School Nurse Page

Message from the school nurse

Welcome back to school! We are glad to have you with us. My name is Brenda Dickinson, RN, MSN, and I am a school nurse at Southwest Public Schools. I will be at the schools two days a week to help keep students healthy.

First, if your student has not attended Southwest Schools in the previous year, we need a copy of your child’s birth certificate. This birth certificate must have a raised seal. If you don’t have it at home, you can obtain an official copy online from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records, or http://dhhs.ne.gov

You will want to do this as soon as possible, as this is a timely process.  

Second, your child needs to be CURRENT on VACCINATIONS.  Your healthcare provider and the Red Willow County Health Department can verify that you have all the recommended vaccinations required before your student can attend school.  You can call the Red Willow County Health Department at (308) 345-1790, located at 1400 West 5th Street (at the fairgrounds in McCook).  Please bring documentation of vaccines so your student can attend school.

Third, this is a big one: Please bring documentation of a physical exam AND an eye exam!

Nebraska State Law requires:

• Annual health screenings will be provided through the Red Willow County Health Department for all students in sixth grade, eighth grade, nineth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade, and twelfth grade.

• A physical examination by a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse within six months prior to the students beginning in the 7^th grade.

  • except that no such physical examination or visual evaluation shall be required of any child whose parent or guardian objects in writing.  You can contact the  school nurse if you would like to object to the state-required examinations.
• Finally, if your student has a medical condition that you would like the school to monitor, provide medication, or provide medical intervention, we need to create an individual health care plan.  These plans provide good communication between the school and parents to keep your students safe at school.

Common health plans are for students diagnosed with asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures, etc.

Please contact me if your child needs an individual health plan or requires medications at school.

All About Illness:

Schools often require you to stay home if you have:

• Fever of 100.0°F or higher within the past 24 hours
• Vomiting within the past 24 hours
• Diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Rash with itching or fever
• Head lice (itchy head, active lice)
• Eye infection (redness, itching, pus drainage)
• Hospital stay or ER visit (until provider releases student to return to school)
• Flu or other contagious illness (symptoms like cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches)
  When You’re Ready to Return

You can usually return to school when:

• Fever is gone for 24 hours without medication
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea have stopped for 24 hours
• Rash, itching, or fever are resolved
• Lice treatment is complete and no live bugs remain
• Eye infection has been evaluated, and your doctor has cleared you
• Hospital or ER has released you
• Skin infection is healed or no longer contagious
• Note: For contagious illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, you must be symptom-free for 24 hours without medication and have a doctor’s note before returning.

We have annual school screenings and vaccination clinics that will be provided by the Red Willow County Health Department.  They will be placed on the school calendar, and you will be notified in a school newsletter. Proxy forms providing parental permission will be sent by email.  We screen height & weight, vision, hearing and dental health.  We encourage you to have your students make routine visits to their dentist. 

If you have any questions, cares, or concerns, please contact the school nurse by phone at the elementary or the high school on Mondays or Wednesdays. You can also contact the school nurse by email at brenda.dickinson@swpschools.org or at 308-692-3223 0r 308-364-2613.

We are looking forward to seeing the students at school.

Helpful Information:

When To Keep Your Child Home From School

Head Lice 101 for Parents

School Required Immunizations

Medication Forms:

Request To Provide Medication During School Hours

Medication Form - Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen - Grades 6th to 12th

Physical Forms:

NSAA Sports Physical Form

Certification of Physical Examination (K, 1st, 7th, Out of State - Transfers)

Immunization Forms:

Religious Affidavit For Vaccinations

Medical Exemption From Vaccination

Action Plans:

FARE (Food Allergy) Action Plan

Asthma Action Plan for School

Birth Certificates:

Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate