What does the school nurse do?
Here’s a glimpse:
- Maintain the health records of all students. This includes:
- Immunizations - please make sure your child's immunizations are up-to-date before school starts.
- Physical Exams – all student athletes.
- Health History - this includes medical diagnoses, surgeries, current medications (given at home as well as at school), allergies (seasonal, drug, food, life-threatening), and any other pertinent health information about your child.
- Assess and treat illness or injury - Whether it's a scraped knee, tummy ache, fever, or more serious issue such as allergic reaction, broken bone or concussion, we are the first responders to any medical need.
- Monitor & treat chronic health conditions - such as asthma, diabetes, seizure disorders, severe allergies, etc.
- Administer medication - The school policy allows medication to be given at school if parent authorization AND physician authorization forms are completed. This applies to prescription AND over-the-counter medication. These forms are available in our office, as well as online under Nurse’s Notes.
- Monitor illness “outbreaks” - If several students are diagnosed with a communicable illness (i.e., strep throat, flu), we will send an e-mail to heighten your awareness of symptoms. Don't forget to call if your child is diagnosed with a communicable illness!
- Hearing and vision screenings - Students in K5, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th grade are screened routinely. However, screenings may be performed for any student if a parent or teacher expresses concern.
- Scoliosis screening 6th grade females and all 8th grade students will be screened by certified scoliosis screening RNs.
- Participate in Care Team meetings as needed - to address and support a student's health issues.
- "Emotional Band-Aids” Sometimes a child is sad, homesick, or overwhelmed in class and just needs some TLC! A little one-on-one attention and a patient, willing ear are often all it takes to help a child rejoin the classroom. We work closely with the counselor and teachers to ensure your child is happy and safe at school!
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email us. We check our phone and email messages upon arrival each morning and throughout the day.
Phone: (501) 847-0112 Ext 1 114
Fax: (501) 847-0177
Email: nurse@archristian.org
Meet Your School Medical Personnel
Michea Gartin, Head Nurse
Michea graduated from Henderson State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree and National Park Community College (NPCC) where she obtained an Associate Degree in Nursing. She has worked at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for 15 years in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department. She is currently a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) and Trauma Instructor to new Versant Nurses for ACH. She works as a Team Leader and Flow Supervisor in the Emergency Department currently.
Michea’s experience and compassion for others will be beneficial to all those she is blessed to serve. She and her husband, Kent live in Benton and have two sons, Michael and Logan.