Potomac Middle School - Nurse's Notes

ABOUT THE POTOMAC MIDDLE SCHOOL NURSE

Mrs. Karen Keeney has been licensed as a registered nurse for 22 years. She is a nationally certified case manager. She is a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the Virginia Association of School Nurses. She joined Prince William County Schools in 2005. Mrs. Keeney comes to Potomac Middle School this year as a full time school nurse and is very proud to be a Panther! Mrs. Keeney is married and has three children-Burke, Michael and Julianne. She has one handsome English Bulldog named Beau.

Tips on How to Prevent the Spread of Germs

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages everyone to prevent the spread of germs by doing the following:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

Put used tissues in the trash.

Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Wash with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

If you get sick, stay home from work or school, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them. People should stay home at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100°F), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Parents, if your child has a medical condition, please consult with the nurse so that she can provide you with the proper forms for your child's doctor to complete. These forms are also accessible on line at pwcs.edu under the school board link, then go to policies and regulations. The medical regulations pertaining to students are numbered in the 700s. You may read the regulations and print the forms to have them completed by the child's doctor and brought to the nurse.

*** Please inform your school nurse if your child has an infectious disease, recent hospitalization for illness or an orthopedic injury requiring a wheel chair or crutches in school, so that we may make the proper accomodations upon the student's return to school.

Click Here for the Allergy Action Health Treatment Plan - Regulation 757-2.
Click here for the Medical Health Tratment or Emergency Treatment Plan - Regulation 757-3.
Click here for the Medication Authorization Form - Regulation 757-4.
Click here for the Asthma Health Treatment Plan - Regulation 757-5.
Click here for the Diabetes health Treatment Plan - Regulation 757-6.
Click here for the Seizure Health treatment Plan - Regulation 757-7.

CLINIC CORNER

Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school. (reference Prince William County Schools Regulation 758-1)

Fever of 100° F and over- exclude until student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworms, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
Rash of unknown origin (especially if accompanied by a fever).
Head injury.
Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
Colds-a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
Diarrhea or vomiting-exclude until student has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
Refer to the Virginia Department of Health (VDOH) “Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel” for other exclusions/information.

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