School nurses also train others, such as showing staff how to perform … After a month of nursing interventions, the rate of absenteeism decreased dramatically and, within a year, medical exclusions had decreased by 99%. Let’s examine how modern school nurses meet these goals. According to the National Educational Association, the school nursing shortage is so severe that, in 29 states, there are more than 1,000 students per school nurse. What hasn’t changed is the notion that the foremost duty of the school nurse is to support student learning by keeping students healthy and safe. If a child gets hurt on the playground, you will be the first to see … To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram! It’s also about learning as much as you can before becoming a full-fledged nurse. They utilize education programs to foster problem-solving, communication skills, teamwork, and self-empowerment. They see mental health issues almost as frequently as they see physical ones. As children spend most of their waking hours in school, school nurses are on the front lines in the battle to keep children healthy. Private schools aren't mandated to have nurses. These moms and dads know a thing or two about shopping! Think school nurses can rest on their laurels once they've completed their licensing requirements? "If you work in a larger district, you could start as a school nurse, become the director of health and wellness, or work as a State School Nurse Consultant," explains Kohorst. They administer screenings for vision, hearing, BMI and scoliosis, and they run flu shot clinics. You might have caught on to a trend here: school nurse liability. Topics of education for today’s student body include anti-bullying campaigns, health promotion, and the prevention of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance use. This can include screenings for abuse, neglect, depression, and visual and/or hearing deficits… While many kids will show up at the nurse's office to have their mental health concerns addressed, those issues fall under the purview of the school counselor, with whom the nurse is usually working in tandem. Though some say having condoms available will encourage more sex, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that making condoms available to students in school only boosts the frequency with which students have sex with protection, but it doesn't increase the rate of sexual activity itself. Here are 50 things every nursing student should know from someone who’s been there before: 1. Unfortunately, finding coverage in those cases is seemingly impossible. 3. But as every seasoned nurse knows, there are some things nursing school just can’t teach you. Unfortunately, if a student doesn't have a note from a doctor and a parent saying they can receive a specific medication from the school nurse—even if it's an OTC one—they won't be getting it. "It can be difficult to find substitute school nurses, [but] we do have a few that are able to help out if I'm sick," says Kohorst. Schools throughout the country are impacted by the prevalence and complexity of children's health problems. What You Should Know About School Nurses. "It is actually a requirement in my state that RNs have 24-plus hours of continuing education every two years," says Kohorst. The first school nurse, Lina Rogers, began her work in New York City schools in the year 1902. 7 Online Resources School Nurses Should Know Author Posted by Ashley Waters on December 27, 2017 October 8, 2020. School nurses can connect children with insurance and healthcare providers. For some children, the school nurse is their only contact with a healthcare provider. Just remember nurses, all school districts are different and this is just a guideline. School nurses monitor diabetic students multiple times a day, administer medications for ADHD and other medical conditions, and perform hands-on tasks like urinary catheterization and toileting for disabled students. All Rights Reserved. They communicate with students’ pediatricians about concerns regarding attendance, parental noncompliance with medical goals, and suspected abuse. Think again. Today’s school nurse acts as a safety net for all students. School nurses are also responsible for job duties that help the entire school population stay healthy. Tracking and Preventing Communicable Diseases. Over the last century, the role of school nurse has evolved and become increasingly diverse. Believe everything you learn in school, kids nurses to put a familiar face to the child ’ s nurse! 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