School Nursing and Health Resources
This page is designed to provide School Nursing and Health Staff with specialized resources and detailed information on the guidelines surrounding School Health Services in Arizona. Resources found on this page should be used to supplement information already made available by your local school board and county health department.
Stay in the know. Sign up for our School Nurse Listserv!
COVID-19 Resources
Find updated guidance for Safe & Healthy Schools in the 2021-2022 School Year and the ADHS COVID-19 Response: Schools (K-12).
Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools (CDC)
Testing for COVID-19 in Schools (CDC)
Activating the Planning for the Next Normal at School Playbook (NASN)
COVID-19 References and Resources (NASN)
COVID-19 & Students: FAQ (NASN)
COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools (AAP)
Strategies for Safe In-Person Learning (ADE)
COVID-19 Vaccine Print Materials (TAPI)
Healthy Kids Open Schools COVID-19 Social Media Toolkit (ADHS & ADE)
COVID-19 Vaccine: Keep Family Safe Handout (AHDS) / Spanish (AHDS)
COVID-19 Talking Points for School Nurses (NASN)
COVID-19 Print Resources (CDC)
COVID-19 Materials Developed for Tribal Use (John's Hopkins)
Return to School Video Series (NASN)
Booster Dose Messaging and Outreach Tools
Pediatricians and Family Physicians Toolkit (HHS)
TAPI Toolkit (TAPI)
Answers to Tough Questions Related to COVID-19
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine information for children 5-11 years - Slides
COVID-19 Vaccine Landing Page (TAPI)
COVID-19 Vaccines For Educators & School Leaders (ADE)
COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses (CDC)
COVID-19 References and Resources (NASN)
Disabilities
Special Education Guidance for COVID-19 (ADE Exceptional Student Services)
Considerations for Students with Disabilities and Special Healthcare Needs (NASN)
COVID-19: People with Disabilities (CDC)
COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Teens with Disabilities
Asthma & Allergies
Asthma Triggers: COVID-19 (Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America)
COVID-19 Information (Allergy & Asthma Network)
Diabetes
COVID-19 School Resources (American Diabetes Association)
Epilepsy
COVID-19 Information (Epilepsy Foundation)
Obesity
COVID-19: Guidance to Child Nutrition Operators (ADE HNS)
COVID-19 and Obesity (Obesity Action Coalition)
Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19 (CDC)
Screening K-12 Students for Symptoms of COVID-19 (CDC)
COVID-19 Considerations: Checklist and Guidelines for Schools (ADHS)
Can I Send my Student to School? (NASN)
Interactive tool designed for school nurses to share with families, based on CDC COVID-19 guidance and designed to guide families through assessing when their child should stay home from school.
COVID-19: School Decision Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers and Guardians (CDC)
Parents and Caregivers FAQs (CDC)
Family Engagement for COVID-19 (ADE)
Nursing Procedures and Delegation
'Guidelines for the Delivery of Specialized Health Care in the School Setting' (SNOA 2019)
This resource guide may assist school personnel in developing a plan of care in cooperation with the parent/guardian, medical provider and school nurse. These guidelines were developed to assist the RN in making delegation decisions in the school environment.
Suggested Physician Order Templates provided by the School Nurse Organization of Arizona (SNOA).
'Emergency Guidelines for Schools' (ADHS 2017)
This document contains guidelines for helping an ill or injured student when the school nurse is not available. It is recommended that Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) utilize the in the absence of a nurse.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
HHS: Application of FERPA and HIPAA to Student Health Records
15-160.02 Law: Seizure Management and Treatment Plans
Seizure Action Plan - Fillable Template
Seizure Action Plan - Non-fillable Template
Automated External Defibrillators
Arizona law does not require AEDs in schools. However, a school site that obtains an AED is not authorized to allow its use until all requirements of the state law have been met at that site.
Please see this example of the Arizona School Board Association model policy for a school district that does have AEDs. In addition, here are the Arizona laws for AEDs.
Note: the law does not require or indicate what type of AED should be utilized in schools. When considering which AED to purchase, consider these 5 important factors: total cost of ownership, size and weight, connectivity, pediatric capabilities and fully automatic vs. semi-automatic.
