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School nursing is 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; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively
collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning.” (National
Association of School Nurses, June, 1999.)
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Who is the School Nurse?
What Preparation Does the School Nurse Need?
What Does the School Nurse Do?
What Services Do School
Nurses Provide?
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Who is the School Nurse?
- A registered nurse (RN) licensed to practice nursing by the state board of nursing.
- A professional, accountable to practice in accordance with current
- Professional Standards of School Nursing Practice, as stated by the National Association of School Nurses
(NASN)
- state laws, rules and regulations
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A nursing professional who advocates for children’s health and safety within the educational setting.
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What Preparation Does the School Nurse Need?
The National Association of School Nurses recommends:
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A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
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School Nurse Certification through the National Board of Certification of School Nurses
A School Nurse needs expertise in the following areas:
- Pediatric, public health and mental health nursing with strong health promotion, assessment and referral skills
- Education and health laws impacting children
- Teaching strategies for the delivery of health education to students and staff
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What Does the School Nurse Do?
The primary role of the School Nurse is to support student learning. The nurse accomplishes this by implementing strategies that promote student and health and safety.
A School Nurse, with appropriate preparation, takes a leadership role is serving as the coordinator of all school health programs in the following manner:
- Health Services—serves as the coordinator of the health services program and
provides nursing care
- Health Education—provides health education to students, staff and parents
- Healthy Environment—identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment
- Nutritional Services—supports health food services programs
- Physical Education/Activity—promotes healthy physical education, sports policies and practices
- Counseling/Mental Health—provides health
counseling, assesses mental health needs, provides interventions and refers students to
appropriate school staff or community agencies
- Parent/Community Involvement—promotes community involvement in assuring a healthy school, serves as school liaison to a health advisory
committee
- Staff Wellness—provides health education and counseling, promotes healthy activities and environment for school staff
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What Services Do
School Nurses Provide?
As the health services expert, the School Nurse serves as the health professional for the school community and provides the following services:
- Illness, injury assessments and interventions
- Identification, assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of student health concerns
- Health assessments/participation in Individualized Education Plan development
- Pediatric nursing procedures: ventilators, gastrostomy feedings, tracheostomy care, catheterization
- Screening for health factors impacting student education
- Activities and education to promote health and prevent teen pregnancy, sexually
transmitted diseases, tobacco use and alcohol and substance abuse
- Chronic disease management and education
- Individualized Nursing Care Plans and services for students with disabilities and/or health conditions that interfere with learning
- Medication administration
- Assessment and interventions for students with mental health needs
- Crisis team participation
- Health curriculum recommendations
- Guidelines for school district health policies, goals and objectives
- School/community/health care provider liaison
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