Nurse
Welcome to the Cunningham Clinic Page!
I am a Registered Nurse who is here on campus to provide care for students who get ill or injured on campus. If a student gets ill or injured, there are times I will need to contact you. Please be sure to keep your contact information updated to make this possible.
Medication:
If your child needs to take daily or as-needed medication at school, here is what you need to bring when dropping off the medicine:
- The medication in the original box with the pharmacy label (check expiration dates!)
- The correct form signed by your doctor: Please click on the link
- If they have Asthma, they will need an Asthma Action Plan filled out by a doctor; please click on the link.
- If they have a Food or Environmental Allergy, they will need an Allergy Action Plan filled out by a doctor. (Note: If the student has a food allergy, an action plan and cafeteria form must be filled out by a doctor.) Please click on the link that applies to your student.
- Food action plan & Cafeteria allergy form
- Environmental allergy action plan
- If they have seizures, they will need a seizure action plan filled out by a doctor. Please click on the link.
- If the medication is over-the-counter, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, a doctor's prescription is required, and the medication must be brought in with a pharmacy label: click on the link.
- If cough drops/creams/ointments are needed to be kept in the clinic, please fill out the parent permission form by clicking on the link.
Remember, for the safety of all children at school, students may not carry any medicine (even cough drops) with them while on school grounds. Medication CANNOT be brought to school by your child; a parent is required to drop off any medicine.
IT IS important to notify the nurse if your child has any allergies or other medical changes that arise during the school year. Doctor's letters are required yearly for any food and milk allergies. Your doctor may recommend having an EPIPen at school.
Immunizations
A student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical reasons or reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, the student will not be immunized. No student may be enrolled in any school in Galena Park ISD unless they have been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; measles, mumps, and rubella; polio; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; varicella (chicken pox); and meningococcal disease (based on age). Please see our district handbook for detailed information.
Illness
To ensure the health and safety of all students, any student who exhibits vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever >100.0 F on the morning of or the night before school must be excluded from school. Students may return to school as follows:
- Free of fever (< 100.0°F) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin).
- Food and liquids have been tolerated for at least 24 hours without vomiting and/or diarrhea, and without the use of medication to relieve symptoms.
- Students diagnosed with a contagious illness that is being treated with prescription medication must complete a minimum of 24 hours of the prescribed medication dosage before returning to school.
Please get in touch with me if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious condition such as strep throat, chickenpox, pink eye, impetigo, ringworm, flu, or has vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Change of Clothes
If your student has a condition that may require a change of clothes, please feel free to bring a change of clothes to keep in the clinic for when needed.
Clothing donations are also appreciated!
Lice
It is a good habit to check your children regularly for lice. Watch for frequent scratching of the scalp, brown or white eggs (nits) on the hair shaft that may look like dandruff but are not easily brushed away, and live lice, which are brown and move very quickly. Encourage your child not to share combs, brushes, hair decorations, or hats. Per the GPISD handbook, students with live lice or signs of active infestation will be excluded from school. Students who have been sent home should receive prompt treatment for lice and are expected to return to school the following day, free of live organisms. If head lice are found, the hair must be treated before the child returns to school on the following day. Upon return to school, the student and parent/guardian must report directly to the school nurse, provide information about the treatment utilized, and have the student's hair checked before reporting to class.
Injury/Surgery
Suppose they have been injured or have had any surgery recently and must refrain from strenuous physical activity. In that case, it is the parent's responsibility to send a note to school to excuse the child from PE and/or recess. Please have the form filled out by a physician and turned in to the school nurse. Please click on the link to the right.
Additional Information
Handwashing is an easy and effective way to help prevent the spread of illnesses. Soap and water are recommended for use after using the restroom, before and after eating, after sneezing or coughing, and after touching an animal or any garbage. Handwashing tips from CDC: Please click the link for more information https://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/
Depression and suicide statistics are rapidly on the rise among young adolescents. If you or someone you know is having thoughts about hurting themselves, please seek immediate help. National Suicide Prevention Line 1 (800) 271- TALK (8255) https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Wellness plan
The campus wellness plan is developed by the school nurse, the Physical education coach, the cafeteria manager, the school counselor, and the Communities in Schools coordinator. Please click the link to view.
If you are interested in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the wellness policy and plan, please get in touch with the Department of Student Support Services at 832-386-1033 or the school nurse at 832-386-4486.
Hoping for a Safe, Happy, and HEALTHY year for everyone.