Welcome To Learning Prep School's Nursing Office

Learning Prep School Nursing Department’s mission is to work collaboratively with staff and parents in providing our students with the best possible academic opportunity by providing services to help support their health, safety, and overall well being.

Our Nurses

Nursing Supervisor, Nancy Conroy RN, BSN

Nursing Staff:

Maureen McCarron RN
Jeanette Keating RN
Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski RN, MSN

SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM

Student Health Policies And Procedures

Students may be sent to the nursing office during school hours for health assessment and care. Students present with a range of concerns, from potentially life-threatening situations to more common problems like colds and coughs. Students also seek advice, support, and education around health issues.

Assessment includes a physical assessment (e.g., temperature, vital signs) and taking appropriate measures, such as having the student rest in the health office and either returning to class or calling parents if student is to be sent home, suggesting any follow-up with the primary health care provider, or calling emergency services.

A student may be sent home/or need to stay home for the following reasons:

Fever:
100.5 or higher. The student needs to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Diarrhea:
Frequent episodes (2 or more times) of loose, watery, or bloody stools. Students may return to school 24 hours after last episode of diarrhea.

Vomiting:
The student must be able to tolerate food and fluids without vomiting before returning to school.

Cold:
(Active stage) A constant cough, productive cough, and /or continuous thick nasal discharge (yellowish/greenish), causing inability to stay in class.

Rash:
Any rash of unknown cause, blistered, or with discharge/drainage needs to be evaluated by a physician. Your child will be sent home if a rash is noticed during school hours in order to be evaluated by their health care provider. Students need to be rash free, or have a health care provider’s note on letterhead stating that they are not contagious before returning to school.

Students will be sent home if the school nurse determines that s(he) is too ill to stay until the end of the day. The parent/guardian will need to pick up or make other arrangements for picking their child.

Emergency Injury or Illness:

Parents will be notified of any major injuries or illnesses by phone. If after calling all contact numbers unsuccessfully, the identified emergency contact person/s will be contacted. In a life-threatening or potentially disabling emergency, students will be transported by EMS to Newton Wellesley Hospital immediately for emergency medical treatment. In the case of a non-life-threatening emergency, once the nurse administers first aid, and assesses that a student needs to be further evaluated at the hospital, the parent will be notified.

Exclusion Policy For Suspected Communicable Conditions

All contagious health conditions need to be reported immediately to the nurse so that the proper persons can be notified and appropriate policies can be implemented. Any student who is suspected to have a contagious health condition will be restricted from school per policy.

A student will not be permitted to re-enter school until the condition has resolved and/or evidence of medical intervention is obtained. Regardless, a note on letterhead from the student’s health care provider will be required in order for the student to re-enter school.

Procedure:

Impetigo:
Students may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.

Chicken Pox (Varicella):
Students may return to school six days after rash appears AND when all blisters are crusted over and dry.

Head Lice/Nits:
(LPS has a “NO NIT” Policy).

Strep Throat:
Students may return 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye):
Signs and symptoms of pink eye include, red itchy eyes, often accompanied by yellow discharge. Pink eye needs to be seen and treated by a health care provider. A student may return with a health care provider’s note (on letterhead) after 24 hours of the antibiotic ointment or drops.

Please call the nursing office if your child will be absent due to a contagious illness and/or if you have any questions or concerns.

Injuries

If a student has been injured at home, we ask parents to seek medical attention from their own health care provider prior to returning to school, as the nursing office isn’t equipped like a medical clinic. Students having physical restrictions/injuries (such as casts, crutches, slings, braces, or splints) and/or activity restrictions (excuses from gym class, Work Study, OT, Daycare, Carpentry, Horticulture, Food Service, etc…) will require a note on letterhead from their physician/health care provider allowing them to return to school and describing exact limitations of activity during the school day. Students need to report to the nurse’s office before going to class. The parent/guardian will need to call the school secretary to discuss possible schedule changes as soon as possible. Crutches: Students may attend school on crutches if they have a note from the health care provider stating the reason they need crutches, anticipated length of use in school and that they are able to safely use crutches in the school environment. When initially returning to school the student will need to report to the nurse’s office to be evaluated using their crutches and will be provided education if deemed necessary. Please call the nursing office prior to the student returning to school.

Forms and Documents

Please click on the nursing form or document you are interested in. The form or document you select will be downloaded to your computer. Fill out the forms you need and submit them to the Nursing Office.