NR 443 Week 4 DQ 1 Concerns for the School Nurse. A Graded. Chamberlain College Of Nursing.As the school nurse role continues to evolve, there are
... [Show More] increasingly more health concerns for the school
nurse. Does the locale make a difference in the problems, or are health problems in children and
adolescents universal? In some inner-city areas, poor nutrition is a prevalent issue. What do you think
are the biggest problems in your areas?
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(an instructor response)
Collapse Mark as Unread Concerns for the School Nurse Instructor Hamilton Email this
Author 2/18/2015 8:51:23 PM
Hello Class,
The purpose of this discussion is to assist you in considering the areas of concern for the school nurse
role. Many parents and nurses do not consider what a school nurse does in a day and it is very different
that most people think it is. Consider the following questions as you do your research.
1. Look up the description of the school nurse. Did you find anything surprising or disconcerting about
the role and responsibilities?
2. Do you think the school nurse role is utilized appropriately in your local school system? Why or why
not?
3. If funding isn't a concern what do you think should be the highest priority of a school nurse? Why?
Have fun exploring this special role, it is truly unique. Recently, I have noticed school districts reaching
out to the public health department for staffing schools in my area….I look forward to your posts and
views. See you in the threads~Dr Hamilton
Class: You may begin posting in this TD on Sunday, March 22, 2015 for credit.
Respond
Collapse Mark as Read RE: Concerns for the School Nurse Erica Meyerhofer Email this
Author 3/22/2015 4:48:32 PM
1. Look up the description of the school nurse. Did you find anything surprising or disconcerting about
the role and responsibilities?
The school nurse must be adverse based on the following responsibilities: promoting health and safety,
provide case management when necessary initiating outside referrals, collaboration between students,
family, and health care providers, intervention with actual or potential health problems, teaching,
advocacy for the students, and self-management (Nies & McEwen, 2011). They are to be the link
between school to home to community health care provider and back providing continuum of care.
Training in injury prevention, tobacco use, substance abuse, sex education, tattoos and body piercings,
dental health, physical education, immunizations, vision, hearing, emergency care, acute illness care,
mediation management, special needs, documentation, nutrition, eating disorders, social services,
psychological care, violence, and health promotion sum up what a school nurse needs to be
knowledgeable in (Nies & McEwen, 2011). I found it surprising and disconcerting that school nurses are
not required to hold a master’s degree. I’m glad that at minimum they must hold BSN degree but based
on the job description I believe additional training should be required especially based on the target age
of the group and how quickly things are changing for our youth.
2. Do you think the school nurse role is utilized appropriately in your local school system? Why or why
not
We do not have a school nurse in our local school system to it is not utilized. I fully understand why the
school my kids attend does not have a school nurse. They are a private school and do not receive funding
to afford a full-time school nurse so the school secretary has to triage the students and hand out
medications. I never put much thought into school nursing until now. At the school my kids attend
teachers from the local community college with their nursing students teach the kids about puberty but
there is not any teaching regarding sexual behavior that is left to the parents.
3. If funding isn't a concern what do you think should be the highest priority of a school nurse? Why?
Healthy People 2020 list the following as primary priority areas of concern:
Alcohol and Drug Use, Injury and Violence (including suicide), Tobacco Use, Poor Nutrition, Lack of
Activity, Sexual Behavior (Nies & McEwen, 2011).
Sexual Behavior should be the top priority for the school nurse to teach to our children. Why? Our
children aged 15-24 account for ½ of the 19.7 million newly contracted STD’s and they only represent
25% of the sexually experienced population (Bratsis, 2014). Those who have been diagnosed with an
STD are two to five times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV a preventable diagnosis that will lead to
death.
Bratsis, M. E. (2014). Teens and STDs. Science Teacher, 81(3), 74-75
Nies, M. A. & McEwen M. (2011). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of
populations (5th ed.). St Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.
Respond
(an instructor response)
Collapse Mark as Read RE: Concerns for the School Nurse Instructor Hamilton Email this
Author 3/23/2015 6:31:28 PM
Erica and Class
School nurses are responsible for providing care for students, being the advocate of the student, as well
as the educator, case manager and community liaison for students. School nurses are also needed to
have the ability to supervise others, to practice nursing independently, and to delegate care.