Article 3 Automated External Defibrillators
- 36-2261
- Definitions
- 36-2262
- Automated external defibrillators; use; requirements
- 36-2263
- Civil liability; limited immunity; Good Samaritan
- 36-2264
- Exemption from regulations
It is important to advocate for AEDs in our schools as AEDs can drastically improve the survival rate of students and adults in schools who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest.1 Once trained, anyone can use an AED; here are some tips to follow when implementing AEDs in your school.
- AEDs should be within 3 minutes of every location within the school. Each school is different and may have a different policy on where to place their AEDs, but you may want to ensure they are placed near the gymnasium, in the main lobby, with the nurse, with the athletic trainer, and/or in the middle of the hallways.
- A designated staff member should be responsible for maintaining all AEDs within the school. This means doing monthly maintenance checks such as ensuring the battery and pads are plugged in, ensuring the machine is not beeping, and checking the Active Status Indicator Light is flashing green. A log of all monthly maintenance checks should be kept being sure the AED is ready to be used.
- A Cardiac Emergency Action Plan is a written plan that explains the exact actions that will take place in an emergency. These actions should be very clear and very specific. Click here for sample plans that can be utilized at your school.
- Implement Life Saving Drills to be prepared for a sudden cardiac arrest emergency. This will help the Cardiac Response Team practice their Cardiac Emergency Action Plan to help save a life in an emergency. These drills should be done once annually as cardiac arrest can affect anyone at any age and it is crucial these steps are in place to give someone the best possible chance of surviving.
[1] Andersen LW, Holmberg MJ, Granfeldt A, Lofgren B, Vellano K, McNally BF, et al. on behalf of the CARES Surveillance Group. Neighborhood characteristics, bystander automated external defibrillator use, and patient outcomes in public out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation 2018;126:72–79.
The SADS Foundation recommends all children with a SADS condition have an Individualized Care Plan, a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and an AED program at their school. If you have a SADS child at your school and have not had a discussion with their parents about care plans, we strongly suggest you do so today. Please view the SADS Foundation School Nurse webpage for additional information, support and resources.
Health Screenings, Immunizations & Vaccines
*ADHS Hearing/Vision Screening Updates for 2021-2022 School Year
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Sensory Screening Program is a legislatively mandated program that requires all Arizona educational institutions to provide hearing screening and referrals to school-aged children (pending release of official requirements). The mandate requires that all private, charter and public schools make available to its students a systematic screening for hearing disorders in order to allow early identification and appropriate intervention.
COVID-19 Considerations: Checklist and Guidelines for Schools (ADHS 9/2020)
Arizona Revised State Statutes and Rules: Vision Screening / Hearing Screening
School & Behavioral Health Partnership: A Resource Guide (2021)
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and ADE provide this mental health resource guide to school based health professionals who wishes to be a voice that promotes the need for school mental health resources in Arizona. This guide includes information and tools that will help connect educational leaders and behavioral health providers, define expectations and roles for each, provide guidance for handling a behavioral health crisis, and help your community respond to a suicide. All of these resources are intended to increase students’ access to the mental health care system.
Arizona Revised Statutes 15-104. Mental health screening; consent; form; exemption
Check out Teen Lifeline and Project AWARE (ADE) for trainings and additional support!
It is a general practice for Arizona school districts across to measure and record the height and weight of each student in the student's health file on an annual basis. It is recommended that schools calculate and record each student's Body Mass Index (BMI).
Each district should determine if they will calculate and/or notify parents of BMI results that are in the overweight and/or obese categories. If a district elects to notify parents of BMI scores indicating overweight and/or obese status and the accompanying health risks, a policy and procedure should be developed address this health issue in an appropriate manner. The following links are available to assist school districts with this screening:
Childhood Overweight and Obesity (CDC) / Children's BMI Tool for Schools (CDC)
Please see the ADHS, Schools and Child Care Centers - Immunization Requirements & Forms webpage for all necessary information.
Health Conditions, Diseases & Infections
*AZ Revised Statutes 15-346. Policies and procedures concerning pupils with chronic health problems.
