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Health Services

The nursing staff of the Dubuque Community School District strives to provide compassionate and comprehensive health services for your child. Our professional, experienced staff is able to meet a variety of healthcare needs for your children while attending school. In addition, we promote prevention and wellness while providing access to care for students to stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn. We understand that a healthy lifestyle is key to your child’s overall well-being, academic success, and lifelong achievement.

Illness Guidelines

Staying home when ill is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of all illnesses, including COVID-19. The district has returned to its normal illness guidelines, and individuals with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher should always stay home until fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and should be free of vomiting or diarrhea before returning to work.

For more guidelines, also see:
Is your child too ill to attend school?

COVID-19 POSITIVE CASE
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be instructed to self-isolate for at least 5 calendar days following the onset of symptoms OR 5 calendar days following the date the positive test was administered if the individual is asymptomatic. (Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date the positive test was administered if asymptomatic.)

Individuals may return to school after the 5 calendar days if they are fever free with improving symptoms, and they should wear a mask in public spaces for an additional five days.

Don’t Let the Flu Bug You!

Flu bug graphicAlong with the recommendation that all staff and students receive the flu vaccine, the Dubuque Community School District will start the implementation of not returning to school until free from fever (greater than or equal to 100.4 F), diarrhea or vomiting without the use of medications for 24 hours to help reduce the spread of germs that cause diarrhea, colds and influenza. In addition, we will be reminding staff and students of the importance of good hand washing.

7th- and 12th-Grade Vaccination Requirements

An administrative rule change by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Bureau of Immunization, REQUIRES MENINGOCOCCAL (A, C, W, Y) VACCINE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLING IN 7TH AND 12TH GRADES in addition to other vaccination requirements.

Get full details about 7th- and 12th-grade vaccinations.

Learn more about the Asthma-Friendly School Initiative!

Dubuque Community School District Health Services is implementing a District Wide Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative starting in the 2012-2013 school year. This initiative is based on the Toolkit by The American Lung Association. This guide provides the framework and tools to assist the schools in collaborating with the community to strengthen them to become more asthma-friendly to support the education of our children by keeping them healthy and ready to learn. For more, see the Asthma-Friendly School Toolkit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Shirley Horstman
Executive Director of
Student Services
shorstman@dbqschools.org
563/552-3083

Services provided by school nurses include:

  1. Promotion of healthy life styles.
  2. Identify health concerns by observation and assessment of needs.
  3. Health care counseling or guidance to students, their family, and staff.
  4. Guidance in chronic disease management and assist with access to care in collaboration with
    community agencies and medical providers.
  5. Medication management.
  6. Immunization verification according to state guideline requirements.
  7. Screenings: vision, dental, hearing, height and weights.