NEWS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is
Margaret Persaud, and I am a registered nurse employed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and assigned to your child’s school. I will also be covering two other schools.
The Health Room is staffed daily by a School Health Room Technician (SHRT). The SHRT is a Certified Medication Technician and a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is also a Certified CPR and First Aid Provider. The Health Room Tech provides first aid and administers medications. It is important that the school has accurate home, work, and cell phone numbers, as well as emergency contact information, in the event a parent cannot be reached.
Some of the services that the school nurse provides include health assessments, crisis intervention, health counseling, case management, referral services and health education and promotion. Other services that are provided in the Health Room, through DHHS, are vision and hearing screenings. This will be done for all kindergarteners, some first graders and any student new to the State of Maryland. It is my goal to work closely with the school staff to ensure your child has a safe and healthy school year. I have included a few handouts with this letter. Please read them carefully and share them with your child.
MEDICATIONS ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL
Medications, both prescription and over the counter, must have the proper paperwork. Medication administration forms (525-13 for medications:
( ),
Form 525-14 for epipens: ( ),
and Form 525-12 for nebulizer or other treatment: ( ) are available in the health room or on the MCPS website. Medications MUST BE brought to school by a parent or guardian and must be properly labeled with the label instruction matching those on the form. The physician orders have to be specific. We CANNOT accept incomplete orders, and also medications brought to school by a student.
SICK CHILDREN
Please be alert to your child’s health and use your best judgment as to when to send him/her to school. I have enclosed recommendations when to keep your child home from school. We do recommend that they stay at home for 24 hours after vomiting or the last evidence of a fever (a temperature of more than 100 degrees) without medicine.
Please call the health room with any questions or concerns. The number is 301-879-1095. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you to provide a safe and successful school year for your child/children.
Best regards,
Margaret Persaud, MSN, RN, SCHN
School Community Health Nurse
Drew Elementary School Phone: 301-879-1095 Email: