School Nurses

School Nurses & Medical Advisors:

As school-based health professionals, you are responsible for the health and well-being of staff and students. School nurses, in particular, can play a primary role in the early detection of an IAQ problem when observing children who are sick. Illnesses due to poor IAQ may not, however, produce easily recognizable symptoms. If multiple pollutants are involved, tracing the causes of the student’s discomfort or illness will be your challenge.  Improving IAQ can reduce the number of student visits to the nurse’s office, reduce absenteeism due to illness, and enhance the general health and well-being of all students and staff.

Background: 

• EPA: Tools for Schools Introduction for Health Professionals
  
  
• 2012 NASN Environmental Health Concerns in the School Setting
  
  
• EPA: Managing Asthma in the School Environment
  
  

 Tools for Schools Forms:

• Health Officer/Nurse Checklist
  • Backgrounder

Green Cleaning Materials:

• Cleaning Guidance for the Nurse's Office
  
  
• Hand Cleaner Fact Sheet