Daily Life Nurse/Medical
Nurse/MedicalCaroline Cowland HNDip, RN.
My name is Caroline Cowland and I am the school nurse at DESS. I qualified in the UK and have a Higher National Diploma in Nursing Studies from the University of Christchurch, Canterbury, Kent. I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK. Through my time training as a Nurse I worked in many different specialities such as: Coronary and Intensive care, Hospice, Surgical, Medical, Community and Paediatric nursing, to name a few!! As a qualified Nurse I worked for the NHS on an acute medical ward as a Staff Nurse, which was very hectic but also very rewarding and enjoyable! I have really enjoyed the past 4 years spent as the school nurse at DESS and have met so many lovely children, parents and staff! DESS is a lovely environment to work in. My role
The Sick Bay What a busy place it is! You can find me here from 7:20 until the end of the school day. If you have trouble finding me, please ask one of the office staff to locate me. In the sick bay you can find a nice comfy bed to lie on if you are unwell. There are also well stocked cupboards with medicine and first aid treatments. We are also very proud to have access to emergency first aid equipment such as our oxygen cylinder and an AED machine (Defibrillator) Health Advice If you would like to contact me and you do not have time to visit me in person then call me directly on: 44592751. Please also store this as a handy number in your mobile! Important Information Children should not be carrying any medication on them in the school day. If your child should require any medication then I request that you visit me with your child in the morning before class begins or send a letter with your child if you do not take them to school. At times when you cannot be reached and your child is unwell I may need to give a simple medication such as paracetamol or brufen. I will however, try to contact you first to discuss the treatment. If your child cannot attend PE or swimming lesson then a clear note must be provided. Generally we encourage all children to participate in physical activity where possible but also understand that there may be reasons your child cannot participate. If your child does not have a note and you cannot be contacted, your child will participate in PE/swimming. Generally if your child is too unwell to fully participate then they should be resting at home. Head Injury More often than not a head injury, although distressing for the child, is usually minor and causes only short term symptoms. If your child does bump their head at school then I will try to contact you. A letter will be in your child’s bag at the end of the day with important information about head injuries. Please ensure you check your child’s book bags for any medical notes. Policies We have a range of medical and nursing policies here at DESS. Below are the outlines of two policies which I refer to most frequently at school. It would be advisable to discuss these points with your children. Healthy Eating At DESS we are very keen for your child to understand the importance of healthy eating. We encourage a healthy snack at DESS that includes at least 2 pieces of fruit or vegetables amongst other nutritious food. We are a nut free zone and children are not allowed any nut products in their snack at any time, as we have a number of children with a severe allergy to nuts. Chocolate and sweets as well as fizzy drinks are not allowed at DESS. Head Lice This is a common health issue affecting all schools and communities. It is the responsibility of Parents to check their child’s hair on a regular basis for signs of head lice and eggs. At DESS we want to reassure Parents that this is not a subject to be ashamed of and we should share information amongst us. |
