school nurse
Spencerville Adventist Academy’s Health Room strives to keep our students in excellent physical, social and mental health in order to be successful in their educational experience. We work closely with the Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director and Administration. All medical information is kept confidential.
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Helpful Information
Medications in School
Students at SAA are not allowed to self-carry medications at school (whether prescription or over-the counter, such as Advil), without a medication form on file. This is in accordance with Maryland State Law.
Medication forms are required for any medications to be administered while in school or on overnight school trips. This applies to both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The Health Room will pack medications (non self-carry medications kept in the Health Room) for all field trips that involve regular school days. They are not packed for athletic events, weekend tournaments, musical performances and other times that do not involve regular school hours. Please contact Mrs. Banks if you have a question regarding this policy.
If your child has frequent headaches or other discomforts, please consider having medication at school for him/her. Maryland State Law does not allow us to give stock medications to students—we must have a doctor’s written order on a Medication Form and the appropriate medication. All medications must be delivered to the Health Room by an adult and in it’s original container with the completed form.
Every fall, Sixth and Seventh Graders attend Outdoor Education School at Mt. Aetna (Hagerstown, Maryland). Some students will need medications during the overnight stay (typically 2 nights/3 days). In order for the designated school employee to medicate your student, a medication authorization form, must be completed by your physician. Once completed, please bring the medication and form to the Health Room. The medication must be in a new, unopened bottle or Prescription bottle with proper labeling. For any questions, please contact Mrs. Banks.
A Care Plan is required for all students with Asthma or Food Allergies requiring an Epi-Pen or Inhaler.
Staying Home
Maryland state guidelines require that students MUST be fever free (less than 100 degrees) and without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours to attend school. Please do not send students to school who are ill, after giving them medications such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Please notify Mrs. Banks of any changes in your students’ health status. Any communicable diseases, such as lice, chicken pox, measles, etc. must be reported immediately to the School Nurse. All information will be kept confidential. More information can be found using this link.
Kari Banks
School Nurse
About Our Nurse
Kari Banks, BSN, RN, NSCN is the school nurse at SAA. She joined the staff in August 2006. She has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years. Mrs. Banks graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia Union College (currently Washington Adventist University) in 1986. She is also certified by the National Board for the Certification of School Nurses.
Mrs. Banks has worked in various health settings such as the Newborn Nursery, Labor and Delivery (23 years) and Community Health.
Mrs. Terri Sheahin is a Certified Medication Technician (Maryland Board of Nursing) that works with Mrs. Banks as needed. All SAA Faculty and Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR/AED.
Our school campus has 2 AED’s (one in the hallway by the Health Room and Media Center; the other outside the Gymnasium) along with Bleeding Control Kits located near the AED’s.