~Dr.Hamilton
Respond
Collapse Mark as Read RE: Concerns for the School Nurse Jeremy Langley Email this
Author 3/23/2015 6:28:20 PM
Dr. Hamilton and Class,
The school nurse "needs education in specific areas, such as growth and development, public health,
mental health nursing, case management, program management, family theory, leadership, and cultural
sensitivity, to effectively perform their roles" (Nies & McEwen, 2011). A school nurse's job is usually
independent and autonomous but they function as part of the interdisciplinary team in a school. "They
also need to be a care provider, student advocate, educator, and community liaison" (Nies & McEwen,
2011). I was surprised to learn that a school nurse is much more than someone that places band aids on
scratches and to ensure that children receive their medication. They have many more responsibilities
than I could have ever imagined and the importance of understanding growth and development and
knowing the current issues that are facing the children is so important for the school nurse to be aware
of. "School nurses are involved in policy-making activities at both the local and state level" (Chamberlain,
2015).
I think that the school nurse is utilized appropriately in my counties school system but I don't think there
is enough of them to be committed to one school. There appears to be a shortage or lack of funds to
employ enough of them. I have heard from other parents that some of the schools have to share a nurse
between other schools but both schools that my daughter and son attend have full time school nurses. I
was talking to my 11 year old daughter and it sounds like they provide education to the kids and talk to
them about current health issues. I also know that earlier this year the school nurse taught the sex and
puberty education class because my and I had to sign a permission slip for my daughter to attend. It does
appear that the school nurse is being utilized appropriately.
If funding was not an issue, I think the highest priority for a school nurse should be educating children
about obesity and proper exercise and diet. I see children who are over weight and don't fully
understand that what they eat now and how they exercise now will affect them as adults and will likely
become a habit that is difficult to change. This is becoming a national problem and this is where I think
school nurses could help and why not set up a class after school where parents are invited to attend with
their child to learn good eating and exercising habits.
Chamberlain, (2015). Community health settings and promoting healthy partnerships with aggregates.
Week 4 Lesson
Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2011). Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of
populations (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.
Respond
(an instructor response)
Collapse Mark as Read RE: Concerns for the School Nurse Instructor Hamilton Email this
Author 3/23/2015 6:34:27 PM
So true Jeremy, tomorrow I am going to the state capitol for political action day which in Illinois is when
nurses converge and talk with legislators, sit in on the house votes, and have a voice. Last year this was a
hot topic item, I noticed this year the Nurse Practice Act and APN is the hot topic...so I am wondering if
the school nurse bills were tabled or passed...I will be curious to see. Thanks for the post~Dr Hamilton
Respond
Collapse Mark as Unread RE: Concerns for the School Nurse Arthel Tamakloe Email
this Author 3/23/2015 9:26:08 PM
Public Law requires school nurses to screen or identify children in need of special education and related
services, and complete an Individualized Education Program that is developed by an interdisciplinary
team and includes educational goals and specific services to be provided (Nies & McEwen, 2011).
The school nurse has a unique role in the provision of school health services for children with special
health needs, including children with chronic illnesses and disabilities of various degrees of severity.
These children are included in the regular school classroom setting as authorized by federal and state
laws. The school nurse must assess the student's health status, identify health problems that may create
a barrier to educational progress, and develop a health care plan for management of the problems in the
school setting. I applaud and appreciate what school nurse does on a daily basis. School nurse is
frequently overlooked and under appreciated.
If funding for more nurses was not an issue, teach good hand washing to prevent spread of infection and
and give guidance in nutrition this is important given that 17 percent of U.S. children ages 2 to 19 are
obese.
Reference:
Nies, M. A. & McEwen M. (2011). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of
populations (5th ed.). St Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.
Respond Edit
Collapse Mark as Unread Concerns for the School Nurse Christina Segura Email this
Author 3/22/2015 2:48:31 PM
Dr. Hamilton & Class,
School nurses have numerous evolving roles and responsibilities including medication administration,
care provider, counselor, student advocate, educator, community liaison, case manager, health
consultant, mental health supporter, emergency preparedness, injury/emergency triage and treatment,
health services, attendance tracking, and resource coordinator (Nies & McEwen, 2011, p. 598). While
some childhood health concerns may be universal, location can influence the primary concerns of the
student community population. Just as with Community Health Nurses, the school nurse must become
familiar with demographics, statistics, economics, and health concerns prevalent to the area. For
example, I recall in New Jersey, most classes had nut allergy warnings on the classroom door. Here in
Southeast Alabama, a main peanut producer, it seems the nut allergies are extremely rare in our current
school. In my area, nutritional issues are a primary concern. Hunger and obesity coexist due to poverty
and poor food choices. In 2012, four of the six elementary schools had 48% - 61% of the student
population eligible for free and reduced lunches (Great Schools, n.d). Additionally, this lunch program
also includes before school breakfast. In recognition of this problem, during extended holiday breaks [Show Less]