The Well-Stocked Health Office

Legal requirements for School Health Services Office space in NH.

Ed 321.12 Standards for Support Space

(c) The following standards shall apply in schools that have a school nurse:

(1) The nurse shall be provided with:

a. Exclusive administrative space;

b. A waiting area;

c. Space for examining patients that includes a sink with hot and cold water;

d. Secure dry and refrigerated storage for medications; and

e. A patient isolation area which includes one cot for every 200 pupils in the design capacity;

(2) A separate restroom shall be provided which meets current accessibility requirements; and

(3) The minimum size of the nurse suite shall be 625 square feet for schools with a design capacity greater than 750 pupils. The minimum size of the nurse suite for schools with a design capacity of 750 pupils or less shall be 300 square feet.

Recommended Facilities for the School Health Services Office

Adequate private rest areas with beds/cots (preferably with washable surfaces) and blankets, sheets, pillows, and pillowcases
Clock with a second hand
Computer
File cabinet or drawer with lock for confidential medical information
First-aid station with washable counter tops and storage areas
Laundry receptacle
Locked storage for medication
Physical layout that allows for individual privacy, has adequate lighting and ventilation, and is reserved for health purposes only
Refrigerator for storage of medication, cold packs, juice, etc.
Soap dispenser adjacent to all sinks
Paper towel holders adjacent to all sinks
Sharps container for disposal of hazardous medical waste
Space to safely store personal equipment such as a nebulizer or oxygen cylinder
Telephone and writing surface that allows the nurse to view patient areas
Trash receptacle

Suggested Equipment

AED (preferably in a location that can be accessed by all)
Bandage and trauma scissors
Crutches
Flashlight or pen light with extra bulbs and batteries
Glucose monitoring device
Magnifying glass
Manual resuscitation bag
Mouth-to-mask resuscitator with 1-way valve
Oto/ophthalmoscope
Oxygen tank
Physician's scale with height rod
Portable first-aid kit
Pure tone audiometer
Ring cutter
Safety goggles
Sphygmomanometer (calibrated annually) and appropriate cuff sizes
Stethoscope
Stretcher
Thermometer
Tweezers
Vision testing machine
Wheelchair

Suggested Supplies

Ace wrap
Acetaminophen
Albuterol
Bacitracin or other antimicrobial ointment
Basins
Bandages, self adhesive (various sizes)
Benadryl
Betadine or other antiseptic wash
Cold packs
Cotton-tip applicators
Cotton balls
Cough drops
Dental wax
Disinfectant for surfaces/spills
Disposable diapers (may be used for compression);
Disposable gowns
Epi-pen
Eye pads
Gauze, various size pads and rolls
Gloves, preferably latex-free
Glucose
Health office forms (logs, medical sheets, accident reports, state forms, etc.)
Hot packs
Ibuprofen
Irrigation solution
Juices
Masks
Neck immobilizers
Paper cups
Paper towels
Plastic bags
Red bag for hazardous waste
Safety pins
Salt-supplemented drinks (Gatorade)
Sanitary pads (may be used for compression)
Slings
Splints, various lengths
Surgi-pads/ABD pads
Tape, hypoallergenic (different widths)
Tissues
Tongue depressors
Triangular bandages
Washcloths and towels