Our Nurses

Braintree Public School nurses are essential members of the educational team responsible for promoting, protecting and improving the health status of all students. The unique role of the school nurse is to provide professional health care by coordinating services between home, school and community. The school nurse assists in maximizing each child’s potential to learn and grow by providing the best possible health care. Health care provided includes: identifying health problems; preventative health measures; maintaining and promoting health and learning; promoting healthy lifestyles in students, families and staff; acute and emergency care; health counseling; mandated screenings; immunization monitoring and adherence to state regulations; medication administration and evaluation; comprehensive and appropriate health education to students, parents and staff; skilled nursing care and management of children with special health care needs; individual health care planning; school nurse and parent conferences; health input to special education meetings; review and interpretation of medical and health records. Braintree Public School nurses have the professional education and expertise to function successfully in the complex system of education and health.

Nurse as Educator

The school nurse teaches individual students, parents and staff about health and wellness issues and strives to promote an understanding of student health needs. At the elementary level, school nurses do formal classroom teaching on hand washing, dental health, hygiene and growth and development to name a few. At the secondary level, the school nurse works in collaboration with the health teacher to provide information and assist in presentations based on the needs of the student population.

School Nursing

School Nursing is a specialty field within the practice of Nursing. (From National Association of School Nurses)

As the health services expert, the school nurse serves as the health professional for the school community. Some of the services provided include: illness and injury assessments and interventions; health assessments and participation in development of Individualized Education Plan for students with special needs; pediatric nursing procedures such as gastrostomy tube feedings, tracheostomy care, and catheterization; screening for health factors impacting student learning; activities to promote health and prevent teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco, alcohol and substance use and abuse; chronic disease management and education, administering medications; crisis team participation; recommending health curricula and guidelines for school district health policies; and serving as a health care provider liaison between the school and community. Read More https://www.nursesource.org/school.html

*If you are a registered nurse in MA and would like to see if school nursing is for you, consider applying for a per diem position in a district near you. For Braintree, please contact Kristin Houlihan, Director of School Nursing Services, at kristin.houlihan@braintreeschools.org or 781-848-4000 X 7840.

Massachusetts general requirements:

• Achieve a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test

• Possession of a bachelor's degree

• Completion of an orientation program based on the requirements for delivery of school health services as defined by the Department of Public Health

• Possession of a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing

• A minimum of two full years of employment as a Registered Nurse in

• a child health, community health, or other relevant clinical nursing setting

• Valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts