What is the role of the school nurse in our schools?
In 1999, the National Association of School Nurses Board of Directors defined school nursing as:
"A specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning."
Professional nurses address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of their students. Professional school nurses have as the ultimate outcome of their practice, the support of student success in the learning process.
The school nurse provides direct health care to the students and staff who have been injured or who present with acute illnesses; responsible for medication administration and the performance of health care procedures; assists faculty and staff in monitoring chronic health conditions.
The school nurse provides leadership for the provision of health services which includes developing plans for responding to emergencies and disasters and training staff to respond appropriately; delegation of care within applicable laws; delegation to others involves initial assessment, training, competency validation, supervision, and evaluation by the school nurse.
The school nurse provides screening and referral for health conditions include vision screening; nurses provide availability of resources to assure referral and follow-up.
The school nurse promotes a healthy school environment.
The school nurse implement precautions for blood borne pathogens and other infectious diseases.
The school nurse also assesses the physical environment of the school and takes action to improve health and safety.
The school nurse promotes health education by providing health information directly to individual students, groups of students or classes.
The school nurse is a member of the coordinated school health team that promotes the health and well being of school members through collaborative efforts.
The school nurse serves in a leadership role for health policies and programs.
As the health care expert within the school system, the school nurse takes a leadership role in the development and evaluation of school health policies.
The school nurse advocates for programs and policies that positively affect the health of students or impact the profession of school nursing.
The school nurse serves as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and health care providers.
The school nurse participates as the health expert on Individualized Education Plan and 504 teams.
The school nurse also communicates with community health providers and community health care agencies.
Paula Hall, RN BSN, Med, NCSN
Karen Pyeatt, RN BSN
Brenda Hogan, Nursing Services Secretary