Health Services at the Oliverian School

In the health office at the Oliverian school, Ruth Peterle, RN is working towards a systematic approach to medications and school health. In her first few months at the Oliverian School, she has started by improving the medication administration system, auditing student files, and setting ground rules for behavior in the office. Miss Peterle believes that the office should be a caring and safe environment for the students to seek help or share concerns.

Student medications are given out from the nurse’s office in the morning and at night after study hall. The students are expected to take responsibility for their medication needs by being on time for medications. The students are expected to be respectful of other’s privacy. They may be admitted to the infirmary for the day or just a few classes if they are too sick to be in school with the rest of their peers. They are encouraged to take care of themselves when they feel sick by going to sleep early and drinking lots of water among other things.

In the future Miss Peterle would like to offer a health class for the students. In a health class, she could address issues which are very important for teens to be aware of. Topics covered might be sex education, hygiene, body image, drug abuse, safety in the college environment, sexual and physical abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases. This class may be taught with a fitness portion which would benefit them greatly as an outlet to relieve stress and expend energy.

Miss Peterle believes in open communication between parents and student while still respecting the privacy that may be desired in the teen years. Ruth’s door is always open to the students if they are having good days or bad.