Welcome to the Nurse's Corner!

My name is Jill Stout and I am the school nurse. I provide services to both Aspen Elementary and Uinta Meadows Elementary. The nurse’s office is located within the main office at both schools.

I conduct vision and hearing screenings for students, assist in administering medication according to the district medication policy, and provide general first aid as needed.

Parenting Corner
heart with stethoscope symbolizing nursing services

General Information

    Medication Policy

    Administering Medicines To Students

    In compliance with Wyoming Statutes and according to accepted professional practice, the Board of Trustees of Uinta County School District #1 has established a policy regarding the administration of medication at school. The Board of Trustees in adopting this policy establishes the following:

    1. Medication should be administered at home if at all possible.

    2. The school will not furnish any medication.

    3. If medication of any type, including non-prescription, must be taken at school, written instructions from the parent/guardian on a specific Parent Authorization to Administer Medication form will be given to the school regarding the medication, dose, frequency, and duration.

    4. A licensed Medical Practitioner shall give their written instructions to include medication name, dosage and time of administration for a student to receive prescription medication at school; in addition to the above authorization form.

    5. The prescription medication must be brought to school in a container properly labeled by a pharmacist or licensed Medical Practitioner. Non-prescription medication must be in the original container.

    6. Any medication administered cannot exceed the recommended dosage, time interval or directions listed on the container unless specifically ordered, in writing, by a licensed Medical Practitioner.

    7. The medication shall be kept in a locked place and records shall be kept on medication administered. The records must be signed by the individual who administered the medication.

    8. Medication may only be administered by the school nurse, the building administrator, or a staff member specifically designated in writing by the building administrator.

    9. Any staff member may refuse to administer any medication.

    10. All medication authorizations will expire on the last day of the school year in which it was executed. Medication not picked up by the last day of the school year will be discarded.

    11. Wyoming Statutes allow students to carry and self-administer certain medication. Specific self-administration of these medications must be authorized in writing by a licensed Medical Practitioner and the parent/guardian using approved forms.

    Health & Emergency Care Procedures

    UCSD#1 Has updated procedures for food allergies and health care. More information can be obtained from the school nurse. The main points from the health care procedure include when a child will be sent home from school including if they have any of the following:

    • A fever of 100 degrees or greater. The student may return to school only after being fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medications).
    • A persistent cough or coughing that significantly affects the students ability to talk, function or remain comfortable.
    • Suspected conjunctivitis. Following the diagnosis of conjunctivitis the student may return to school 24 hours after the first prescribed dose.
    • Persistent diarrhea and/or uncontrolled vomiting. The student may return to school only after being symptom-free for 8 hours.
    • A suspicious, unexplained rash or lesion. The student may return after a health care provider has examined and authorized the student's return to school.
    • Whenever any live pediculi or untreated nits are found. The student may return following appropriate treatment as long as no further live pediculi are found.
    • Students may return to school:
      • With a known diagnosis of strep throat 24 hours after antibiotic treatment.
      • With a diagnosed skin lesion 24 hours after treatment.
    Immunization Requirements

    DTP/DTaP/Td (5 Doses) Diphtheira, tetanus & pertussis/tetanus diphtheria vaccine. A 5th dose of DTP/DTaP is not required if 4th dose is administered on or after the 4th birthday.

    Td/Tdap (1 Dose) An adolescent Td (tetanus diphtheria) booster is required for all 7th grade students who have not received a booster shot during the previous 5 years. Students 8th-12 grades are required to have the age-appropriate series completed plus one additional Td booster.

    Polio (4 Doses) The final dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday even if this means a 5th dose. If IPV or OPV only were used, 3 doses is considered a complete series if the 3rd dose is given on or after the 4th birthday. A combination OPV/IPV requires 4 doses for a complete series.

    MMR (2 Doses) Measles, mumps & rubella vaccine with first dose given on or after the 1st birthday.

    Hepatitis B (3 Doses) Series of three vaccinations given over a 6 month period of time.

    Varicella (2 doses) Series of two doses given 3 months after the first dose if 7 to 11 years of age. If over 12 years of age, second dose is given 28 days after the first.

    * For students 7 years of age and older who were not immunized prior to their 7th birthday, a total of 3 doses of Td, Polio & Hepatitis B and 2 doses of Varicella and MMR are required.

    For more information on immunizations or exemptions, please contact your school nurse.

Flu Facts

Nurse’s News

Tips From Your School Nurse For Protecting Yourself Against The Flu Virus

Don’t let the flu stand in the way of your school work, sports, extracurricular activities and social life. Follow these tips to protect yourself:

1. Common sense can help you – and your friends – avoid the flu

Group gatherings like football games, school dances, and even classrooms are ideal places for the flu bug to

spread. Protect yourself and others by following these simple steps:

  • Practice Healthy Habits – Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to help prevent germs from spreading. Also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because the virus can spread when your hands touch surfaces that are infested with germs.
  • Mind Your Manners – Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, and throw away your used tissues, or cough into your elbow.
  • What’s Mine is Mine, What’s Yours Is Yours – Don’t share drinks, water bottles, eating utensils or cell phones with friends.

2. If possible, get a flu shot

  • Combined H1N1/seasonal flu shots are now 3 Is it cold or flu? – Know how to tell the difference
  • If you have a stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and a hacking cough, you probably have a cold.
  • If you have a high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, extreme tiredness and a dry cough, you probably have the flu.

3. What to do if the flu catches up with you

  • If you have symptoms of the flu such as high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion or dry cough, you need to see a doctor immediately.
  • A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to help lessen the duration of the virus and reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia.
    • To be effective, antiviral medication should be taken within 12-48 hours after flu symptoms begin.
  • Additionally, antiviral medication can also be prescribed for flu prevention, particularly with high risk groups, such as children with chronic conditions.
    • Studies show that some antiviral medications are up to 89 percent effective in preventing the flu if taken within 12-48 hours of exposure to the virus.
  • If flu symptoms don’t improve or get worse after three to four days, call the doctor immediately.
  • Also call your doctor if your child is feeling better and then suddenly develops signs of a more serious problem, such as stomach ache, vomiting, high fever, shaking chills, chest pain or coughing with thick, yellow-green mucus.

In addition to helping control the spread of flu, these Healthy Habit tips can be helpful in decreasing the spread of both viral and bacterial infections.

Nurse’s News: Information to Share

What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

  • Fever over 100o F
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches especially in your back, arms and legs
  • Headache
  • Chills and sweats
  • Fatigue
  • Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

What should I do if I get sick?

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season. They are:

  • Children younger than 5, but especially younger than 2 years old
  • People 65 and older
  • Pregnant women
  • People who have:
    • Cancer
    • Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
    • Chronic lung disease (including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD)
    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • Kidney disorders
    • Liver disorders
    • Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)
    • Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)
    • Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)

Also, it’s possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

There are emergency signs. Anyone who has them should get medical care right away.

What are the emergency warning signs?

In children:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  • Fever with a rash

In adults:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting

Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1?

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 called “antivirals.”

These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. This flu season, antiviral drugs (/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm) are being used mainly to treat people who are very sick, such as people who need to be hospitalized, and to treat sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness. Remember, most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true for seasonal flu.

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours (/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm) after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should I do while I’m sick?

Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.

What can families, students, and school personnel do to keep from getting sick and spreading flu?

Families, students, and school staff can keep from getting sick with flu in these ways:

  • Practicing good hand hygiene. Students and staff members should wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. When soap and water are not available alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  • Practicing respiratory etiquette. The main way that the flu spreads is from person to person in the droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into you elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.

*This information was obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Mayoclinic.com