An Exploratory Study of an Online Vaccine Education Program in Middle-School Students to Promote Vaccine Acceptance

Background: While vaccines have reduced the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine hesitancy threatens the re-emergence of childhood infectious diseases. Purpose: This randomized controlled study evaluated an online vaccine education program to advance vaccine acceptance among middle-school students. Methodology: Study participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group who viewed the VEP videos or to a comparison group who viewed a science-based video unrelated to vaccines. Results: Knowledge scores improved in both groups and more favorable shifts in vaccine-related beliefs and attitudes occurred in the intervention than in the comparison group. Conclusions: This program can be feasibly delivered via an online platform to middle school students, resulting in shifts in vaccine-related knowledge, beliefs and attitudes. Implications: Delivering evidence-based content to instruct about vaccine effectiveness and safety is an area in which school nurses have demonstrated an important role as a resource for patient education to promote vaccine advocacy.

An Untenable Burden: Exploring Experiences of Secondary School Nurses Who Encounter Young People with Mental Health Problems

School nurses have reported stress and worry caring for young people experiencing mental health problems, but why this occurs and how they respond has not been well-explored. In this study researchers generated a substantive theory of the experiences of secondary school nurses who encountered young people with mental health problems using the original method of grounded theory. Thirty-one Western Australian school nurse participants reported that students presented with complex mental and social health needs that were not easily resolved. This was conceptualized as an untenable burden. Participants countered this by engaging in the three-stage process of tactical prioritizing. During an initial period of strategic assimilation into the school and broader community, participants referred students to external service providers. This was frequently inadequate, and participants found themselves grappling with unmet student mental health needs. Participants responded by implementing nursing strategies for optimizing outcomes in the lives of young people, while simultaneously engaging in managing self to support their own well-being.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students: A Focus Group Study with Junior High School Nurses

LBGTQ+ students often miss the support and information they need in the school nursing, but little is known about junior high school (JHS) nurses' work with LGBTQ+ students. 15 JHS nurses were interviewed in focus groups about their perceptions of supporting LGBTQ+ students. Four interconnected themes were identified with inductive thematic analysis: (1) JHS nurses' professional identity and practice; (2) Recognition of sexual and gender diversity in school; (3) Family acceptance process; and (4) LGBTQ+ students as school nursing clients. JHS nurses self-identified as accepting professionals, but having limited skills, knowledge, and education needed in supporting LGBTQ+ students. Supporting LGBTQ+ students is a complex phenomenon, and to enhance JHS nurses' competence in providing care for these students, sexual and gender diversity needs to be included in evidence-based nursing information sources, covered in nursing education, and the school needs to be secured as LGBTQ+ safe place.

Elementary School Nurses' Perceptions Regarding Menstruation Education: An Exploratory Study

Menarche can be a difficult transition for young people. With appropriate education, youth can feel more positively about the menstrual experience. Since many elementary teachers are not equipped with menstrual health knowledge, the education falls to the school nurse. However, it is unknown if school nurses feel comfortable communicating about menstruation with young people. The purpose of this study was to explore school nurses' perceptions regarding menstrual health education in elementary schools (grades K-5).An online mixed-methods survey was established using Qualtrics. Through snowball sampling, 30 elementary school nurses responded. Using the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) as a framework, a deductive semantic thematic analysis was used to identify themes for each question.Data suggested that elementary school nurses would participate in professional development regarding menstrual health and hygiene. School health nurses are receiving limited knowledge/skills surrounding pedagogy and are not familiar with cultural differences when it comes to menstrual health.

A School Nurse's Experience With Supraventricular Tachycardia

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. It was also the school nurse's first time encountering this chief complaint. The article will describe the student's presentation to the health office, will discuss the school nurse's assessments along with SVT management techniques, and will conclude with the student's outcome and a sample individualized healthcare plan.

Original Research: Concussions at School: The Experiences and Knowledge of School Nurses

BACKGROUND

School nurses' knowledge about and confidence in managing concussions are important to ensure continuity of care between a student's school and home environments. This mixed-methods study explored concussion-related knowledge, confidence, and management experiences among urban and rural school nurses in Washington State.

METHODS

Public school nurses, identified via state educational service district websites and recruited by e-mail, completed an online survey assessing their concussion knowledge and confidence levels. Following the survey, a subset of respondents participated in semistructured interviews aimed at exploring their confidence in managing concussions.

RESULTS

Of the 945 school nurses to whom the survey was sent, 315 responded (33% response rate). Most survey respondents held an RN license (89.6%) and were from urban areas (90.8%). Overall, the respondents exhibited accurate concussion knowledge; only one significant difference was noted based on rural-urban status. Correct responses were given for most questions (67.4% to 98.7% correct responses). In interviews with a subset of six school nurses, emergent themes pertained to communication, assessment, and monitoring, and the nurse's role in postconcussion management. Barriers can include a lack of relevant school policies, low concussion awareness among teachers and parents, and limited resources.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings suggest that school nurses possess high levels of concussion knowledge and confidence in managing concussions. Continuing education remains important to ensure that current research and evidence inform practice regarding ongoing concussion management among school-age children.

