BEST PRACTICE: Guidelines




The following guidelines have been developed for the School Based Health Centre setting, in particular there is a focus on sexual health guidelines. They are designed to reflect best practice, and do not reflect a comprehensive list of all guidelines required in a SBHC. In some instances the documents have been created in Word so that they can be saved directly from the site and then adapted as necessary. In areas where text is placed in <<text>>, replace with your school’s details.

For ease of reference, guidelines have been alphabetically placed in categories.


ABUSE & NEGLECT


GP Protocol Suspected Abuse
While originally developed for the use of GP’s and primary practice this document can easily be adapted to the school environment so that staff can feel confident in identifying abuse and know where to turn for assistance and if staff report abuse, the outcome will be effective for the young person (Ministry of Health; The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners; New Zealand Medical Association; Child Youth and Family; 2001) HERE

Recommended Referral Process
Supplementary information concerning legal aspects of reporting and the reporting process with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services for the Suspected child abuse and neglect document (Ministry of Health; The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners; New Zealand Medical Association; Child Youth and Family; 2001) HERE


ACC

ACC Generic Handout
A generic form to notify parents/caregivers that an ACC claim has been made (Bennetts P, 2005) HERE

ACC Generic Letter
A letter outline to be adapted by the Registered Nurse when registering as an ACC provider to ensure that the funds generated from ACC are journalled to the SBHC budget for use as required by SHBC staff (Bennetts P, 2005) HERE

ACC Registration Processing
A summary of the ACC contacts to register, the stationery required and claiming procedures. (Shirley P, 2004) HERE


ALGORITHMS


Guidelines Nurse School
The Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children programme recognises the unique of school nursing and the multiple roles that the nurse in the school environment is called upon to perform. The intent of these guidelines is to provide nurses working in the school setting with a set of emergency care guidelines that can be utilized in the delivery of care to the ill or injured student (Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Board and Work Team 2010) HERE


ETHICS

Code of Ethics
Youth Law’s Code of Ethics for providing services for children and young people (Youth Law, 2005) HERE


GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT


Boys BMI
A chart for plotting Body Mass Index for males (National Health Centre for Statistics, 2002) HERE

Boys Stature
A chart for plotting weight and stature for males (National Health Centre for Statistics, 2002) HERE

Girls BMI
A chart for plotting Body Mass Index for females (National Health Centre for Statistics, 2002) HERE

Girls Stature
A chart for plotting weight and stature for females (National Health Centre for Statistics 2002) HERE


HEAD INJURY ASSESSMENT


The Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) is a head injury assessment tool scored between 3 and 15, 3 being the worst, and 15 the best. It is composed of three parameters: Best Eye Response, Best Verbal Response, Best Motor Response (Teasdale & Jennett, 1974) HERE


SEXUAL HEALTH


Administration ECP
Designed to ensure that the Emergency Contraceptive Pill is administered by the Registered Nurse in accordance with the guidelines set out in the school’s Sexual Health Policy (Werder, Lowe, & SBHS Team, 2005, revised ASNG, 2012) HERE

Condoms
The correct use of condoms reduces the risk of acquiring and transmitting sexually transmitted infections and reduces the rate of unplanned pregnancies. By providing condoms and education on how to use correctly in a confidential setting by a Registered Nurse on site, at school, access and availability will be improved for the student. The document covers: Rationale, Actions, Follow Up and Resources (Werder, Lowe, & SBHS Team, 2005, revised ASNG, 2012) HERE

Emergency Contraceptive Pill - application for NZNC endorsement HERE
When ECP is provided, as required, for unprotected sexual intercourse the number of unplanned pregnancies will be reduced. By providing free Emergency Contraception in a confidential setting by a Registered Nurse on site, at school, access and availability will be improved meaning less time out of school (Werder, Lowe, & SBHS Team, 2005, revised ASNG, 2012) HERE

Hormonal Contraception
Hormonal contraception reduces the rate of unplanned pregnancies.
By providing assessment and referral for hormonal contraception in a confidential setting by a Registered Nurse on site, at school, access and availability will be improved for the student (Werder, Lowe, & SBHS Team, 2005, revised ASNG, 2012) HERE

Sexually Transmitted Infections
When STI assessment, testing and treatment is provided it reduces the impact of STI's on the individual, their partner and their community. By providing free Sexual health assessment and referral in a confidential setting by a Registered Nurse on site, at school, appropriate and prompt referral and will improve outcome for the young person. The document covers: Rationale, Actions, Follow Up and Resources (Werder, Lowe, & SBHS Team, 2005, revised ASNG, 2012) HERE

 

Reviewed March 2012
Updated March 2012

Best Practice
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