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Definition of School Nursing: School nursing, a specialized practice of public health nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders that bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potentials. - NASN Approved June 2016.
School NursingSchool nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. Middle School can be a challenging time for pre-teen students and families.My goal is to make the transition go as smoothly as possible for students and families moving from elementary, to middle, and then onto high school. Every visit to the health office is an opportunity for me to educate your child about their physical and emotional well being: learning life lessons and healthy habits is key to becoming a well rounded adult.School nurses, as active members of the interdisciplinary student services team, facilitate positive 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.
School nursing is the pivotal component in continuity of care through the coordination, planning, provision, and assessment of school health services. School nurses use the nursing process, to implement strategies that promote student and staff health and safety. They develop team relationships within the school and with community health providers so that care is coordinated across settings to meet individual health needs and to avoid duplication of efforts and services.
The school nurse’s primary role is to support student learning by acting as an advocate and liaison between the home, the school, and the medical community regarding concerns that are likely to affect a student’s ability to learn. The school nurse provides comprehensive services in all eight components of a coordinated school health program. Components include: health services, health education, environment, nutrition, physical education/activity, counseling/mental health, parent/community involvement, and staff wellness.
School nurses are advocates for students, families, school staff, and the community. They facilitate positive responses to normal development, promote health and safety, and intervene with actual and potential health problems.
Finally, school nurses respect individual rights to be treated with dignity. School nurses understand the ethical and legal issues surrounding an individual’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Regardless of race, gender, social or economic status, culture, age, sexual orientation, disability, or religion, the school nurse treats all members of the school community equally.
“You can’t educate a child who isn’t healthy and you can’t keep a child healthy who isn’t educated”.Dr. Jocelyn Elders, 15th Surgeon General of the United States.
