Health Services

Our Nursing Team

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 has a unique partnership with Edward Elmhurst Hospital.  The nurses who work within the District are all employees of the hospital.  This ensures that our students have access to highly qualified nurses who receive updated professional learning from a world class health care system.

Nursing Hours

Nurses are available 15 minutes before and after the start of school each day.  This means that our school nurses at elementary arrive and depart by 7:45 a.m. and leave at approximately 3:45 p.m.

Nursing Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Building Principal, Building Assistant Principal, and Director of Special Education, the Licensed School Nurse is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating school health services in several school buildings that: maximize the quality of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health-related absenteeism, eliminate or minimize health problems that cause problems with student learning, and supports the overall wellness functions of a school or group of schools.

When students are sick, they should stay home from school.  If your child presents with any of the symptoms listed below please keep your child home until symptoms have improved or as specified:

• Fever/Chills: Presence of a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Students should not return to school until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.)
• Persistent cough or shortness of breath.
• Severe earache or stomachache that makes it difficult to participate in the school day. 
• Vomiting/Diarrhea. Students should not return until they are free of vomiting and/or diarrhea for at least 24 hours without the use of symptoms reducing medication. 
• Eye symptoms such as redness, itchy or crusty eyes/lashes, or drainage. The child may return the school once cleared with a healthcare provider note stating he/she is cleared for school or has chronic condition. 
• Skin Rashes - Undiagnosed new, and/or treated rash or skin condition. The child may return to school if cleared with a healthcare provider note stating he/she is cleared for school or has a chronic condition. 
• Wounds students should stay home if they have open or draining wounds or sores.

Certain illnesses (flu, strep, COVID, pertussis, RSV, etc.) have specific incubation periods.  In order to keep a healthy school community, the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued guidance related to these  communicable diseases and incubation periods.  That guidance can be found at this link.  Please work with your medical providers to seek guidance as needed.

Depending on the illness, a letter provided to the school nurse from your child's physician may be required prior to your child being re-admitted back to school. If your child's physician feels your student requires medical accommodations upon returning to school, please have the physician list the requested accommodations and we will do our best to meet those accommodations. Your student's health and safety upon returning to school is a number one priority! 

If there is any uncertainty whether a "return to school" letter is required for your student, please call the school health office to discuss any questions or concerns. 

A "return to school" letter must be signed and dated by your student's physician. 

If your student needs to be excused from PE/Activities, a physician letter must be provided to the school nurse stating the medical reason for the restriction, the date of when the restriction starts and when the student may return to normal activity.  If the date of return is not listed, a follow up letter must be provided to the school nurse in two weeks with an update of your student's medical condition and, if possible, a date for returning to normal activity.  Your student may not return to PE/Activities until the school nurse is provided a letter with physician clearance.  

If your child is excused from PE they are also restricted from participation in recess/TDPE and intramural activities/sports.  

Please contact your school nurse for questions/concerns regarding your student's specific circumstances.  Please see the student handbook for more information. 

You must notify your student's school by calling your school's attendance line if your child will be absent from school. When reporting an absence please indicate the reasoning for the absence. If the absence is related to an illness, please report the symptoms present (i.e. fever, cough, sore throat, etc.) and any diagnosed communicable disease if applicable. 

Please refer to the handbook for further information.