The School Nursing Department in Dorchester School District Four safeguards student health by providing daily medical care, managing chronic conditions, administering medications, and responding to illness and injury across all schools. The team monitors communicable diseases, supports immunization compliance, develops health plans, and works closely with families, administrators, and community health partners to reduce barriers to learning. Through prevention, education, and timely intervention, school nurses help ensure students are healthy, safe, and ready to learn each day.

The Health room at school is designed to be a clinic for injuries/illnesses that occur at school.  Health concerns and injuries that occur outside of school  hours should be handled by your child’s health care provider. The school nurse can not diagnose or prescribe treatment. That is the responsibility of your child’s primary health care provider.

The main objective of the Dorchester School District Four Health Program is to assist each student to be the healthiest version of themselves to reach optimal health so that each student can reach their full potential academically.

• Every School has at least one Registered Nurse on campus.

• Every school has at least one Automated External Defibrillator 

  ( AED) on campus.

Please Make the Sure the School Nurse Has Current Phone Numbers Should We Need to Contact You.  

Injuries or Health Concerns That Occur Outside of School Should Be Treated at Home or by Your Healthcare Provider.   The school nurse cannot diagnose or  prescribe treatment. This is the responsibility of your family  physician or health care provider. 

• When Should I Keep My Child Home From School?
  There are times when a student must stay home for the well being of the student and other individuals.  Schools and childcare facilities follow the guidance of the South Carolina Department of Public Health Childcare and School Exclusion List.  This list is updated annually and provides  guidance for students and staff exclusion for work/school  and  outlines the requirements when they are allowed to return to school and work.tudents should remain at home to prevent the spread of germs or illness to others. Some examples of when students should stay home are: Vomiting, Diarrhea, Fever Of 100.0 Degrees Or Over within the last 24 hours, Flu, Chicken Pox, Shingles, Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease, Head Lice, Impetigo. Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis. For a full list, Please refer to SC DHEC School Exclusion List.
  

• 24 Hour Rule of Thumb:
  Please keep your child home for at least 24 hours if he/she has vomited, had diarrhea, or had a fever greater than 100.0 degrees (without any fever reducing medication such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen).
  A student must be without a fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
  

• If your child has a fever, please do not given them Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, or Ibuprofen and then send them to school. This only spreads germs and we will be calling you again to come pick them up from school.
  

• Students must have a "pass" from their teacher to be seen in the nurse's office. This is for safety and accountability.

During the course of the school day there may be times when the student will need to be picked up due to illness/injury. Once that decision is made it is the expectation that the student will be picked up in a timely manner.  Also there are times when the nurse may need to contact and communicate with the parent/guardian about a student’s health.  Please make sure that the school has updated and correct phone numbers for your student.