Transcript Everything the School Nurse is Required to Tell You

Everything the School Nurse
is Required to Tell You
Dennis Township School District
Janice Tice RN, BSN & Courtney Herlihy RN, BSN
2009-2010
Introduction & Objectives
OSHA, Blood borne Pathogens, Safety &
Asthma,
Staff will review and recognize the district
exposure control plan and practice
universal precautions in the event of an
exposure.
Staff will demonstrate a basic
understanding of a student in need of care
for asthma.
Agenda
At the completion of this program please
sign the form provided acknowledging
understanding of content.
Complete your Employee Health History.
Return completed forms to the School
Health Office ASAP.
Overview
Could you contract a disease at work?
Pathogen
Disease
Universal Precautions
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Blood
HIV
Vocabulary
Blood borne Pathogens: microorganisms
which present in bodily fluids that can lead
to disease
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HBV: Hepatitis B virus
HCV: Hepatitis C virus
Universal Precautions: Treat all blood and
body fluids as if they are infectious. Wear
gloves! Wash your hands!
Topic One: HIV
HIV develops in the immune system.
HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS.
Currently, there is no available
vaccination or cure for HIV.
HIV does not survive well outside the
body, dying essentially as soon as it dries.
HIV can be found in varying
concentrations in blood, semen, vaginal
fluids, breast milk, saliva and tears.
Topic Two: Hepatitis
Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue,
abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea &
vomiting.
May lead to chronic liver disease, liver
cancer and death.
Vaccinations are available for Hepatitis B
and Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B can survive for at least one
week in dried blood.
Potential Transmission
Blood borne pathogens can be transmitted by:
– Contact with another person’s blood or body fluids
that may contain blood.
– Contact with mucus membranes: getting infected
blood or fluid in the eyes, mouth or nose.
– Contact with non-intact skin.
– Contaminated sharps/needles – this means any
object that can penetrate the skin including needles,
scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes slides, dental
wires, etc.
Diabetics should never check their blood sugars in the
classroom.
Potential Exposure
Injuries, accidents, bloody noses, fights, etc.
Administering First Aid –
– ***Use Universal Precautions! No one will bleed to
death in the time it takes to put on a pair of
gloves…you are obligated to protect yourself!
Post-Accident Clean-up
– You are never expected to clean up blood or body
fluids. Call the front office and report a blood spill.
You can protect yourself and others by covering the
spill with towels or rags until a custodian or someone
arrives.
District Exposure Control Plan
Compliance with OSHA Standards:
– Training and communications of hazards to
employees.
– Offering HBV vaccines and post-exposure follow-ups.
– Records kept by School Health Office
Job Classifications having a reasonable risk of
exposure and offered vaccines:
– Nurses, Athletic Trainers, Coaches, PE Teachers,
Administrators, Custodians, Playground Aides.
All others encouraged to vaccinate (offered by
most insurance), otherwise see Nurse for
advice.
Miscellaneous Information
During Regular School Hours: All exposure
incidents or injuries, staff & students, must be
reported to the Nurse at the time of the incident.
After-school or out-of-school Functions: First
aid kit provided for school-sponsored activities
and custodians for preliminary treatment. All
exposure accidents must be reported to the
nurse at the earliest time possible upon return to
school.
Topic Three: Asthma
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It
causes repeated episodes of wheezing,
breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime
or early morning coughing.
Asthma accounts for a high degree of
absenteeism from school.
A coordinated school health program is
recommended by the CDC to ensure a better
educational outcome.
Asthma (continued)
The School Health Office may have
asthma treatments ordered by a student’s
physician as needed.
Daily meds such as Advair and Singular
and other steroid-based medications have
given increased control to students,
decreasing triggers and increasing
attendance in school.
Asthma (Continued)
Triggers of Asthmatic Symptoms:
– Upper respiratory infections
– Allergens – pollen, house dust and mites, animal
dander, molds, foods, insects
– Strong odors
– Exercise
– Cold air
– Pollution – indoor and outdoor
– Emotional Stress
– Hyperventilation, laughing, crying
References
Department of Health and Human
Services (2005).
Asthma program, environmental hazards
and health effects.
– http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/default.htm
(2007).
Viral Hepatitis B Fact Sheet.
– http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/
b/fact.htm (2007)