Abstract
Coping with the medically fragile student in the school setting has provided parents, educators, physicians and school nurses with numerous challenges. It is vital, however, for very ill children to be provided with the socialization, sense of normalcy and opportunity for personal growth that only attendance at school can provide. The decision to forego life-sustaining measures has legal, ethical, educational and procedural implications in the school setting. Through the development of guidelines for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) policy, the school nurse is a source of education, protocol, advocacy and support for school administrators as well as teachers, students and parents. Implementation of DNR policy coupled with the development of an individualized health care plan and an emergency plan for the medically fragile student fosters the best possible outcome for both the child and family. Age appropriate peer and staff education is also vital for the well-being of classmates and teachers.
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