How to Use this Guide
The Clinical Procedure Guidelines For Connecticut School Nurses (Clinical Guidelines) is primarily intended to assist school nurses in developing the procedural aspects of individual health care plans for students with special health care needs and in providing task-specific training for other school personnel, when indicated. This practical guide provides the essential fundamental clinical principles that must be considered when establishing policies and procedures and for the implementation and delegation of health care in a school environment. The Clinical Guidelines is organized into the following sections:
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Overview
- Chapter 2: Fundamental Principles
- Chapter 3: Legal Issues, Part A: Educational; Part B: Clinical
- Chapter 4: Organizational Structure: The Decision-making Process
- Chapter 5: Personnel
- Chapter 6: Entry/Re-entry Process
- Chapter 7: Specialized Health Care Procedures
Chapter 1 through chapter 6 provides a framework for the development of appropriate policies and procedures to meet the diverse health care needs of students in the school setting. Chapter 1 provides information on the background, diversity, and statistics related to students with special health care needs.
Chapter 2 provides the fundamental clinical principles of delegation, documentation and infection control/standard precautions that must be incorporated into all aspects of health care service delivery and procedure development in schools.
Chapter 3 provides a general overview about the applicable federal and state statutes and regulations for the provision of educational and related services, as well as the provision of safe and appropriate health care services for students with disabilities, students with chronic medical conditions or are dependent on medical technology.
Chapter 4 addresses the essential collaborative decision making of the internal organization structure of local and regional boards of education.
Chapter 5 provides principles and guidelines that serve as a basis for policy and procedure development for school staff.
Chapter 6 provides guidance on the entry or re-entry of students with health care needs into school.
Chapter 7 provides practical guidance to assist school personnel in establishing safe practices for select procedures. Procedures are presented as a general guide, rather than an inclusive presentation of all aspects of the individual procedure and include:
- A brief definition and overview of common indications for the procedure.
- The purpose and rationale for performing the procedure in school.
- A general equipment list.
- General procedure steps.
- Select nursing considerations to highlight important aspects of each procedure. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of potential nursing considerations, rather they are intended to be specific keys to safely performing the procedure.
- Delegation considerations when appropriate, are identified as a quick-reference option. The reader must refer to the more comprehensive delegation discussion in chapter 2 to fully appreciate the implications of delegation decisions and responsibilities.
References and resources are provided at the end of each chapter.