Field Trips and Extracurricular Activities - School Nurse Checklist

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Revised July 2024

Introduction

Field trips and extracurricular activities can have positive and lasting impacts on a student’s education and career and all students have a right to participate in these events, including students with disabilities. Standards of care and provisions for health services do not change when students are participating in field trips or extracurricular activities. A student may require nursing and/or health services to access and benefit from educational opportunities, and their rights are protected by federal and state laws including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Exceptional Children's Education Act (ECEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Districts should consult with their legal advisors when considering student health-related needs, safety risks, and the student’s ability to participate.

School nurses play a leading role in protecting the health and safety of students participating in school-sponsored events. Planning requires collaboration with multiple adults, including event coordinators, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and other staff. This checklist serves as a guide to support those planning efforts.

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General Considerations for All Events

*** For all events, follow school and district protocols and policies. ***

Student Health Needs

Student Individual Health Plans
Student Emergency Action Plans
Student medication/treatment orders and documentation process
Student contract to self-carry medications
Student Section 504 Plan and accommodations
Student’s IEP services and accommodations
Access to qualified staff who can provide health care - RN or delegatee
Special transportation
Special equipment
Mobility and Accessibility needs
Activity limitations
Trigger avoidance: Examples - allergies, asthma, seizures, anxiety
Special dietary needs
Special toileting needs
Safety needs

Environmental and Activity Considerations

Intensity level of the trip and activity
Accessibility
Safe storage of medication (Temperature requirements, accessibility to adult care giver, not accessible to students)
Privacy for medications/treatments administration
Adequate emergency response
Adequate cell phone coverage
Air temperature, elevation, and air quality

Staff to Support Health Needs

Adequate time for school nurse to train, determine competency, and delegate to staff
CPR/1st Aid Certified - Minimum of one person required 6 CCR 1010-6
Qualified staff available to provide health care – School Nurse or delegatee
School nurse availability to staff if questions or concerns arise

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Overnight Considerations

Duration of the event
Orders for medications and/or treatments that occur outside of the typical school hours
Additional nursing delegation requirements for medications and/or treatments that occur outside of regular school hours
Sleeping arrangements (Bedding, location, accessibility)
Staff proximity to students who may need treatment and/or health monitoring during the night
Packing additional doses of medications may be advised in the event that the length of the trip is unexpectedly extended
Copies of prescriptions should accompany student medications and treatments

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Out of State Considerations

Duration of the event
If the student requires the presence of the school nurse or school nurse delegation, determine if the state is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
If the state is a member of the NLC, contact the state’s board of nursing to determine what that state’s statutes and rules allow. Contact for each state’s board of nursing: National State Boards of Nursing Contact a U.S. Member
If the state is not a member of the NLC, determine how nursing/health services might be provided by reaching out to the state’s board of nursing. Contact for each state’s board of nursing: National State Boards of Nursing Contact a U.S. Member
Access to medications/treatments while traveling: In carry-on pack, not in luggage
Packing additional doses of medications may be advised in the event that the length of the trip is unexpectedly extended
Copies of prescriptions should accompany student medications/treatments
Determine if a health alert exists in destination State Health Department Websites CDC Health Alert Network (HAN)
Determine how health issues and emergencies will be managed

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Out of Country Considerations

Duration of the event
U.S. nursing licenses do not automatically transfer to other countries. If a student requires nursing or health services, including delegated care, contact the U.S. State Department Travel Resources or the U.S. Embassy for points of contact for destination countries to determine the requirements.
CDC Immunization Requirements and Recommendations
CDC Travel Health Notices
Determine how health issues and emergencies will be managed U.S. State Department Travel Resources
Access to medications/treatments while traveling: In carry-on pack, not in luggage
Copies of prescriptions should accompany student medications/treatments
Packing additional doses of medications may be advised in the event that the length of the trip is unexpectedly extended

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Parent Involvement Considerations

Parents should be asked to provide the following information:

Health care needs of their child, including activity limitations
Current parent/guardian contact information
Written authorization allowing their child to receive emergency treatment

The district should share the following with the parents:

How their child’s health care needs will be met during the trip
The qualifications of those providing the care to their child

The parent signature on the consent form indicates that they agree to the outlined plan of care for the trip, including accessing emergency services.

A parent’s or other adult family member’s attendance cannot be required as a condition of a child participating in a field trip. However, the following should be considered:
If a parent requests, the school should consider allowing the parent to attend the field trip and assume responsibility for providing health care services for their child.
A parent or guardian may designate an adult family member, who is NOT an employee of the school district, to provide health care for their child during the field trip. The school district may need to screen the designated adult family member per the school district’s policy.

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