Health & Nursing Services
Please see the staff directory to find your school nurse's contact information.
Arlington Public Schools Health Services Department continually provides nursing services that promote optimal wellness for students, families and staff to ensure educational success. We strive to empower students and staff in the promotion of health and wellness through professional practice and education.
NEW: APS Respiratory Illness* Guidelines
*Includes, but is not limited to, colds, flu, RSV, COVID-19, pneumonia, etc.
If student/staff member feels sick, please do the following:
- Review the APS Guidelines for Student Attendance During Illness. If student/staff member is not well enough to attend school/work, stay home.
- Consider testing for COVID-19 and/or getting tested for the flu or other respiratory illnesses. Free COVID-19 tests are available at every school and are also available from the USPS. They may be ordered here. You may request them from your student’s school nurse or order them now to have tests on hand when needed.
- If student/staff member tests positive for a respiratory illness, notify the school nurse.
- Contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
If student/staff member tests positive for a respiratory virus but does not have any symptoms:
- It is strongly recommended to stay home for about 72 hours to help reduce the chances that you spread the virus to others.
- If you do attend school/work, it is strongly recommended to wear a mask, practice good respiratory hygiene, including frequent hand washing, and employ social distancing around high risk individuals. Masks are available in the health office.
Returning to School after Illness:
Anyone with symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home until they meet both of the following criteria:
Contact your school nurse for any questions or concerns.
- At least 24 hours have passed with no fever (less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)
- Symptoms have improved over a 24-hour period
The CDC recommends the prevention strategies listed below when returning to school/work/normal activities for 5 days:
- Wear a well-fitting mask except when actively eating, drinking, or outside
- Keep distance from others, especially the elderly and those who are immunocompromised
- For individuals that test positive for COVID-19, you may consider testing after 5 days of illness to know if you’re still contagious (not required for return to school/work)
As always, practice good respiratory hygiene and wash hands or use sanitizer frequently.
