UNKNOWN OF WHAT’S TO COMEWHEN YOU PUT THOUSANDS OFSTUDENTS AND STAFF TOGETHER ONA SCHOOL CAMPUSDURING A HEALTHCRISIS THE STATE HAS YET TO GETCONTROL OVER.(PASCO SUPERVISOR)11:51- we will see illness rightaway when we open our schoolsLISA KERN, SUPERVISOR OF HEALTHSERVICES FOR THE PASCO COUNTYSCHOOL DISTRICT, IS IN THE THICKOF PREPARING FOR WHAT’S TO COME-SOME CHALLENGES ARE ALREADYCLEAR.(PASCO SUPERVISOR)13:28- there are certain thingsthat are hard to get.

That’s aworry for me as a supervisor ismaking sure there are enoughsupplies to go aroundWITH 45 SCHOOL NURSES ON STAFFCOVERING 2-3 SCHOOLS AT ATIMEMOST OF HER DISTRICT’S 90PLUS SCHOOLS HAVE CLINICAIDESWHO LACK THEQUALIFICATIONS TO MEDICALLYASSESS STUDENT━REGARDLESSHER EDICT THIS YEARNO CHANCES.(PASCO SUPERVISOR)14:21- any kid with symptoms onthat list from the cdc we’ll beexcluding from school.

We’re notgoing to take any chances.IT’S A GUIDELINE ADOPTED ANDRECOMMENDED BY THE NATIONALASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL NURSES.5:05- do you suspect that morechildren will be sent home thenever before presenting withcommon symptoms?5:11- i do bc people willproceed, school nurses willproceed with an abundance ofcaution when they can’tdetermine another potentialreason for that.WHICH MEANS STUDENTS SENT TO THESCHOOL CLINIC WITH A EVEN COUGH,STUFFY NOSE OR SORE THROAT WILLLIKELY BE ISOLATED AND SENTHOMETHOSE WITH FEVERS MUST STAY OFFCAMPUS UNTIL THEY’RE FEVER FREEFOR 24 HOURSCDC JUST RELAXEDITS PREVIOUS 72 HOUR FEVER-FREEGUIDANCE.(HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL NURSE)3:06- we are going to be thefrontline at every school(HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL NURSE)KATHERINE BURDGE IS A CERTIFIEDREGISTERED SCHOOL NURSE FORHILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS ANDALSO COVERS MULTIPLE SCHOOLS ATANY GIVEN TIME.WHILE RESEARCH SHOWS KIDS ARETYPICALLY NOT IMPACTED BY THECORONAVIRUS AS SEVERELY ASADULTSRECENT STATE DATA SHOWEDONE IN 3 KIDS TESTED FOR THEVIRUS..WERE POSITIVE IN FLORIDA.(HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL NURSE)5:10-i think we’re going to haveour school shut downs onceschools get started.PARENTS ARE ADVISED TO KNOWTHEIR SCHOOL’S COVID-19 PLANWHOWILL BE CONDUCTING HEALTHASSESSMENTS ON CAMPUS AND HOWTHE PRESIDENT OF THE NATION’SSCHOOL NURSES IS ALSO PLEADINGWITH PARENTS...AS SCHOOL NURSESPREPARE FOR WHAT THEY CAN ONLYPREDICT IS COMING.(NAT’L ASSOC.

OF SCHOOL NURSESPREZ)20:33- they will be making harddecisions, they will be makingdecisions that families areunhappy with21:02- it’s a time for us toramp up our kindness bc we’reabout to face a difficultmoment.YOU CAN FIND YOUR SCHOOL’S COVIDPLAN ON YOUR HOME DISTRICT’SWEBSITE.WE’VE ALSO POSTED GUIDANCE FROMTHE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OFSCHOOL NURSES ON OURS.KL F4IYCSO HERE IS THE REBOUND RUNDOWNON WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROMYOUR SCHOOL NURSE AS STUDENTSHEAD BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT MONTH.SCHOOL NURSES WILL BE TAKING A"NO CHANCES" APPROACH IF A CHILDIS SENT TO THE CLINIC WITHCOMMON SYMPTOMS OF THECORONAVIRUS.

THIS MEANS YOUSHOULD EXPECT YOUR CHILD TO BESENT HOME IF THE CHILD HAS ANUNEXPLAINED HEADACHE, SORETHROAT OR OTHER COMMON SYMPTOMS.IF A CHILD HAS A FEVER, THECHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETURNTO SCHOOL UNTIL SYMPTOMS RESOLVEAND HE OR SHE IS FEVER-FREE FOR24 HOURS.

EACH SCHOOL DISTRICTHAS A COVID-19 PLAN INCLUDINGWHO AND HOW THEY WILL BEASSESSED FOR ILLNESS.WE’VE POSTED ADDITIONAL GUIDANCEFROM THE "NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF SCHOOL NURSES." YOU CANREVIEW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ANDOTHER RESOURCES YOU CAN