Available Services

MESD SHS provides districts and schools with instruction in and assistance with meeting state and national mandates for required health and safety training. Consultation with schools and/or employees after occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens is also provided. Health education training includes:

• Medication Administration
• Treatment of Severe Allergic Reaction (epinephrine administration)
• Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia (glucagon administration)
• First Aid/CPR/AED training
• Treatment of Students in Adrenal Crisis
• Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) required Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Training, including management of post-exposure evaluation and follow-up.
• Other areas identified based on district needs

Contracted Nursing Services including Direct One-to-One Nursing: School districts may contract with MESD for additional nursing services for schools and unique programs, as well as direct one-to-one services for students with complex health conditions or those identified as medically fragile. Contracted nursing is for a minimum of 21 hours per week. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.

The MESD screening team assists component districts in meeting the requirements of OAR 581-022-2220 by screening student vision (grades K, 1, and 3). Students needing more in-depth exams are referred to community health providers. MESD School Health Services can refer families to resources to help reduce costs for students needing prescription glasses. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.

The Hearing Program provides state-mandated screening to grades K and 1, identifying students with hearing loss. Other school-aged students referred for screening, as well as those in K-1 requiring follow-up, are evaluated by the department’s licensed audiologist, who conducts a comprehensive exam and makes referrals as indicated. This supports student engagement and success in the classroom (OAR 581-022-2220). Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.

Immunizations promote wellness by protecting all students and school staff against vaccine-preventable diseases. Under contract with Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD), School Health Services (SHS) assists school districts with immunization compliance to meet state requirements (ORS 433.267) for school attendance. Services include:

• Records review
• Data entry
• Family notification
• State reporting
• Preparation of exclusion letters, and
• Data analysis and reporting 

Monitoring records minimizes the number of students excluded due to non-compliance, and maximizes student attendance and learning time. Nurses, together with the immunization team, assist families to navigate the health system to access resources for required vaccines. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.

School nursing services provide mandated health services during the regular school day, promote wellness, and assist students to achieve optimal educational experiences. Nursing services are dependent on total caseload size and may include direct health services to ill and injured students, management of acute and chronic illnesses, surveillance and follow up of communicable disease, and consultation to districts based on current evidence based research and best practice.

Nurses are a liaison between home, school, and community health care providers; they promote safety, assess growth and development, and contribute to mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by the MESD. ORS 336.201 recommends one registered nurse for every 750 students.

MESD School Health Assistants (SHAs) are unlicensed personnel who provide illness and injury management for students with oversight from an RN. SHAs perform nursing procedures as delegated by the RN and may be the first point of contact for health services in the health room. The MESD RN/SHA team is no more than one RN to five SHAs. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD. 

The Nurse Consultant functions as a liaison between School Health Services staff, district personnel, and County and State Health Departments. The Nurse Consultant investigates, reports, and collaborates with county health departments in events related to reportable and communicable diseases. The Nurse Consultant provides management of staff body fluid and blood borne pathogen exposures, including consultation and follow up. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD. 

Complex Needs Nurses (CNN) are registered nurses with expertise in the management of students with complex, chronic health needs in the school setting. CNNs augment MESD school nurse services by providing training, consultation, and support for medically fragile, medically complex, and nursing-dependent students, as defined in ORS 336.201.

The CNN may provide initial training and develop an individualized health plan until the health condition is stabilized, and then transition management to the school nurse. CNNs participate in multi-disciplinary planning and placement meetings and IEP development. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.   
 

For both resolution and non-resolution schools or programs, MESD SHS may provide limited professional nursing consultation on a case-by-case or limited-duration contract. Services may include:

• Assessment of complex health conditions
• Recommendations for required nursing services
• Assessment and evaluation of existing health services
• Delegations, training, and care coordination with families, schools and health care providers

Professional consultation and recommendations are based on current evidence-based research and best practice. Training, orientation, oversight, and supervision are provided by MESD.