A conceptual framework for effective dissemination and implementation of a policy on school health in rural Nigeria

BACKGROUND

There is a marked inequality between children in public schools and their counterparts in private schools in terms of school healthcare in rural Nigeria. This is because of the ineffective dissemination and implementation of a policy on school health in public schools. Effective dissemination and implementation of such policy can reduce the prevalence of risky health behaviours amongst young people and have a positive effect on academic performance.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for the effective dissemination and implementation of a policy on school health in rural Nigeria.

METHODS

This study consisted of four phases as follows: an empirical phase, concept classification, framework development and critical reflection on the conceptual framework. An exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used to develop the framework. The work of Dickoff et al. was used to classify concepts from the empirical phase. Chinn and Kramer's nursing theory on generative method was used for the development of the conceptual framework and for critical review.

RESULTS

The framework consisted of six components, namely, departments of health and education (context); health or educational professionals in the ministries (agents); health or educational practitioners, pupils, parents and communities (recipients); ratification of a policy on school health, stakeholder engagement, training as well as monitoring and evaluation (process); communication, collaborative partnership, commitment and support (dynamics); and effective dissemination and implementation of a policy on school health.

CONCLUSION

The framework would be a firm foundation and contribution to improve the health of children in public schools, and well-being and academic performance that would be a good feat towards the future endeavour. The findings of the study are pertinent to school health nursing practice, education and research.

Building Bridges for Asthma Care Program: A School-Centered Program Connecting Schools, Families, and Community Health-Care Providers

Asthma imposes tremendous burden on children, families, and society. Successful management requires coordinated care among children, families, health providers, and schools. Building Bridges for Asthma Care Program, a school-centered program to coordinate care for successful asthma management, was developed, implemented, and evaluated. The program consists of five steps: (1) identify students with asthma; (2) assess asthma risk/control; (3) engage the family and student at risk; (4) provide case management and care coordination, including engagement of health-care providers; and (5) prepare for next school year. Implementation occurred in 28 schools from two large urban school districts in Colorado and Connecticut. Significant improvements were noted in the proportions of students with completed School Asthma Care Plans, a quick-relief inhaler at school, Home Asthma Action/Treatment Plans and inhaler technique (p < .01 for all variables). Building Bridges for Asthma Care was successfully implemented extending asthma care to at-risk children with asthma through engagement of schools, health providers, and families.

Addressing Self-Injury in Schools, Part 2: How School Nurses Can Help With Supporting Assessment, Ongoing Care, and Referral for Treatment

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the deliberate, self-inflicted damage of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially or culturally sanctioned. School nurses are often a first point of contact for young people experiencing mental health challenges, and yet they often report they lack knowledge and training to provide care for persons who engage in NSSI. In the second of two parts, this article offers a strategy for brief assessment of NSSI, as well as reflection on two case studies and how to offer support, ongoing care, and referral for treatment to youth who engage in self-injury.

The STARS Program: Social Empowerment Training for Preadolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the last several years. School nursing interventions need to be developed, implemented, and evaluated to address complexities experienced by this population. The STARS curriculum (Social Empowerment Training and Responsibilities for Students with ADHD) is a nursing intervention designed to improve perceptions of scholastic competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct in preadolescents diagnosed with ADHD. It consists of eight sessions with the theme of social empowerment training woven throughout the curriculum. The support group concept, with children helping children, initiated dynamic conversation as the participants creatively problem-solved and developed solutions to their difficulties.

Controversies in Pediatric Asthma

Pediatric asthma, the most common chronic disease of childhood, remains a significant burden to the health care system. Although there are guidelines for the management of pediatric asthma, there remain several controversies about how best to manage asthma in the primary care setting, and how to prevent asthma exacerbations and subsequent emergency department visits and hospitalizations. In this article, we address four of these controversies: use of written asthma treatment plans, the role of long-acting beta-agonists, spirometry and peak flow measurements in disease management, and engagement of school nurses in the health care team. We provide suggestions and guidance related to these topics for the pediatric primary care provider. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(3):e128-e134.].

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: A Call to Action for School Nurses

Social determinants of health (SDOH), the conditions in which children are born, grow, live, work or attend school, and age, impact child health and contribute to health disparities. School nurses must consider these factors as part of their clinical practice because they significantly and directly influence child well-being. We provide clinical guidance for addressing the SDOH when caring for children with three common health problems (obesity, insufficient sleep, and asthma). Given their unique role as school-based clinical experts, care coordinators, and student advocates, school nurses are well suited to serve as leaders in addressing SDOH.

