Health Services

Mercedes ISD School Nurses' Mission Statement
The Mission of the Mercedes ISD Health Services team is to Promote Health and Wellness of all school age children so that they are healthy, ready to learn, and prepared to make healthy life long choices.

Role and Responsibilities

Our students are our most valuable resource. In recognition of that, Mercedes ISD provides a school nurse at each campus. The school nurse serves as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and healthcare providers to advocate for student health and a healthy school environment.

School nursing is a professional, registered nursing specialty that involves identification, assessment, prevention, and intervention to remedy or modify students' health needs. The nurse's goal is to promote the optimum health of students and the each student's ability to achieve their individual educational goals.

Nurses monitor required immunizations, perform mandated health screenings, track communicable diseases, plan for emergencies, provide direct care to students, and more.

Nurse Visits:

A student must obtain a pass from their teacher to visit the school nurse during the school day, unless it is a medical emergency or urgent. During lunch hours, the student must inform an administrator or school personnel that they are needing to go to the nurse to ensure the child’s safety. The nurse will follow doctor’s standing orders approved by the MISD School Nurse Medical Director to treat a student. If a child meets exclusion guidelines from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the school nurse or administrator will contact you to pick up your child and take him/her to the doctor for clearance or treatment.

Student Health History and Emergency Information Form

Parents/guardians are required to complete and sign an Emergency Treatment Form each school year. (FFAC Local) This provides us with parent and alternate contact information and basic medical information in the event of a medical emergency at school or a school-related activity. Parents/guardians are urged to include information about pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, and medications, etc. on this form. The Student Health History and Emergency Form is updated annually when the school year begins and anytime there is a change to your child’s medical information. Please ensure that you update the school nurse on any of those changes.

Emergencies

In the event of a serious illness or accident, the school will contact the parent/guardian or the emergency contact if you cannot be reached. If the emergency is life threatening, an ambulance will be called. Please be aware that MISD is not financially responsible for the emergency care/ambulance transport of your child. It is extremely important that you update the school with the most current phone number(s) so we may reach you in a timely manner during an emergency.

Unassigned Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

All campuses have an emergency supply of epinephrine auto-injector that school nurses or authorized trained school personnel may administer at any time to a person experiencing anaphylaxis on a school campus, off-campus school event, or while in transit to or from a school event when an unassigned epinephrine auto-injector is available. Parents of children with known anaphylaxis are expected to provide an individual supply of emergency medication and an anaphylaxis action plan, signed by the physician and parent/guardian, to the campus nurse. Please see the Notice to Parent/Guardian for Emergency Administration of Unassigned Epinephrine Autoinjectors English/Spanish.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) / Emergency Response

Each school has at least one (1) automated external defibrillator (AED), and a medical emergency response team. The team has a drill at least once a year. Each AED is equipped with both adult and pediatric electrode pads.

PE Excuses

A physical education/sports written excuse from a parent is valid for only 3 days. If your child requires more days, a doctor’s excuse must be brought to the school nurse and/or coach indicating the child’s diagnosis and amount of days the child cannot participate in PE/sports.

For more information please refer to the Student Handbook or consult with your school nurse.

Communicable Diseases/ Exclusion

ARP ESSER

DAISY Award

Medications at School English/Spanish

Medication Administration Forms English

Nurses Forms (Internal Use Only)

Seizure Plan Form

Asthma Plan Form Spanish

Medication Administration Forms Spanish

Asthma Plan Form English

Anaphylaxis Plan Form English