Health Services

West Rusk Health and Wellness Plan

HB 1059 80th Legislature
This bill requires school districts with website capabilities to post information relating to immunizations exceptions, required and suggested immunizations for school age children, information on health clinics offering vaccines and links to the DSHS website. Information should be available in English and Spanish.

Immunization Awareness (Education Code, §38.019, as amended by HB 1059 (80th Legislature))

State vaccine Requirements

IMMUNIZATION PROTECTION LEVELS:

West Rusk nurses work diligently with parents all year round and especially at the beginning of school to make sure all students have the immunizations required by the state in order to attend Texas schools.
Monitoring immunization records and having high compliance rates reduces the potential for loss of instructional time due to illness and from preventable communicable diseases.

West Rusk nurses provide acute, chronic, episodic and emergent care to students and staff.  The Registered Nurse's  expertise in clinical assessment and critical thinking skills enable the RN to:

1. 1. Provide care and support to students to maximize time in the classroom
   2. Reduce the number of students sent home unnecessarily
   3. Provide appropriate nursing interventions and community referrals to maximize time in instruction
   4. Provide follow up care within the school setting to reduce absences
   5. Reduce spread of contagious illnesses, resulting in fewer sick days for students and staff.

Of students seen in the school clinics, usually less than 10% are sent home, referred to a physician, or referred to the emergency room.  Nurses have been able to treat and return usually 90% of students back to the classroom for continued instruction.

• Medication Procedures
• Request to Administer Medication at School Form
• The administration of medications at school allows students to remain at school and continue with their  instructional day.  The responsibility for the administration of medications is taken very seriously.  The Health Services Medication Guidelines are strictly enforced and are governed by The Board of Nursing, The Texas Department of State Health Services, The Pharmacy Board, The Texas Medical Association, The Texas Education Code and School Board policies.  The Health Services staff provides training for school staff  responsible for administering medications as assigned by the principals in the nurse's absence.  The nurses' medication knowledge extends to signs and symptoms of overdose, allergic reactions, conflicts with other medications, contraindications, and side effects.  School nurses often contact parents, physicians, and pharmacies regarding the effects and problems with medications.

Many students throughout the district require the services of the school nurse in order to remain in the school setting.  Specialized nursing care has afforded these students and their families the ability to participate as fully as possible in the enrichment of the school environment.  Specialized nursing procedures include tube feedings, ostomy care, catheterizations, nebulizer treatments, and glucose monitoring for diabetics.

• Link for Tobacco Cessation
•  Link for Asthma Wellness
• Seizure Management and Treatment Plan Form

Not all health concerns are dealt with on a daily basis.  West Rusk nurses monitor student health concerns throughout the year and initiate contact with parents, local healthcare providers, and other community resources to discuss student progress and needs.  School nurses also work closely with teachers and other school personnel to ensure students' health concerns are being addressed in the classroom.  Staff members are helped as well.  Health concerns include Allergies, Anaphylaxis, ADHD, Asthma, Autism, Cardiac Disease, Diabetes, Anxiety, Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat, Hypertension, Intestinal/digestive, Skin, Migraines, Muscular, Orthopedic, Pregnancy, Psychiatric disorder, Respiratory, Seizures, Sickle Cell, Vision impaired, Down's Syndrome.

School nurses are on the front lines of disease surveillance.  West Rusk nurses monitor and report communicable diseases such as Chickenpox, Pertussis, Meningitis, Influenza and Staph Infections to local authorities.  Flu like illness and absences are reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services in Rusk County.

Hearing, Vision, and Spinal screenings are mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services under the Health and Safety Code.  The nurses utilize an organized mass screening method at school which allows for minimal out of class time for students and provides the necessary time for the school nurse to complete referrals and assist families in locating care.  The RN assists students of families in need to obtain free eye exams and free glasses through VSP vision care providing certain criteria is met.  Dental and Lice screenings as well as Blood Pressure monitoring for students and staff are common, and Diabetic screenings are also done at the same time when Spinal screenings are done.

One of the major goals of the Health Services Department at West Rusk is the provision of health education and disease prevention to students and staff through:

1. Classroom instruction by school nurses to students in:

• Hygiene and Good Health Habits
• Nutrition and Exercise
• Heart Health
• Dental Health
• Over-the-counter Medicine Safety
• Safety on Field Trips/Playground
• Tobacco Prevention

1. Daily clinic interactions with students that teach self care and responsibility for one's health
2. Staff Wellness/Weight Programs
3. Educational Health-Related Posters in each clinic
4. Staff Instruction on Blood-Borne Pathogens, Influenza and Disease Prevention
5. Staff Instruction on Suicide Prevention
6. Training of staff on Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, Seizures, and Asthma to ensure safety of all students
7. Flu Prevention, Flu Vaccines are offered to all employees at West Rusk

​​​

• SHAC Information
• SHAC Report 2022
• SHAC Minutes 2021
• School Health Advisory Report to Board 2021
• SHAC Annual Meeting 12/10/24 at 1:15 in the Technology Building