As students and teachers prepare to head back to the classroom in many parts of the country, school nurses are left wondering how they found themselves on the front lines of a pandemic.
School nurses are essential to the healthy functioning of a school, and heading back into a school year filled with uncertainty amid the pandemic leaves school healthcare providers with a list of things they need parents to be aware of, Good Morning America reports.
Here are five things school nurses would like parents to know as they head back into a gray area in healthy schooling:
1. School nurse visits will look different for students
While many students could previously be expected to power through a mild headache or a runny nose, these symptoms could quickly have your child sent to the nurse's office and ultimately, sent home.
Students who visit the nurse's office will be expected to social distance from their peers while they wait to be seen, and they will be expected to follow what many are calling the "3 Ws": wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.
2. Parents will need to offer their healthcare support at home
Parents should screen their children at home before sending them into school. By putting your child on a school bus or sending them to school by other means, the parents are therefore indicating that their child does not have any symptoms of coronavirus.
It's also important to monitor the students' hygiene at their homes to make sure they're washing their hands regularly and wearing masks while out in public.
3. Give your school nurses some support
School nurses are vying for programs that will offer schools more personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and HVAC systems for increased ventilation indoors.
School nurses, Good Morning America reports, are often compensated less than their peers who work in clinics and hospitals.
Local clubs and community partners can be credited for supplying schools with the correct amount of PPE for the job.
4. Have patience
While the pandemic has shown parents a challenging time in working from home and providing their children with the education they need to stay afloat, many school nurses recognize that it's been a hard time for everyone, and everyone needs to be shown a bit of kindness.
"We're building a ship as we sail because no one has ever been here before," said Gail M. Smith, a registered nurse and director of health services for the Pickens County School System in Georgia.
5. Check in on your child's mental health
The uncertainties that came with the pandemic for parents may look a little different than those posed for children, however, it's still important that you make sure your little ones are coping well.
School nurses are always checking on their students' mental health as well as their physical health to make sure they're receiving the support they need.
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