Our kids spend most of their day at school, which means we’re counting on teachers and staff—especially the school nurse—to look after their health and safety when we’re not around. It’s a huge responsibility and for it to be smooth sailing, some parental cooperation is required. So I spoke with a seasoned pro to find out: What should parents actually be worried about during the school year—and what can we stop stressing over? Her answers might surprise you.

Meet the Expert

Marie Murphy is a Registered Nurse (RN) in New York City, who has overseen the health and safety of faculty, children and special needs adults (ages 3 to 21) for over 35 years.

But First, What Are Some Things Parents *Don’t* Need to Worry About?

Before we get into what deserves your attention, let’s talk about what doesn’t. According to the school nurse I spoke with, some of the most common reasons kids visit her office are no big deal—and definitely not cause for panic (or an early pickup).

Take stomachaches, for example. Kids come in all the time saying their stomach hurts, Murphy explains. “Sometimes there's just a lot of anxiety at school—there could be tests, there could be social situations, it could be playground related.” Whatever the reason, it almost always passes with just a brief reset, a sip of water and some light conversation. The same goes for minor playground scrapes: they happen, they get cleaned up and that’s usually about it. There’s no need for a phone call unless there’s a facial injury, in which case the nurse told me she will notify the parent.

And When Parents Should Worry

1. If Your Child Fails an Eye, Hearing, or Scoliosis Screening

If you get a note home about your child not passing a school screening, don’t panic—but do follow up. “The nurse’s office is not an ophthalmologist’s office, but if they're squinting just 50 feet away from my desk and they can’t see a chart with animals and numbers and symbols, it could be something that really is impacting their learning,” Murphy explains, adding that the same goes for hearing tests which could indicate an ear infection (or something more serious) if a child performs poorly.

Older kids are also screened for scoliosis, especially as they start hauling around heavy backpacks. Murphy emphasizes that these screenings are the first step in ensuring that your child’s skeletal development doesn’t take a hit in the long term.

The takeaway? If you get a note sent home after a school screening, promptly seek follow-up care with a physician who can adequately monitor your child’s growth and development going forward.