Roles and Responsibilities of the Nursing Department
- To develop and implement emergency response plans for all children with moderate/ severe allergies and medical concerns
- To monitor students’ immunizations
- To act as a resource for faculty, parents and students
- To provide individual health counselling by servicing emotional and physical health needs, and to refer any appropriate professional community resources as needed
- To evaluate and monitor communicable diseases
- To work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure standards of best practices
- To conduct health-related classroom instruction
- To provide educational and promotional activities for healthy lifestyles of our students and staff
When to Stay at Home
Deciding whether your child is too unwell for school can be challenging. We kindly requests that parents only send children to school if they are feeling fine and healthy. If you have concerns about your child’s health, we recommend consulting your physician or one of our school nurses.
During school hours, if a child becomes unwell, a nurse will assess their condition and provide necessary treatment. If a child is deemed too unwell to remain at school, the nurse will contact the parent or guardian to arrange for their prompt collection, as per school policy (within 1 hour).
Please keep your child at home if they are unwell and displaying any of the following symptoms:
Fever
Defined as above 37.5C as per Singapore Ministry of Health, children may only return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, such as Panadol or Neurofen.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Usually characterized by fever, sore throat, ulcers in the mouth and throat, and a rash with small blisters (3mm – 7mm) on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Children must obtain a clearance letter from their medical doctor before they can return to school.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are often caused by viral or bacterial infections. Please consult a physician if your child appears dehydrated or exhibits these symptoms. Children may return to school 48 hours after their last episode of vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Flu-like Symptoms
Children who experience persistent coughing and sneezing should seek a physician’s consultation if there is no improvement, to rule out potential infectious diseases such as Mycoplasma.
Impetigo (School Sores)
This contagious skin disease is marked by spreading pustular lesions (sores filled with pus-like fluid) and requires medical treatment. While in school, all sores must be kept covered. Antibiotic therapy must be completed for 48 hours before students can return to school.
Head Lice
Head lice are tiny insects that cause severe itching of the scalp. Children with active head lice should refrain from attending school until they have been effectively treated at home. Upon their return, a nurse will verify that there are no remaining active head lice.
Conjunctivitis
Presents as itchy, red, and inflamed eyes with excessive discharge. Antibiotic treatment must be started before a student can attend school.
