School Health Services: Available Services

---

Home > Services > School Health Services > Available Services

Presentation - SHS Staff Roles

---

Contracted Health Education Services

Contracted Nursing Services including Direct One-to-One Nursing

Vision Screening Team

Hearing Screening Team

Immunization Program

School Nursing

School Health Assistants

School Nurse Consultant

Special Needs Nursing (SNN)

Nurse-School Health Services Consultation

---

Contracted Health Education Services: MESD SHS provides instruction and support to component districts and independent schools in meeting state and national mandates for required health and safety training, in responding to occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens, and in immunization management for schools. 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.

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 is provided by the MESD.

Vision Screening Team: The MESD screening team assists component districts in meeting the requirements of OAR 581-022-2220 by screening student vision (in 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 provided by the MESD.

Hearing Screening Team : 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 is provided by the MESD.

Immunization Program: 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 for school attendance.  Services include records review, data entry, family notification, state reporting, preparation of exclusion letters, and data analysis and reporting (ORS 433.267).  Training, orientation, oversight and supervision is provided by SHS. 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.

School Nursing: 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 is provided by the MESD. By July 1, 2020, -ORS 336.201 recommends one registered nurse for every 750 students

School Health Assistants (SHA): MESD School Health Assistants (SHAs) are non-licensed 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 is provided by the MESD. 

School Nurse Consultant: The Nurse Consultant functions as a liaison                between School Health Services staff, district personnel, and County and State Health Departments. The Nurse Consultant provides investigation, reporting, and collaboration 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 is provided by the MESD. 

Complex Needs Nursing (SNN): 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, IEP development. Training, orientation,  oversight, and supervision is provided by the MESD.   

Nurse-School Health Services Consultation: 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 is provided by the MESD.