The WISHeS Project was a 5-year project that began in 2011. It was funded by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The project built on a 2007-08 project, Determining the Status of Wisconsin School Health Services.
Core partners on the project included:
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards
- Wisconsin Association of School Nurses
- Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Public Health
- Wisconsin Public Health Association
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
An Executive Summary of the project can be found here. The project was initiated by the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) and a number of key organizations across the state that were actively addressing gaps in Wisconsin’s school health services system. The WISHeS project, originally titled Developing a School Health Services Assessment Tool and Related Resources, focused on building school staff competency and increasing the capacity of Wisconsin’s school health services system.
The WISHeS Projects developed a number of resources that are available for use by Wisconsin schools and schools across the country. The following resources were developed based on the 2012 WISHeS: School Health Services Assessment Tool results. The resources were piloted in fifteen school districts in Wisconsin.
WISHeS Project Resources:
Emergency Nursing Services Sample Policies and Procedures
The sample emergency nursing services policies and procedures (administrative rules) include the following:
- Injury and illness management
- Training for non-health care staff providing nursing services
- Administration of first aid and illness and injury management
- Competency verification and documentation of non-health care staff providing nursing services
District Hired School Nurse Policy and Procedure
Consult School Nurse Policy and Procedure
Care of the Student with Special Healthcare Needs:
An online training for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
The interactive training covers topics such as:
- Hand hygiene
- Oral care
- Feeding
- Transfers
- Diapering
The intent of the training is to provide UAPs with the basic knowledge required to care for students who are in need of these interventions while at school. The training incorporates the themes of compassion, empathy, patience, understanding and self-care. Care of the Student with Special Healthcare Needs also has a skills check off sheet the UAP prints at the completion of the training so they can complete the skills training with a licensed staff person.
Care of Student with Special Needs
Concussion Management Sample Policy and Procedure
The sample policy and procedure for concussion management includes the following:
- Role of the nurse in concussion management.
- Assessment and evaluation of possible concussion.
- Removal of student with concussion or head injury from athletic activity participation.
- Possible classroom accommodations for students with concussions.
- Return to learn and return to play guidelines.
Concussion Policy and Procedure
Food Allergies: Managing and Preventing Acute Reactions in the School Setting
The best practice guidelines provide school administrators, school nurses and staff with information, recommended policies, procedures and resources to ensure that students diagnosed with anaphylactic food allergies have a safe learning environment. The best practice guideline recommendations provide recommended action steps for schools and school districts.
Food Allergy Best Practice Guidelines
The Injury and Illness Protocols:
These are meant to serve as basic first aid and illness management and are intended to be used by staff without medical/nursing training, when a nurse or other medical professional is not available. It is recommended that the protocols be reviewed and approved by the school district’s medical advisor. It is also recommended that staff who are responsible for providing first aid and illness management to children complete an approved first aid and CPR course. In order to perform CPR safely and effectively, skills should be practiced in the presence of a trained instructor and reviewed yearly.
Medication Administration Sample Policy and Procedures
The sample medication administration policies and procedures (administrative rules) include the following:
- Delegation of medication administration.
- Training for non-health care staff on medication administration.
- Competency verification and documentation of non-health care staff.
- Management of medication administration on field trips.
- Tracking and review of medication errors.
- Quality improvement activities.
- Medication disposal.
Administering Medications to Students Policy and Procedure
Medication Disposal Procedure
Medication Error Procedure
Staff Administration of Glucagon Policy and Procedure
Staff Administration of Non-Student Specific Epinephrine Policy
Student Self-Administration of Emergency Medications
School Nurse Procedure Manual
The procedure manual is a website that is accessible on smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. The website includes step-by-step instructions on how to perform a select number of nursing interventions in the school setting. The website includes some videos of frequently performed nursing interventions.