My name is Mary Cruz, and I am the school nurse at EJ Patten School. My goal as school nurse is to achieve and maintain optimum health for the students and staff. By following state guidelines and laws and by having an open dialog with parents, this goal can be achieved.

 

In order to do this, I would ask you to read and follow these few suggestions regarding your child’s health-

 

Please notify the nurse and the main office if you change your telephone contact numbers. It is extremely important that we have your current telephone numbers.
Children in the elementary school need at least 9 hours of sleep each night and three full meals daily. Make sure they eat a varied diet including many fruits and vegetables. Try to make sure they drink plenty of water every day, too. Try to avoid lots of sugary snacks, fast food and soda.

 

Please keep your child home if they have had a fever within the last 24 hours, if they have vomited within the last 24 hours, if they wake up with their eyes stuck together with discharge, if they have a severe, persistent cough, if the child has had 2 or more episodes of diarrhea in the last 24 hours, if they are wheezing and it is not relieved with medication taken at home, and if they have a severe sore throat with a fever. I am sure that they will be sent to the nurse’s office by their teacher, and in the long run, they will have to be sent home. If you are not sure, I am in my office before school starts, and you can come in and ask me to assess your child.

 

If your child has lice/nits, they cannot come back to school until I check them in my office before the school day starts. Also, if your child has been diagnosed with strep throat or pink eye (conjunctivitis), they must have taken the medication prescribed by the doctor for at least 24 hours before returning to school. All these precautions are taken to avoid these contagious conditions from being spread among the children.

 

If your child has a newly diagnosed medical condition, please notify me. If your child needs medication during school hours, I will need a doctor’s medication order form filled out. As per NJ State law, I cannot administer any medication to a student without a written order and parental permission.
Feel free to contact me with any issues you may have concerning your child.

 

Sincerely,
Mary Cruz, RN