'Arizona Resource Guide: Supporting Children with Life-Threatening Food Allergies' (2012)
Protocol for Emergency Administration of Epinephrine in School - ADHS & ADE (2019)
School Training Presentation for Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector for Anaphylaxis - ADHS (2019)
Template: Standard Orders for Auto-Injectable Epinephrine in a School Setting - AHDS & ADE (2019)
Report Form for School Emergency Administration of Auto-Injectable Epinephrine - ADHS (2019)
Allergies & Anaphylaxis (NASN)
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan (FARE)
Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative & Toolkit (American Lung Association)
Strategies for Addressing Asthma in Schools (CDC 2017)
American Diabetes Association - Arizona Revised Statutes (15-344.01)
Native Diabetes Wellness Program: Eagle Books (CDC)
Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona
Seizure Training for School Nurses: Caring for Students (Epilepsy Foundation)
You Are Not Alone Parent Toolkit: Managing Epilepsy (CDC)
Lice Lessons: NASN Tools For School Nurses
An educational initiative designed to help school nurses reduce fear and stigma and help parents navigate treatment choices.
Communicable Disease Reporting - ADHS Schools & Childcare Facilities
'Infectious Disease Flip Chart' (ADHS 2017)
This Flip Chart serves as a reference guide for individuals responsible for the health and safety of children in school and childcare settings.
Influenza in Arizona - ADHS Schools & Childcare Facilities
ADHS Toolkit: Guidelines for Controlling Influenza-Like Illness Outbreaks in Schools and Childcare Facilities (2020)
Mental Health Webinar: A Guide for School Nurse & Health Staff (Nov 2021) / PDF Slides
ADE partnered with Touchstone Health Services, Teen Lifeline and Project AWARE to educate Arizona school nurse and health office staff on how to identify and respond to common mental health challenges youth face in relation to COVID-19. Click the link below and enter the passcode to access the recorded event!
Addressing Anxiety & Stress (NASN)
Mental Health Resources (NASN)
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
CDC Monkey Pox Resources
Schools, Early Care and Education Programs, and Other Settings Serving Children or Adolescents (FAQ)
Disinfecting Home and Other Non-Healthcare Settings
What You Need to Know about Monkeypox if You are a Teen or Young Adult
Reducing Stigma in Monkeypox Communication and Community Engagement
Information For Healthcare Professionals
Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Monkeypox
Health & Nutrition Services (ADE)
Healthy Schools: Obesity (CDC)
School Representatives - Nutrition & Physical Activity (ADHS)
Healthy Schools: Oral Health (CDC)
School-Based Dental Sealant Program, Fluoride Mouthrinse Program, Fluoride Varnish Program
Maricopa County's First Teeth First
Maricopa County's Office of Oral Health administers basic oral screenings,, education and referrals at no cost to pregnant women and children 0-5 years of age. Eligible children can also receive fluoride varnish.
Local & National Programs, Agencies & Organizations
Arizona Child Abuse Info Center
Arizona Department of Education (ADE); Exceptional Student Services (ESS), Health & Nutrition Services (HNS), Project AWARE
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS); School Nursing, Tobacco & Chronic Disease
Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA)
Arizona School Health & Wellness Coalition
Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB)
Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN); School Nurse FAQs
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
Cerebral Palsy Network - Arizona Chapter
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona
Phoenix Children's Comprehensive Sleep Clinic
School Nurses Organization of Arizona (SNOA)
The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI)
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
American Heart Association (AHA)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
American School Health Association (ASHA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Schools
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Nemours KidsHealth: Health Education Teacher's Guide (PreK-12)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Contact Us
What resources would you like to see added to this page? Email Us today!
Patricia (Pat) VanMaanen, MS, BSN, RN, has over 30 years of experience in the health care industry, currently working as a health consultant to address health issues across a variety of clinical, community and state level projects. Pat has provided health care and social service project management, policy analysis, technical writing, needs assessments and community surveys, and other services, often with a focus on children’s health. She supports clients’ understanding of health needs by analyzing public health data, identifying how diseases, conditions, and social determinants affect specific populations and geographic areas.
Pat holds a Master of Science from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan. She serves or has served on several boards and advisory committees including the Arizona Public Health Association, the American Nurses Association PAC Board, the First Things First State Health Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), the Arizona Nurses Association Public Policy Committee, the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Community Benefit and Health Equity Committee (formerly CHIN) and the Children’s Action Alliance Healthy Children Coalition.
She is the 2019 recipient of the Arizona Public Health Association Harold B Woodward Achievement Award, the First Things First 2014 Champion for Young Children Award, the 2009 recipient of the Reach Out and Read Arizona Early Literacy Leader of the Year and the 2007 recipient of the Arizona Public Health Association Senator Andy Nichols Honor Award.
