School Nurse and Health Services

What to do if you child is sick or needs medication at school

When is my child too sick to go to school?

• Fever of 100 or higher in the last 24 hours
• Undiagnosed rash that is accompanied by fever or itching
• Bad cough or difficulty breathing
• Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Sore throat, with fever or swollen glands in neck
• Symptoms of being sick such as being unusually tired, fussy, pale, or had difficulty waking

If your child has strep throat or another bacterial infection, he/she should stay home until the antibiotic has been given for at least 24 hours and your health care provider has given permission for your child to return to school. We encourage you to seek medical attention when your child is sick and to follow your health care provider's recommendations about returning to school and other social activities.

What if my child needs medication at school?

Whenever possible, medication should be scheduled during non-school hours. However, in the event your child needs medication during school hours, please be sure to have the “Authorization to Administer Medication” form completed by your child’s physician and returned to the school nurse.

All medications (prescription and non-prescription) must be sent in the original container, sealed, and labeled with the child’s name. Non-prescription medication (Tylenol, Advil, cough syrup, etc) may be administered without physician authorization for five consecutive days only. Prescribed antibiotics may be given for up to fourteen days without a physician’s note, but need to be in a properly labeled pharmacy container that can remain at the school.

Epi-Pens, Inhalers, and Injectable medications require a separate authorization form. All medication must be hand-delivered to the nurse’s office by the parent/guardian. Children should not be transporting medication to school in their backpacks or lunch boxes.

School Nurse

Jasmine Wood, RN, has been a school nurse at Lyles-Crouch since 2012. Ms. Wood received her national certification in school health in 2016. Her previous experience in nursing has included orthopedics, medical/surgical, neurosurgical, and occupational health. Ms. Wood is a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the Virginia Association of School Nurses. In 2014, she completed the Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership Program designed and implemented by Rutgers, Center of Alcohol Studies. As a result of this program, Nurse Wood and her colleagues received a grant to implement a new employee wellness policy and program within Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). Ms. Wood received the J&J School Health Leadership Alumni Leader Award in 2016 and serves as LCTA's Social Media Liaison, Crisis Team Leader and Wellness Champion. In 2018, Nurse Wood was awarded the Virginia School Nurse of the Year. Among her many responsibilities as a school nurse, providing compassionate health care to all students is Ms. Wood's top priority.

Phone: 703-706-4435

Email: jasmine.wood@acps.k12.va.us

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Master of Education in School Health

Nationally Certified School Nurse (NBCSN)

ACPS Health Services

ACPS is fortunate to have a registered nurse in every school. These experienced health care professionals are available during the entire school day to respond to the health care needs of students. In addition to the traditional school nurse activities, our school health program has several special projects which are positively impacting the health of our school community.

Visit the ACPS website to learn more about ACPS School Health Services and policies, including medication administration in school, illness guidelines, screenings and immunizations.