The school nurse is a professional who is licensed and registered by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is a part of the school education team. School nurses manage the school health services in compliance with school district policy and in accordance with the Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice, the Nurse Practice Act, and federal and state statutes that impact school nursing practice.

WCS school nurses provide the following care:

• Perform skilled nursing procedures
• Medication management
• Emergency care planning
• Health-related training to school personnel
• Preventative health services to students
• Develop plans of care for students needing health interventions
• Modification of health plans

Nurses are available to consult with parents/guardians regarding health concerns that may impact student performance and/or attendance at school. The goal of the school nurse is for all students to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The school nurse will collaborate with parents/guardians and educators to implement safe school health practices and provide excellent healthcare to achieve this goal.

Health Services Department Facts

2022-2023 School Year

• 142,282 Clinic Visits to School Nurse
• 3,443 Referrals Made by School Nurse
• 25 Full Time Registered Nurses. RN in every school building
• 1 Full Time Licensed Practical Nurse
• The average years of nursing experience for Wilson County School Nurses is 20 years
• All Wilson County Schools are HEART SAFE Schools and Project Adam Certified
• 495 Wilson County Employees are CPR Certified

2021-2022 School Year

• 141,954 clinic visits
• 2,245 referrals were made by the school nurse

For questions or more information, contact your student's School Nurse for assistance.

In an effort to keep our students safe and healthy, it is important for students to stay at home and away from others when feeling sick.  Staying away from others helps to stop the spread of illness.

If your child is having any of the following symptoms please keep them home from school:

• Temperature of 100.4 or above
• Cough
• Congestion
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Headache
• Conjunctivitis
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of taste or smell
• Rash or signs of skin infection

If your student is having any of the above stated symptoms or is sent home by the school nurse, they should not return for at least 24 hours or they have been cleared to return earlier by their medical provider. 

Medical documentation must be provided if your student returns prior to 24 hours.  

The school health clinic is not equipped for prolonged care of sick students. We ask that you or an emergency contact pick up your sick student within an hour of notification. 

What do I need to do for a religious exemption?
The Religious Exemption Form must be completed, signed, and turned into your student’s school.

How do I know what shots are needed to attend WCS?  
Visit the Immunization Information page for resources.

My child is on medication.  What do I need for them to start school in WCS? 
Medication orders must be completed and brought to school nurse by parent/guardian.

Can I send the medication to school with my child? 
No, all medication must be brought to the school nurse by parent/guardian.

When should my child remain home due to illness?   
Visit Illness Guidelines for information about returning to school.

Where can my child get an up-to-date physical?  
Physicals may be obtained from your child’s pediatrician office or local health department.  Many walk-in clinics will also perform physicals as well.

If you can’t find what you need, please contact your school nurse for assistance. 

The policies or procedures described below may be revised, modified, or amended in which case the most current policy or procedure will govern. The online version of these policies and procedures are the governing document. School Board Policy 6.405 can be found online here. Policy 6.405 includes the following requirements:

• If the medication is a prescription or herbal medication, the physician must complete the Medication Authorization Form. Both the physician and parent/legal guardian must sign the form. The required paperwork must be submitted to the school before medication will be accepted. A new Medication Authorization Form is required each school year or if there are changes made to the current medication.
• If an over-the-counter medication is necessary at school, the parent/legal guardian must complete the Medication Authorization Form. The parent/legal guardian or adult designee must bring the medication to school. Medications must not to be sent to school with the student.
• Prescription medication must be in a properly labeled pharmacy bottle, which the pharmacist will provide. The label on the medication bottle must match the information provided by the physician. An empty medication bottle may be sent home with a student, but the parent/legal guardian is required to bring the medication to school. Over-the-counter medication (i.e. cough drops, Tylenol, Midol, Benadryl, creams, etc.) must be brought to school by the parent in the original unopened container with the student’s name written on the bottle. Students must be able to measure their liquid medications.
• The parent/legal guardian is responsible for providing the exact dosage ordered by the physician (i.e. cutting pills, if needed and providing a measuring device for liquid medications).
• The parent/legal guardian and medication designee must count the medication and verify the count by signing on the back of the Medication Record.
• All medication will be kept in a secure, locked area except: inhalers, epi-pens, glucometers and insulin, which are allowed to stay with the student after the appropriate paperwork is completed is filled out and brought to school.
• If the medication is changed or discontinued at school, additional documentation from the physician must be provided.
• Expired medications will not be administered. Emergency medications that will not expire during the school year should be provided whenever possible.
• Medication not picked up at the end of each school year or the end of treatment regimen will be disposed of according to state regulation and district protocol.

