Forty new school nurses came to Augusta to attend a school nurse orientation sponsored by the Maine Department of Education this month.
The series of orientations for new school nurses working in public, private and charter schools in Maine include information regarding State certification requirements; overview of the role of the school nurse; the immunization rule; resources; and information regarding screenings for vision, hearing, height and weight. Subsequent training days include information on: common communicable diseases and rashes; reporting child abuse and neglect; record keeping and documentation; and more.
This year, the third day included Concussion 101 with Dr. Bill Heinz from the OA Centers for Orthopedics in Portland. Also, the Maine Center for Disease Control Public Health Corps presented information on ticks, mosquitoes and other disease carrying bugs. The nurses also received the Anaphylaxis Toolkit and training to implement this coming school year.
The 2016-17 orientation training dates include October 7, November 21, and March 17.
You can learn more about school health guidance here or contact Maine DOE’s School Nurse Consultant Nancy Dube at nancy.dube@maione.gov.