Outcomes of preterm infants: morbidity replaces mortality. After the child's home, school represents the second most influential environment in a child's life. Over the past century, the role of the school nurse has expanded to include critical components, such as surveillance, chronic disease management, emergency preparedness, behavioral health assessment, ongoing health education, extensive case management, and much more. You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account. 93-112), specify disability rights and access to education, resulting in more children requiring and receiving nursing care and other health-related services in school.16,17. A correlational study of the relationship between a coordinated school health program and school achievement: a case for school health. The range of school health services varies by school district. Figure 1 shows how school health services … The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the important role school nurses play in promoting the optimal biopsychosocial health and well-being of school-aged children in the school setting. Under this approach, the school nurse has the responsibility to decide which nursing tasks may be delegated and to whom within the school setting, in accordance with state laws and regulations. The school nurse assists on health education curriculum development teams and may also provide programs for staff, families, and the community. Increasing numbers of students enter schools with chronic health conditions that require management during the school day. In addition, if a school determines that drug testing is a part of its program, school nurses should be included in school district and community planning, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of this testing program.15. Survival rates of preterm infants have increased to more than 80% of infants born at 26 weeks’ gestation and to more than 90% of infants born after 27 weeks’ gestation, resulting in an increase in the number of children with moderate to severe disabilities and learning or behavioral problems.18,19, Chronic illnesses also are on the rise. All policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, revised, or retired at or before that time. Policy statement: school-based health centers and pediatric practice. You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account. Increasing rates of obesity over the past several decades represent alarming risks for the current and future health of children and adolescents. There is a recognized relationship between health and learning, as there is between school nurse availability and student well-being and educational success.2–4 The role of the school nurse encompasses both health and educational goals.5–7 Students today may face family crises, homelessness, immigration, poverty, and violence, which increase both their physical and mental health needs. The school nurse provides leadership for the provision of health services13 As the health care expert within the school, the school nurse assesses the overall system of care and develops a plan for ensuring that health needs are met. By understanding the benefi ts, roles, and responsibilities of school nurses working as a team with the school physician, as well as their contributions to school-aged children, pediatricians can collaborate with, support, and promote school nurses in their own communities, thus improving the health, wellness, and safety of children and adolescents. The school nurse may also coordinate with school counselors in developing suicide prevention plans. role of the school nurse in providing school health services. The American Academy of Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this publication. Available at: Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. In some schools, a pediatric or family nurse practitioner functions as the school nurse and may provide additional services. Although the position has taken on a more comprehensive approach, the core focus of keeping students healthy and in school remains unchanged. The impact of social determinants of health are felt in the school setting and well known to school nurses.2,3 School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and lifelong achievement and health of students. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. The presence of registered nurses in schools is correlated with fewer immunization exemptions in schools.30 School nurses can improve vaccine uptake among students and staff by providing accurate information about vaccines. School nurses also promote health in local school health councils. Feedback mechanisms regarding student response to the treatment plan in school are critical to timely medical management in areas such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, life-threatening allergies, asthma, and seizures as well as for the growing population of children with behavioral health concerns. School nurses lead in the development of policies, programs, and procedures for the provision of school health services at an individual or district level (NASN, 2016a), relying on student-centered, evidence-based practice and performance data to inform care (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009). Health education topics may include nutrition, exercise, smoking prevention and cessation, oral health, prevention of sexually transmitted infections and other infectious diseases, substance use and abuse, immunizations, adolescent pregnancy prevention, parenting, and others. This role includes providing preventive and screening services, health education and assistance with decision-making about health, and immunization against preventable diseases. They facilitate access to Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program to help families and students enroll in state health insurance programs and may assist in finding a medical home for each student who needs one. Recommendations are offered to facilitate the working relationship between the school nurse and the child's medical home. There should be a process by which additional certification or licensure for the school nurse is established by the appropriate state board. Academic achievement, improved attendance, and better graduation rates can be a direct result of a coordinated team effort among the medical, family, and educational homes all recognizing that good health and strong education cannot be separated. Identification and management of students' chronic health care needs that affect educational achievement. Health Information Exchange requirements, as defined in stage 3 of Meaningful Use, should permit the direct exchange of school-related information collected in the pediatrician’s office at each visit, including attendance and health problems contributing to absenteeism.