Required School Immunizations

Tennessee Certificate of Immunization Example

Religious Exemption from Vaccinations

Having head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of having poor health habits or being dirty. The most important fact to remember is that the problem should be quickly treated because delays will only help spread the head lice throughout your family and community. Please check your child regularly.

Signs of head lice and nits (lice eggs):

• Head scratching and intense itching of the scalp and neck with the observation of tiny crawling insects about the size of a sesame seed, with six legs, and color of tan to grayish- white.
• Adult head lice may look darker in persons with dark hair than in persons with light hair.
• Nits are lice eggs laid by the adult female head louse at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp. Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft and are oval-shaped and very small (about the size of a knot in thread) and hard to see.
• Nits often appear yellow or white and easily confused with dandruff. Dandruff is removed easily from the hair or scalp; however, nits (eggs) are glued to the hair shaft and are very difficult to remove-usually must be pulled all the way to the end of the hair shaft by your fingers or with a fine-toothed comb.

Treatment of head lice:

• There are several non-prescription and prescription treatments available to eliminate lice and their eggs. They can be purchased at your local pharmacy, or call your physician for his/her recommendation. Read and follow the directions carefully.
• A second treatment is often recommended 10 days later. A fine-toothed comb is often needed to remove all of the nits.
• Please spend time with your child combing all of the nits (eggs) out of his/her hair.
• Put on clean clothing after treatment.
• Inspect all other family members for head lice and recheck periodically over the next two (2) weeks.

If head lice is found:

• Clean all articles that might have lice or nits. Clothes, towels, and bed linens should be washed in hot water and detergent or dry-cleaned. Continue to wash your child’s bed linens regularly and vacuum all upholstered furniture and carpet. Throw vacuum bags away after each use. Wash all book bags and back packs.
• Stuffed animals or items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least ten days to two weeks.
• Disinfect combs, brushes, and similar items by washing with the special shampoo.  

Returning to school:

• A student may return to school only after the hair has been treated appropriately and after a satisfactory examination by the school nurse. 

Confidentiality and sensitivity to you and your child is of paramount importance to us as we work together in the elimination of this condition. Thank you for your cooperation in being proactive to manage this problem that can lead to a disruption in your child’s learning at school.

What is influenza (flu)?

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average:
  • 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
  • More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; 20,000 of those hospitalized are children younger than 5 years of age; approximately 36,000 people die from flu.
• Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.

 How does the flu spread?

• Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. 
• Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
• Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

• fever (usually high)
• headache
• extreme tiredness
• dry cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle aches
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Preventing the spread of flu:

• Hand washing - you can prevent the spread of the flu by washing your hands before and after eating meals; after using the rest room; after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose; and after playing outside.
  • Use warm, running water and soap. If you use liquid soap, use about one teaspoon.
  • Be sure to rub your hands together vigorously for 20 seconds. Do not forget to rub between fingers and clean underneath the fingernails.
  • Rinse thoroughly and dry hands with paper towels or a hot-air dryer. 
• Keep your children at home if they have a fever or are showing any of the above flu symptoms.

For more information please click on a link below:

Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet - English
Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet - Español and other languages

The Flu:  A Guide for Parents - English
The Flu:  A Guide for Parents - Español

Meningococcal Vaccine Information (English)

Meningococcal Vaccine (Other Languages)

The following items are always needed throughout the year in the school clinics:

• Hand Sanitizer
• Facial Tissue
• Clorox Wipes
• Paper Towels
• Small Bottles of Water
• Latex Free Bandaids