My students need a scale, blood pressure monitors, BMI charts, and stethoscopes to help identify those at risk for hypertension and potential cardiovascular disease.
A typical day in the nurse's office would consist of complaints such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and visual disturbances. Upon assessment, many of our students are found to have high blood pressure readings.
As a school nurse caring for 1400+ students at the lone high school in our county, we see many students with health conditions that can prevent them from attending school or fully focusing on class.
For most students, the only health care provider they encounter is the school nurse. Parents who can't afford the cost of care are having their kids wait until they go to school to be examined. We have many students who are dealing with obesity along with associated disease processes such as hypertension and diabetes. High blood pressure affecting teenagers is on the rise due to the increase in obesity and decrease in exercise. It is our goal to identify at risk students, symptoms, and health issues early, not just when a problem develops in order to keep more students healthy and in school.
My Project
With the use of the requested scale, blood pressure monitors, BMI charts, and stethoscopes, school health providers will be able to identify potential physical health issues and provide early interventions like screenings and referrals. With the data obtained from the requested resources, we can connect students and their families to the right community resources to assist in lifestyle improvements, such as exercise and dietary modifications.
A healthy student will be more successful in the classroom and eliminate unnecessary absences.
Schools are an ideal place to promote wellness, support health and safety, and prevent and treat the health conditions students could potentially face.
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