Health Services

school nurse




Health services are provided and/or supervised by school health nurses to appraise, protect, and promote the health of students. These services include assessment, planning, coordination of services and direct care for all children, including those with special health care needs. Health services are designed and coordinated with community health care professionals to ensure early intervention, access and referral to primary health care services; foster appropriate use of primary health care services; prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems; provide emergency care for student and staff illness or injury; provide daily and continuous services for children with special health care needs; promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment; and provide educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and maintaining individual, family and community health. Qualified professionals such as school health nurses, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, health educators, registered dietitians, school counselors, and allied health personnel including speech therapists and occupational or physical therapists provide these services.


Coordinated School Health: Health Screenings

One function of Coordinated School Health is to address health related barriers to learning for Bledsoe County students. Coordinated School Health performs vision, hearing, blood pressure, and BMI screenings for grades K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and high school wellness classes. Permission forms are located in the enrollment paper work at the beginning of the school year. Parents are given the option to allow their child to participate or decline. Additionally, teachers may refer a student for a vision or hearing screening if they notice the student having difficulties in those areas. 

*Hearing Screenings
Students who fail a hearing screening will be screened again at a different time. If the student fails the second hearing screening, a referral form will be sent home with the student recommending the student be seen by their Primary Care Provider (PCP).

*Vision Screenings
Students who fail a vision exam will be sent home with a referral letter recommending the student receive an exam by their PCP or Ophthalmologist. Information regarding financial assistance with the cost of corrective lenses and/or exam is included on the referral letter. 

*Blood Pressure Screenings
If a student's BP is high for their age, the school nurse will check their blood pressure two additional times on different days. If the average of those blood pressures is still high for their age, the school nurse will contact the parent with a recommendation to see their PCP. 

*BMI (Height and Weight) Screenings
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square height in meters. BMI is not a diagnostic tool and is used to screen for potential weight and health-related issues. 

  

Resources & Links

Return to Learn/Play: Concussion Management Guidelines
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/Returning_to_Learn_Guidelines.pdf

Guidelines for Use of Health Care Professionals and Health Care Procedures in a School Setting
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/csh/csh_guidelines_healthcare_prof_proc.pdf

TN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
https://www.tnaap.org/