School Nurse
Nurse
Nurse Greg Prather
Phone: 404-371-6637
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Each student should have an accurate, up-to-date health information on file with the nurse in the clinic. The health information must be entered into the parent portal of infiniate campus. Also, if your child has special health needs (allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures), please contact your school nurse and complete a plan of care. We request that you notify your school nurse of any changes in your child’s health care plan throughout the year.
Each student entering the school system for the first time regardless of grade level must present the following health related items:
These forms can be completed by your medical doctor or the DeKalb County Board of Health.
- Documentation of required immunizations on Ga. Department of Human Resources from 3231. If your child requires a waiver of immunization requirements due to conflict of religious beliefs, a signed and notarized affidavit is required(form is available on this page). Medical waivers/exemptions are a part of Georgia Form 3231.
- Documentation of vision, hearing and dental screening on Ga. Department of Human Resources form 3300.
When will I receive a call from the school nurse?
I know receiving a call from the school nurse is not what you want, but rest assured, I want to keep the kids at school as much as you do. Please program the clinic number (404-371-6637) into your phone so you do not miss our call. Not all calls mean you have to pick up your child. I will not call for minor bumps and skin abrasions, bug bites or short visits to the clinic for stomach aches or cold symptoms. I will always call you when your child has a major head bump or facial abrasions, however, most times they do not need to go home. There are times where I will ask for you help, often times our kids are overwhelmed and hearing your familiar voice and encouragement is the TLC that is needed to make it through the day!
When will I need to pick up my student from school due to illness?
In the event that you are requested to pick your child up, please do it promptly as we have numerous other children to attend to. If your child is sick enough that they are required to go home they do not want to sit in the clinic for hours waiting for you to pick them up. Thank you!
If a child is sent home in the middle of the day with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, they cannot return to school the next day. Remember, 24 hours fever and symptom free.
When is my student too sick for school?
Is it just a cold or is your child too sick for school? Here are a few parameters on when you should keep your child home. If a child is sent home in the middle of the day with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, they cannot return to school the next day. Remember, 24 hours fever and symptom free!
What about medications?
Medications, including over the counter preparations, can only be administered to students with a completed Authorization for Medication Administration form. This form was updated for the 2020-21 school year. The previous form will no longer be accepted. Prescription medications must be brought to school in the original container labeled with the student’s name, date, name of medication, name
What if my student needs a special action plan?
If your student has any medical action plan, ie: food allergy, seizure, diabetes, asthma, etc., a new action plan, signed by the physician, is required each year. Please send in updated action plans asap.
When to Keep Your Child Home
- Fever at or greater than 100.0
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Eye that appears bacterial, yellow crusting, oozing
- Coughing, sneezing, runny nose that affects the child’s ability to focus in class/disruptful cough
- Stomach ache that is not resolved with rest or bathroom and effects child’s ability to remain in class.
- Sprain or strain and child will not bear weight.
- Head bump accompanied with loss of consciousness, nausea/vomiting &/or headache.
- Laceration that needs to be assessed for sutures
- Temp at or greater than 100: Fevers are a common symptom of viral or bacterial infection. Children are likely to be contagious to others when they have a fever. Keep student home until they are fever free (without meds) for 24 hours.
- Stomach Pain: Vomiting or diarrhea, keep at home until symptom free for 24 hours. No other visible symptoms: student may be hungry, ate too fast, nervous about school or just wanting to stay home. A bathroom trip might be in order also. Consult a medical provider and do not send a student to school with a stomach ache that is persistent or severe enough to limit activity.
- Cold/coughing: A student with mild symptoms, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school. A student with heavy cold symptoms such as deep or uncontrollable coughing or significant lack of energy belongs at home even without a fever.
- FLU: A student with flu-like illness (fever and cough) must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications. Children are one of the biggest sources for spreading the flu.
- Sore Throat: A student with a mild sore throat, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine to attend school. Keep a student home and contact a medical provider for a severe sore throat and if white spots are seen in the back of the throat, with or without a fever.
- Pink Eye: Conjunctivitis is a common infectious disease of one of both eyes caused by several types of bacteria and viruses. If a student's eye is red, irritated and has copious drainage the student should be kept at home until seen by a medical provider & return to school with or without treatment depending on the diagnosis. Bacterial conjunctivitis requires prescription medication and student must be treated for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Strep Throat: If your student is diagnosed with strep throat, they must be kept home until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started.