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Lancaster school nurse making house calls, online visits with students

WGAL News 8

Lancaster school nurse making house calls, online visits with students

WGAL News 8

THAT’S KIND OF NICE, RIGHT? MANY STUDENTS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY HAVE BEEN LEARNING AT HOME ALL YEAR LONG. MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR KIDS WHO USUALLY CHECK IN WITH IN SCHOOL NURSES? WGAL NEWS 8’S TOM LEHMAN HAS MORE ON HOW ONE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY NURSE IS GOING THE EXTRA MILE. TOM: STUDENTS AT MCCASKEY HIGH SCHOOL MAY BE LEARNING FROM HOME, BUT JANE WEIGEL STILL FINDS TIME TO SEE THEM. THE ROLE HAS CHANGED. WE’VE HAD TO BECOME A LOT MORE CREATIVE. TOM: WEIGEL IS A SCHOOL NURSE AND USES ZOOM AND PHONE CALLS TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE KEEPING UP WITH PLANS FOR CONDITIONS LIKE ALLERGIES, DIABETES, OR SEIZURES. >> PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO TO URGENT CARE BECAUSE OF COVID. TOM: WEIGEL EVEN GOT PERMISSION TO MAKE A FEW HOUSE CALLS. >> HAS ALLOWED ME TO REALLY INTERACT WITH THEM IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY TO REALLY GET KIDS TO COMPLY WITH THEIR DIABETIC MANAGEMENT. TOM: WEIGEL SAYS ANOTHER BIG ISSUE IS VACCINATIONS. SHE CHECKS IN WITH FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE GETTING IMMUNIZED. WEIGEL SAYS THE CALLS CAN MEAN A LOT TO STUDENTS STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH THE PANDEMIC. >> THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT YO CARE ABOUT THEM. THEY HAVE TO KNOW YOU’RE PERSISTENT AND THAT YOU’RE GOING TO STICK WITH THEM THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND THAT YOU HAVE HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY IT’S GOING TO END. TOM: IN LANCASTER, TOM LEHMAN, WGAL NEWS 8. LORI: LORI: JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PENNSYLVANIA’S HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN LEARN SAFELY IN-PERSON IF THERE ARE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE AFTER JANUAR
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Lancaster school nurse making house calls, online visits with students

WGAL News 8

Many students in the Susquehanna Valley have been learning at home since the start of the academic year, but what does that mean for children who usually check-in with in-school nurses?WGAL News 8's Tom Lehman has more on how one school nurse is going the extra mile. Students at McCaskey High School may be learning from home, but school nurse Jane Weigel still finds time to see them.Weigel says, "The role has changed. we've had to be a lot more creative." She now uses Zoom and phone calls to make sure students are keeping up with plans for their conditions like allergies, diabetes or seizures.She tells us, "People are afraid to go to the doctor. They're afraid to go to urgent care because of COVID."Weigel has even gotten permission to make a few house calls saying, "that has really allowed me to interact with them in a more positive way to really get kids to comply with their diabetic management."She also tells another big issue is vaccinations. She checks in with families to make sure the children are getting immunize.Weigel says the calls can mean a lot to students who are struggling to cope with the pandemic, "They have to know that you care about them. They have to know you're persistent and that you're going to stick with them through this difficult time, and that you have that you know eventually it's going to end."The first week of Jan., the Pennsylvania Department of Health released a statement saying elementary school students can return to in-person learning if safety measures are in-place by Jan. 25. This change is only a recommendation, school districts continue to have the final say on whether or not to return to in-person learning.

Many students in the Susquehanna Valley have been learning at home since the start of the academic year, but what does that mean for children who usually check-in with in-school nurses?

WGAL News 8's Tom Lehman has more on how one school nurse is going the extra mile.

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Students at McCaskey High School may be learning from home, but school nurse Jane Weigel still finds time to see them.

Weigel says, "The role has changed. we've had to be a lot more creative." She now uses Zoom and phone calls to make sure students are keeping up with plans for their conditions like allergies, diabetes or seizures.

She tells us, "People are afraid to go to the doctor. They're afraid to go to urgent care because of COVID."

Weigel has even gotten permission to make a few house calls saying, "that has really allowed me to interact with them in a more positive way to really get kids to comply with their diabetic management."

She also tells another big issue is vaccinations. She checks in with families to make sure the children are getting immunize.

Weigel says the calls can mean a lot to students who are struggling to cope with the pandemic, "They have to know that you care about them. They have to know you're persistent and that you're going to stick with them through this difficult time, and that you have that you know eventually it's going to end."

The first week of Jan., the Pennsylvania Department of Health released a statement saying elementary school students can return to in-person learning if safety measures are in-place by Jan. 25. This change is only a recommendation, school districts continue to have the final say on whether or not to return to in-person learning.