Purpose
Ideally, medical procedures involving students should take place
outside of school hours. However, it is recognized that many children
are able to attend regular school because of the effectiveness of medical
treatments for chronic disabilities and illness. If a student requires
certain medical procedures during school hours, he or she and their parent/guardian
should understand the required protocol.
The Board authorizes the superintendent or designee to establish procedures
regarding clean, intermittent bladder catheterization (CIC) of students
or assisted self-catheterization. Such procedures shall identify which
staff is qualified to perform such catheterization procedures and shall
conform to guidelines of the Pennsylvania Department of School Health.
Instruction, the creation of a suitable environment, and other supports
shall be provided toward the goal of self-catheterization.
Definition
For purposes of this policy, "catheterization" shall
refer to the insertion of a small, clean, flexible tube into the bladder
to draw urine.
Authority
Before any procedure may be performed on any student during
school hours, the Board shall require a written communication from the
parent or guardian requesting such catheterization and relieving the
Board and its employees of liability.
The Board shall also require a current written order of the prescribing
physician for CIC for the student, and written instructions for the
procedure including the time at which or special circumstances under
which the procedure shall be performed. The order shall be renewed each
school year.
The documents shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse
in the student's current building of attendance.
Delegation of Responsibility
The building principal shall develop procedures for the CIC
of students which provide that:
- The school nurse, the principal, or his/her designee shall confer
with parents at the time the request is made and later, by telephone
or in person when the situation dictates.
- The assigned building nurse will perform student catheterization
when possible.
- If the regular building nurse is not available, the family will
be notified, and it will be their responsibility to provide for the
catheterization of the student. Only under extenuating circumstances,
if the parent is unavailable, a nurse from another building will be
contacted to perform the CIC.
- The supervision of the self-catheterizing student shall be based
on the needs of the student.
- The training of the school nurse by the parent/guardian or designee
shall include but not be limited to:
| a. |
initial inservice training of a length to be determined
by the school nurse |
| b. |
a current review of the instructions and procedures each school
year |
| c. |
instruction in the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology
of the urinary system specific to their child |
| d. |
techniques specific to their child |
| e. |
the training of the school nurse shall be documented |
- Similarly, the school nurse, principal, or his/her designee will
alert appropriate school staff to possible side effects of the procedure,
which need to be reported. Teachers and/or guidance personnel will
be alerted if a student should refrain from any school activity (i.e.,
physical education, sports, etc.).
- The district and its staff and the staff member who provides for
catheterization in substantial compliance with this policy and the
rules of the Pennsylvania Department of School Health shall not be
liable in any criminal action or for civil damages arising from providing
catheterization.
- The district may discontinue catheterization service for a student
without being liable so long as the student's parents/guardians are
given advance written notice.
- Parents will be responsible to provide all necessary equipment and
materials needed for the catheterization procedure.
- Field trip arrangements need to be made in advance to accommodate
catheterization procedures. A parent or parent designee will be required
to perform the catheterization procedure.
- The instruction and supports for self-catheterization should be
offered to the student with written parent permission.
- Separate written permission from the parent and physician will be
required before self-catheterization is established.
- Nurses will have in place written procedures for the handling and
disposal of urine.
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