School Nurses: Caring for Others. Caring for Ourselves.
Would your school counselor, administrator, or other school personnel be able to accurately describe the role you play in your school(s)? Do you have your “elevator speech” ready when opportunities present themselves for you to inform others of the indispensable role you play in supporting the academic success of all students? What road map do you use to guide your professional school nursing practice? When was the last time you reflected on your personal mission statement for your practice?
Having answers to these questions is critical for school nursing practice in the 21st century. How you answer these questions provides insight into how you care for your students; taking action to change answers you do not particularly like is caring for your professional self.
School nurses focus on the students – all components of your practice target promoting and protecting student health, the behind-the-scenes prep work for their academic success. School nurses know that better health leads to better learning.
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Go to www.schoolnurseday.org for additional National School Nurse Day campaign materials.
To inform all practice decisions, professional school nursing practice demands a commitment to lifelong learning to ensure all of school nursing practice is evidence-based. We must not forget our public health roots: providing population based care requires attention to the social determinants of health and your personal cultural competency; facilitating equitable access to health care to all students reflects moral social conscience; and contributing to meet national health goals demonstrates collaboration with the broader public health team.
"School nurses must be able to articulate their story"
Coordinating care for individual students requires intentional and transparent application of the nursing process, something only the school nurse can do: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of all student-centered care. School nurses must be able to articulate their story; in some ways the old saying “if it cannot be counted, it is not true” applies. School health services require evaluation, data collection, and research to create a visual depiction of the value of school nurses. In this era of education and healthcare reform, step out of the shadows and participate in leading innovative change advocating for strategies that improve the health of children and the larger school environment.
All of these critical components of school nursing practice are supported by the professional expectations outlined in the School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA & NASN, 2011). This soon-to-be revised document belongs on every school nurse desk. Additional support comes from your professional nursing specialty organization, NASN. And of course, support comes from state nurse practice acts, education law, and federal law.
Knowledge is power; power can change the health of every student you serve. Gain the knowledge you need to 1) succinctly articulate your role, 2) incorporate the key components of school nursing practice into your everyday practice, and 3) illuminate the critical role you play in creating the space for all students to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn. School nursing practice in the 21st century focuses on caring for all students and requires professional care of the school nurse.
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