NASN School Nurse

Human health is being impacted by anthropogenic (human-made) climate change. This article describes four ways that climate change may affect mental well-being in school-age children. First, natural disasters-such as more frequent and intense tornadoes and flash floods-may have a direct influence on mental well-being by contributing to acute anxiety and distress. Second, indirect effects of severe weather-including changes in social support systems-may affect mental well-being by increasing isolation. Third, children may suffer feelings of anxiety or depression if they perceive a sense of powerlessness to solve the challenges of a changing climate...

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is the gold standard for the management of urinary retention. Students with special healthcare needs who require CIC can be supported by school nurses who have knowledge and expertise in the management of CIC including an understanding of available products, reinforcement of proper technique, and resources available to promote student independence. This article will discuss the variety and unique features of CIC products and tips to overcoming barriers in bladder management...

This is the second in a series of articles looking at school health data collection from identification of data points to utilizing data to share your story and submit your data to contribute to the National School Health Data Set: Every Student Counts! This article focuses on using data to share your story. Data storytelling versus data visualization will be discussed as well as HOW schools nurses can utilize easy access programs to support this process. Building on the first article in the series, the school nurse will not only identify the WHY and WHAT related to data collection but also HOW to link school health data to educational data to increase the audience of the story and follow data sharing regulations...

Climate change is having an unprecedented influence on human health. For example, increased frequency of storms with excessive precipitation may contribute to flooding, which contributes to increased water-related dermatological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory illnesses. Some of these water-related illnesses, which can be transmitted via recreational waterborne pathways, may be seen in school-age children. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the impact some recreational water-related illnesses have on school-age children's health and to provide school nurses with information on the signs and symptoms of these illnesses as well as prevention tips nurses may wish to share with parents...

A sense of belonging in school is fostered when students feel included. School nurses can establish an inclusive school atmosphere where students feel safe, supported, accepted, and valued. The language choices of school nurses play a key role in fostering such an environment. Through consciously using language that promotes respect, acceptance, justice, and equity, nurses can support student well-being. Nurses may be using embedded terminologies and outdated language that promotes exclusion but can learn and model inclusive language practices such as cultural humility, calling in, and respecting pronouns...

NASN, with generous funding from Kaiser Permanente (KP) and partnered with the Institute for Educational Leadership, developed and implemented the Champions for School Health (CSH) grant initiative. The CSH initiative awarded 54 Implementation Grants in two funding cycles in 2022, funding school districts and community-based organizations (CBOs) to increase access to the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine as well as school-required immunizations and to increase vaccine confidence among underserved populations in KP's footprint: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

School nurses play a major role in school readiness and emergency management, collaborating in safety assessment of schools and leading efforts to ensure the overall wellness of each child. Sudden cardiac arrest is a growing concern among students, and schools are a place of gathering, not only of our students and educators but also for the community, as family and friends support children in performances, sporting events, and religious or cultural activities. Implementing a school Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) provides a lifesaving resource for the entire community...

Skin infections in high school athletes pose a risk of transmission to other student athletes. Therefore, it is important to promptly identify possible skin infections and refer them to the healthcare provider for treatment so athletes can return to play quickly and with little interruption to the team. Common skin infections include bacterial infections such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, viral infections such as herpes simplex and molluscum contagiosum, and fungal infections such as tinea corporis and capitis...

This is the first in a series of three articles looking at school health data collection from identification of data points to utilizing data to share your story and submitting your data to contribute to the National School Health Data Set: Every Student Counts! Many school nurses cringe at the mention of data collection. However, everything we do as school nurses is data driven. Every documented assessment, observation, and conversation provides the school nurse with data. The barriers often noted to participating in formal data collection efforts are time, workload, access to an electronic health record, and not understanding the WHY, WHAT, and HOW ...

School nurses who are considering a terminal degree in nursing have two options, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD). There are several factors for school nurses to consider when determining which terminal degree is best suited for them. This article focuses on the relevance of a DNP degree to school nursing, by first reviewing the evolution of DNP programs and then pivoting to discussions by three school nurses on why they chose this terminal degree and the projects completed during their courses of study...

Membership as a Fellow in the National Academy of School Nursing (FNASN) is the NASN's highest recognition award. At the 2023 NASN Conference, five new Fellows were inducted and now add FNASN to their credentials. This group of exemplary school nurse professionals contributes to school nursing practice in many ways that crisscross NASN's Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. They each have chosen unique pathways to provide service. The 2023 NASN Fellows are: Eileen Gavin, New Jersey; Jenny Gormley, Massachusetts; Lynne Meadows, Georgia; Kathy Reiner, Colorado; and Sharonlee Trefry, Vermont...

Medication administration is one of many duties and responsibilities of school nurses and involves both scheduled and as-needed (prn) medications. When administering medications, school nurses also experience unscheduled student health room visits, as well as interruptions such as staff member inquiries, miscellaneous phone calls, and occasional safety drills, to name a few. These distractions, inherent to the school nursing position, can lead to medication errors and pose a risk to students. This article describes the concept of a health care sterile cockpit (red square) and a school district's use of innovation in the health room to improve medication safety and reduce errors...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Abdominal pain and discomfort are common reasons students visit the school health office. Abdominal pain, in children, may be related to gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease (CD) or disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). Both CD and DGBIs, formerly known as functional abdominal pain disorders, are both prevalent in the pediatric population. Manifestations, presentation, and management of these disorders overlap and will be reviewed in this article. Due to their chronic nature, school nurses should be aware of both the management and complications associated with CD and DGBIs...

Students visit school health offices with a variety of complaints, and while some may be minor, others may be more pressing. The challenge for the school nurse is being able to differentiate between the two. This article features a case study of a fourth-grade elementary student who presented to the school nurse with a sudden onset of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a rapid cardiac arrhythmia that originates above the ventricles in the heart. The student's complaint was a "racing heart," and it was her first time experiencing a cardiac episode...