Lead Resources for Nurses
Nurses play a key role in identifying children dealing with effects of elevated lead levels. It is important for nurses to pay attention to behavioral problems such as frustration with classroom work, keeping up with their peers, low academic performance and other signs and symptoms of elevated lead levels. Frequent communication with teachers is helpful to identify children that could be at risk for the negative effects of blood lead level (BLLs).
Experts agree that there is a need for developing safe and effective interventions even for those with low BLLs. There is little data available for 6-18 year-olds and lead exposure; however, chronic lead levels exist in this school-age population. For many of these children, they were screened at a younger age but did not receive a follow-up. Some were not screened at 1 or 2, as is recommended. Therefore, school-aged children often miss opportunity for interventions and continue to deal with the negative effects of lead.
Below is useful information about lead prevention and exposure: