Education Queensland Nursing Services are available to students enrolled in Queensland State Schools, through Education Queensland Enrolled Nurses (EQRNs), who have a verified disability and/or specialised health needs.
The service is provided in response to a written referral from the Principal/Teacher with parental consent for EQRNs to be involved in their child's care.
Once consent is obtained the EQRN will assist school staff to safely and effectively manage the health requirements of students with complex health needs, procedures and care regimes to ensure full participation in their educational program. The type and extent of service will vary according to the needs of the student.
EQRNs provide:
- A clinical advisory service including assessment, planning, training, supervision and support to school staff supporting students with disabilities or specialised health needs. This includes the development of Individual Health Plans and Emergency Health Plans.
- specific training for school staff to meet the specialized health needs and/or specific interventions of students
- ongoing support and refresher training
- direct liaisons with the student’s healthcare providers, specialist health teams, doctors or healthcare professionals.
EQRN’s work with schools to provide:
- best practice management strategies for students with specialised health needs
- support and advice for students, school staff and parents
- facilitation and advice on accessing health equipment and supplies
- assistance to the educational team to develop the individual students’ independence and confidence to self–manage their own health needs.
Specialised health procedures and interventions include, but are not limited to:
- enteral feeding (gastrostomy, nasogastric, jejunostomy)
- urinary management (catheterisation, urostomy care)
- airway management (tracheostomy care, oral suctioning, oxygen therapy)
- bowel management (colostomy/ileostomy care)
- diabetes management (insulin, blood sugar level testing, diabetic emergency)
- epilepsy management (rectal Valium, nasal/buccal Midazolam, vagus nerve stimulator support)
- anaphylaxis management (adrenaline auto injector use)
- asthma management (emergency medications).