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Clinic Corner

Our Nurses

Mrs. Carol Bluestein, RN and Mrs. Linda Geherin, LPN are on duty in the clinic each school day from 7-2:30 to provide assistance with school related injuries, illnesses, medication administration and prescribed treatments as well as state and local mandated screenings for ninth and tenth graders.

Breakfast

Many students are coming to the clinic complaining of stomach aches and or feeling dizzy. Most haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch, so the stomach ache is often hunger related. Please impress upon your student the importance of eating breakfast even if it’s a quick breakfast bar or nutritional drink. Also, if they do not have a scheduled lunch block, they are allowed to eat during the first 15 minutes of their 2nd or 3rd block class. They should have decided which block they’ll eat and have a sticker in their planner giving them permission to eat at the designated time. Bagged lunches may be purchased in the cafeteria before 7:20 a.m. or lunch may be brought from home.

Cold and Flu Season Tips

  • Drink plenty of fluids – fluids thin mucus, helping it to flow. Hot drinks and
    soups are especially soothing and helpful.
  • Humidify your environment – moisture helps. Use the shower, a humidifier, or breathe over a bowl of hot water.
  • Get rest – coming to school with a cold isn’t necessarily going to make it worse, but you are most contagious in the first 48 hrs, so stay home if you can.
  • Cough and blow – blow your nose gently and often, and cough when you need to. You want to get the phlegm out, not suppress it.
  • Gargle – gargle with salt water to soothe your sore throat. The salt helps sterilize the bacteria in the back of your throat and promotes healing of inflamed tissue. Mix ½ tsp. of salt with a glass of warm water and gargle for 30-60 seconds.
  • Don’t take antibiotics for a cold or the flu unless there is solid medical evidence that you have a secondary bacterial infection.
  • Take long acting* non-drowsy over-the-counter cold and flu remedies to help relieve symptoms. These remedies do not cure the condition or speed its course, but help you feel better by controlling the congestion and/or treating discomfort.
    *School is in session for over 6 hours, so medication that only lasts 4 hours does not help symptoms for the whole day

Screenings

During the first week or so of school, parents of 9th and 10th graders will receive an OPT OUT letter to sign and return if you prefer that your student not participate in the screenings.

Medications

It is a Virginia Beach School Board regulation that any student required to take medication during school hours must have WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM A DOCTOR. This pertains to both prescription and over-the-counter medications. ALL portions of the form must be completed and NO medication will be given by the nurses without this signed permission. Medication must be brought directly to the clinic by a parent or guardian and MUST be in the original prescription bottle with the student’s name, medication name and dosage on it. Students who wish to carry their asthma inhalers with them must have a specific doctor’s order form completed and returned to the clinic. This is recommended especially for students who might need their asthma inhaler during after school activities when the clinic is closed. Asthma Care Plans and blank Administration of Medication order forms may be obtained from the main office, the clinic, online at vbcps.com under health forms, and many physicians have them in their offices. EPI-PEN order forms are available in the main office and clinic.

Please know that you may come to school at any time to give medication to your child. Do not encourage your student to carry a couple Tylenol with them in case they need it. If they are discovered carrying medication, they may face serious consequences such as recommendation for expulsion, and/or mandatory attendance at a drug rehabilitation program. If your child is prone to headaches or cramps, we suggest that you ask your physician to sign a medication form for a “when needed” medication. As long as you submit a completed physician-signed medication form and bring the medication in its original container, we would be happy to administer the medication when needed.

Clinic Visits

Each clinic visit is recorded, and if a pattern of frequent visits is established, parents or guardians will be notified. Our goal is to keep students in class, and we will work with you and your child to facilitate this goal.

Medical Conditions

If your student has a medical condition such as diabetes or severe asthma, and you feel your child’s teachers need to know this immediately, please notify the clinic as soon as possible. You may call the clinic directly at 468-4828 or email cgbluest@vbschools.com for any questions you may have regarding clinic policies.