Optimal learning requires good physical and mental health.  School nurses strengthen and facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children.  School nurses also help identify health-related problems, which may cause impediments to the learning process in individual children.  The Harrison County Board of Education provides this service for the students by employing registered certified school nurses.

There are many different ways the School Nurses help students:

• Assesses health care needs of students. Conducts health screenings which  include, but are not limited to Vision, Hearing, and Dental

• Identifies health-related needs and develops appropriate health care intervention guidelines.

• Helps provide emergency first-aid for acute illness and injury.

• Provide health counseling as needed.

• Provide leadership and support for wellness programs.

• Helps monitor and enforce student compliance with state immunization laws.

• Acts as a multi-disciplinary team member.

• Performs health assessments, interprets medical data and makes recommendations.

• Develops the health component of the Individual Educational Plan.

• Serves as a participant in student 504 plans.

• Instructs and supervises school personnel in healthcare-related procedures.

• Coordinates the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program for ninth-grade students.

• Teaches Growing Up curriculum to fifth-grade students.

• Conducts health-related classroom presentations and in-services for school personnel.

• Monitors communicable disease outbreaks and provides education concerning diseases.

• Acts as a resource person for faculty and staff.

• Makes referrals to School-Based Health Clinics when applicable.