Final answer:
The school nurse should isolate the child with pertussis immediately and inform the parents. Communicating with healthcare professionals and the school administration for further action, such as informing other parents and assessing for a vaccination campaign, is also necessary. Preventative measures and highlighting the importance of vaccinations can protect the wider school community.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a school nurse learns a child has pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the appropriate steps should be to isolate the child and inform the parents immediately. Since pertussis is highly communicable through droplet transmission, it is crucial to prevent the spread by keeping the infected student away from others. The nurse should also be in communication with healthcare professionals and the school administration to determine if there's a need for further steps, such as notifying other parents, assessing if other children have been exposed, and potentially considering a vaccination campaign if vaccination rates are below safe thresholds.
It's important to follow guidelines regarding infectious diseases, which include staying home when unwell, covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and washing hands often. If the student had only mild symptoms, such as those of the catarrhal stage of pertussis, the infectious potential is still significant. Quick and responsible action can help protect not only the infected student but also the wider school community from an outbreak.
Given the reemergence of pertussis in areas with declining vaccination rates, safeguarding the community through prophylactic measures and maintaining high vaccination rates with the DTaP and Tdap vaccines is essential. Additionally, informing the school community about the importance of vaccinations could help prevent future cases and outbreaks.