District Nurse, St. Francis Public School District
(414) 747-3611
theller@sfsd.k12.wi.us
Trish Heller
About the District Nurse
The District Nurse supports students by managing health related barriers to learning. Direct services are provided to students through the combined efforts of the District Nurse, South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Department, school administrative assistants, designated teachers, and instructional assistants.
The District Nurse provides direct health services to students and works to promote a healthy school environment, student health, and learning. This person also trains our staff to care for students when the nurse is not in the building, how to use emergency rescue medications such as EpiPens, albuterol, and diastat. Additionally, the District nurse:
monitors epidemics and disease outbreaks and connecting with public health officials
identify threats to health in the school community (allergens, safety hazards, broken equipment, and facilities) and work to eliminate those problems as a cause of ill health
provide leadership for the provision of health services, health policies, and programs
provide a critical safety net for the most fragile students
provide screening and referral for health conditions such as vision and hearing
enable children with chronic health conditions to attend school
serve as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and healthcare providers.
educate students and their families on health and safety concerns
Medication
If your child needs prescription or non-prescription medication administered during school hours, specific forms must be completed BEFORE the medication can be administered. These forms can be obtained from the secretary at your child's school, or at this link.
Diabetes
A Diabetes Management Medical Order for the School Year is the first step in assuring your child's success at school when he or she has diabetes. The Medical Order is a doctor-provided form and must be delivered to your child's school and reviewed with the District Nurse before your child attends school.
Life-threatening Allergy
In order for us to appropriately care for your student with severe allergies, we need to know a little about your student. All students who have been prescribed an epi-pen should have an Allergy Action Plan completed by parents and their physician on file in the school office. Once the District Nurse has created the plan, it will be sent to your student's teachers and also be kept with their emergency medication in the office. We cannot use old forms and must receive a new form at the start of every school year.
Asthma
If your student is prescribed a rescue inhaler for Asthma, we need to know more about it. Whether mild or severe, any student with a rescue inhaler should have an Asthma Action Plan completed by parents and their physician on file in the school office. Once the District Nurse has created the plan, it will be sent to your student's teachers and also be kept with their emergency medication in the office. We cannot use old forms and must receive a new form at the start of every school year.
Seizures
So we can respond appropriately at school, we need to know more about your child and how to respond. A Seizure Action Plan will need to be developed by parents, the District Nurse and the child's provider. Once the District Nurse has created the plan, it will be sent to your student's teachers and also be kept with their emergency medication in the office. We cannot use old medication forms, and must receive a new form at the start of every school year.
Other health concerns
When registering your child for school, completing the "health concerns" section is the first step for assuring appropriate care will be provided for your child while attending school. If your child's health professional has ordered a special healthcare procedure to be performed during the school day, Authorization Forms for Healthcare Procedures (general, catheterization, and g-tube feedings) are available from the District Nurse. Knowing something about your child is just the first step, however; we will want to work with you to develop a plan so your child can be safe, healthy, and successful in school!