The Department of Education provides a nursing service to
state schools to support reasonable adjustments for students with specialised
health needs so they can attend and engage in education. Nursing services may include support with
risk assessment, development of individual (daily routine) and/or emergency
school health plans, provision of training in managing student health needs and
performing health procedures, supervision and ongoing support (including
refresher training) as required.
State school nursing service is a regional service and
registered nurses, Helen Higgins and Ainsley Robbins have an office here at Mt
Ommaney Special School. They support the
students at Mt Ommaney Special School as well as other students in schools
within the metropolitan region. They are
available to work collaboratively with students, their families, school staff
and the treating health team, to minimise the impacts of the student’s health
needs on learning.
The service is accessed by using the Student referral –Request for nursing services form. It is the principal’s decision, after
consultation with the parent/s, to determine if a referral for nursing services
is required. Parents should contact the
principal if they have an interest in using the service for their child.
Eligibility for referral includes students who require a
specific health procedure or intervention during school hours or where the
student’s health condition is not easily managed without nursing support.
Examples of health conditions commonly supported by the
State Schools Nursing Service include (but are not limited to):
management of artificial feeding and feeding
devices (eg. gastrostomy, jejunostomy and nasogastric tubes)
management of urinary catheterisation (e.g.
urethral, Mitrofanoff or urostomy)
maintaining a clear airway (e.g. tracheostomy
care, oral suctioning)
management of oxygen therapy
management of stoma bag/device (e.g. colostomy,
ileostomy, urostomy)
management of diabetes (e.g. blood glucose
monitoring, insulin administration)
epilepsy and seizure management (e.g. Midazolam
and vagus nerve stimulator use)
Epipen administration for anaphylaxis (practical
use of an auto-injector)
Asthma management (emergency reliever
medication).
For more information please contact the school.