Health Centre - Te Whare Waiora
Mā roto hoki kia ora, kia pai hoki te kōrero.
Good health promotes constructive thoughts and discussion.
The school has three full time, fully qualified nurses. The nurses oversee the health and wellbeing of the students, administer medication to them in arrangement with parents/caregivers, and liaise with parents/caregivers, doctors, dentists and the Public Health Nurse as the need arises.
Introduction
We are three registered nurses based at Mt Roskill Grammar Student Services with guidance counsellors and careers advisers. We are employed by the school but are ADHB funded. This ensures a close working relationship between education and health.
As registered nurses we work in accordance with the New Zealand Nursing Council code of conduct, to offer a child/ youth friendly confidential service. Students using our services are assured of confidentiality. They are, however made aware of the “the three harms” that may result in our having to engage outside agencies to ensure their safety. These “harms” are as follows:
- Harm to self
- The student is harming others
- Someone is harming the student
All students (and staff) are welcome to see the nurses at student services where our receptionist the lovely, first aid trained, Mrs Pace will assist them for minor bumps and scrapes or direct them to us as appropriate.
Our Philosphy
We believe that all students at MRGS have the right to reach his or her full potential. We will help them to do this by supporting them and their family or care givers in order to achieve optimum health and well-being.
Student Access
The student health centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.10- 4.30 during term time. We are also available over the school holidays (except 4 weeks over Christmas).
Students
Students are welcome to drop into the school health centre before school and after school and during break times. If they need to see us during school lessons they will need a yellow permission slip from their teacher.
Parents/Caregivers
We welcome contact from parents or carers if you have any concerns about your child. This may include:
- Vision or hearing concerns
- Behaviour concerns
- Mental health concerns
- Long term health or medical needs
- Obesity
- Eating difficulties
- Poor growth
- Night time bed wetting
- Puberty/ Sexual health
You can make an appointment to see a nurse by phoning 621 0050 ext 815
If your child has any long term medical needs or condition we would appreciate any relevant information that you may have from the doctor, hospital or clinic that he or she attends so that we may assist in supporting him or her during their years at MRGS.
Medication
To assist with the administration of medication in school we require parents’/ carers’ written permission, any relevant doctor’s letters and the correctly labelled and prescribed medication. This will be kept in a locked cupboard.
Confidentiality
All medical information and health centre contacts are stored on a fully secure computer programme that only nurses have access to.
Medical letters are kept in a locked cupboard that only nurses can access.
Information that is considered necessary to the health and safety of the student while at school will be made available to teaching staff with permission from parents or carers.
Any concerns regarding confidentiality please contact school nurses.
Other Agencies we Work With
As health professionals we work closely with other professionals within the school environment and with outside agencies. The following is a list of agencies we may work with:
- Guidance
- RTLB
- Hospital Clinics
- Ear Nurses
- Dental Services
- Asthma Specialist Nurses
- Accident and Medical Clinics
- ACC
- Public Health Nurse
- Children’s Home Nurse
- Family Doctor
- CYFS
- Diabetic Clinic
- Epilepsy Awareness
- Health Promoting Schools
- Mental health Services
- Smoking Cessation
Services
Services provided by the Health Centre include:
- Health assessments
- Opportunistic health screening
- Vision and hearing
- Sexual health advice
- ACC dressings
- Dressings
- Health education and advice
- Child protection
- Referrals to specialist services
- Health promotion
- Support students with ongoing health needs
- Year 9 health assessments
Year 9 Health Assessment
The school nurses are specially trained to carry out year 9 heath assessments on all year nine students for which prior consent is gained.
The assessment is based on the HEEADSSS psychosocial assessment.The following areas are discussed.
- Home environment
- Education and employment
- Eating Activities- peer related
- Drugs
- Sexuality
- Suicide/ depression
- Safety from injury and violence
Adolescence is a time for growth and development. Studies show that some health issues at this time could be a result of increased pressures or risk taking behaviours. By working through the HEEADSSS assessment with students we are able to identify individual health needs and work further with the student or refer on if necessary.
Feedback
If you have any feedback ,questions, suggestions or complaints regarding the school nursing service please phone us on 6210050 ext 815 or contact the Deputy Principal in charge of Health.