Goals
1. Ensure access to primary health care
The school nurse provides care for injuries and acute illness for all students and long-term management of students with special health care needs. Responsibilities include assessment and treatment within the scope of professional nursing practice, communication with parents, referral to physicians, and provision or supervision of prescribed nursing care.
2. Provide a system for dealing with crisis medical situations
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. Responsibilities include the development of plans for responding to emergencies and disasters and confidential communication and documentation of student health information.
3. Provide mandated screening and immunization monitoring
Health screenings can decrease the negative effects of health problems on education by identifying students with potential underlying medical problems early and referring them for treatment as appropriate. Early identification, referral to the medical home, and use of appropriate community resources promote optimal outcomes.
4. Provide systems for identification and solution of students' health and educational problems
As a leader of the school health team, 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 the management of the problems in the school setting.
5. Provide comprehensive and appropriate health education
The school nurse provides health education by providing health information to individual students and groups of students through health education, science, and other classes.
6. Provide a healthful and safe school environment that facilitates learning.
The school nurse serves in a leadership role for health policies and programs. As a health care expert within the school system, the school nurse is a leader in the development and evaluation of school health policies. These policies include health promotion and protection, chronic disease management, coordinated school health programs, school wellness policies, crisis/disaster management, emergency medical condition management, mental health protection and intervention, acute illness management, and infectious disease prevention and management
7. Provide a system of evaluation of the effectiveness of the school health program
As the case manager for students with health problems, the school nurse ensures that there is adequate communication and collaboration among the family, physicians, and providers of community resources. This is a crucial interface for the pediatrician and the school nurse to ensure consistent, coordinated care.