Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Public School Nurse Tara Fausch gives a health services update to the New Ulm Public School Board at a study session Thursday.

NEW ULM — Speaking at a New Ulm Public School Board study session Thursday, Licensed School Nurse and Registered Nurse Tara Fausch said she and five health paraprofessionals serve a variety of health needs in the school district.

“In a nutshell, we work to identify students with health needs that need to be met each school day, gather all paperwork to authorize and guide us to provide needed support and care, manage all medications regularly needed or on an emergency basis to ensure all students with health needs can fully participate in the school day as much as possible,” she said. “We also see any and all illness or injury walk-in needs.”

Fausch said student tummy and headaches are common, but she and the paras assist students with a growing number of health conditions including lactose and gluten intolerant students, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), migraines, bleeding disorders with students on blood thinners, genetic syndromes and disorders, cystic fibrosis, autoimmune disorders, Crohn’s disease, celiac and mental health disorders.

“I frequently collaborate with the counselors, social workers, teachers, food service staff, facilities/custodial staff, administrators, parents, medical providers, and other resources to ensure we are meeting needs,” said Fausch. “I work to ensure immunization policy compliance and lead medical emergency response teams in each school building.”

She said she provides education to nearly every walk-in and many calls to parents and guardians.

Fausch said she facilitates resource connections when a need is identified that can’t be met in the health office, screens for hearing and vision concerns and refers students out for intervention when needed. She also reports illnesses to the state as needed.

“We don’t have any big health outbreaks right now. We have good immunization rates in this school district,” said Fausch. “Recently, I helped a family that needed an insulin pump by contacting the New Ulm Lions Club.”

She said she wipes noses and tears, sometimes for students, sometimes for staff.

“We build relationships with students and families, meet them where they are at without judgement, watch for patterns that indicate a need not being stated and troubleshoot if we can,” said Fausch. “We listen, answer questions, joke, laugh, and try to have fun while meeting needs.”

Superintendent Sean Koster thanked Fausch for her work.

“There is a lot that goes into this. Thank you for all you and your staff does. It doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.