Four Lessons Learned From School Nurses in New Jersey About Building a Culture of Health

Building a Culture of Health will give all members of our society the opportunity to lead healthier lives. To achieve this aim, more stakeholders in the community-residents, elected officials, community-based nonprofits, law enforcement, and schools-need to be engaged in addressing the health challenges in our communities. Moreover, all community stakeholders have to think and act "upstream" by addressing the social determinants of health in their communities. Discussed in this article are some of the lessons that are being learned from the "upstream" actions of school nurses in New Jersey about building a Culture of Health.

There's a New Alphabet in Town: ESSA and Its Implications for Students, Schools, and School Nurses

The 2015 passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides state education agencies with more local control over educational planning, requires development of state accountability plans, and provides opportunities for advocacy surrounding school nursing-sensitive indicators of student success. Federal Title I, II, and IV funds are available for state and local education agency utilization in meeting educational needs of impoverished students and for development of high-quality instructional and support personnel. As Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, school nurses can utilize ESSA Title funding to positively impact chronic absenteeism, school climate, and school nurse staffing. ESSA can be a resource for funding school health services and professional education. This article will assist school nurses in better understanding ESSA and how funding is allocated to states and local education agencies.

What Barriers and Facilitators Do School Nurses Experience When Implementing an Obesity Intervention?

A recent evaluation of a school nurse-led obesity intervention demonstrated a 5% implementation rate. The purpose of this study was to explore school nurses' perceived barriers to and facilitators of the intervention in order to understand reasons for the low implementation rate. Methods included semi-structured individual interviews with school nurses. Data were analyzed using content analysis and heat mapping. Nineteen nurses participated and eight themes were identified. Parental and administrative gatekeeping, heavy nurse workload, obesogenic environments, and concerns about obesity stigma were barriers to implementation. Teamwork with parents and school staff was a key facilitator of implementation. Nurses also noted the importance of cultural considerations and highlighted the need to tailor the intervention to the unique needs of their school environment and student population. These findings suggest that for school nurses to play a key role in school-based obesity interventions, barriers must be identified and addressed prior to program implementation.

The effectiveness of assertiveness training for school-aged children on bullying and assertiveness level

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an assertive training for school-aged children on peer bullying and assertiveness.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A quasi-experimental design using pre- and post-testing was conducted. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, an assertiveness scale, and the peer victimization scale. The training program was comprised of eight sessions which were implemented to intervention group.

RESULTS

Descriptive characteristics were not statistically different between the groups (p>0.05). The peer victimization victim dimension results show that post-test mean scores of the students in the intervention group were lower than the pre-test mean scores (p<0.05). For the control group, no significant change was found in the pre-test and post-test mean scores (p>0.05). A comparison of the mean pre-test/post-test scores of peer-victimization bully dimension of the students' intervention and control groups revealed that the mean post-test scores of the students in the each group decreased (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

An assertiveness training program increased the assertiveness level and reduced the state of being victims, but did not affect the state of being bullies.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The results of this study can help children acquire assertive behaviors instead of negative behaviors such as aggression and shyness, and help them to build effective social communication.

School Nurses' Experiences and Perceptions of Healthy Eating School Environments

School nurses provide health promotion and health services within schools, as healthy children have a greater potential for optimal learning. One of the school nurses' role is in encouraging healthy eating and increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables in the school. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe school nurses' perceptions of their role in promoting increased fruit and vegetable consumption in the school setting. One avenue to increased availability of fruits and vegetables in schools is Farm to School programs mandated by the Federal government to improve the health of school children. School nurses are optimally positioned to work with Farm to School programs to promote healthy eating. A secondary aim was to explore school nurses' knowledge, experiences and/or perceptions of the Farm to School program to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in the school setting. Three themes emerged from the focus groups: If There Were More of Me, I Could Do More; Food Environment in Schools; School Nurses Promote Health. School nurses reported that they addressed health issues more broadly in their roles as educator, collaborator, advocate and modeling healthy behaviors. Most of the participants knew of Farm to School programs, but only two school nurses worked in schools that participated in the program. Consequently, the participants reported having little or no experiences with the Farm to School programs.

School Nurse-Delivered Adolescent Relationship Abuse Prevention

BACKGROUND

Project Connect is a national program to build partnerships among public health agencies and domestic violence services to improve the health care sector response to partner and sexual violence. Pennsylvania piloted the first school nurse-delivered adolescent relationship abuse intervention in the certified school nurses' office setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing this prevention intervention.

METHODS

In 5 schools in Pennsylvania, school nurses completed a survey before and 1 year after receiving training on implementing the intervention as well as a phone interview. Students seeking care at the nurses' offices completed a brief anonymous feedback survey after their nurse visit.

RESULTS

The school nurses adopted the intervention readily, finding ways to incorporate healthy relationship discussions into interactions with students. School nurses and students found the intervention to be acceptable. Students were positive in their feedback. Barriers included difficulty with school buy-in and finding time and private spaces to deliver the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A school nurse healthy relationships intervention was feasible to implement and acceptable to the students as well as the implementing nurses. While challenges arose with the initial uptake of the program, school nurses identified strategies to achieve school and student support for this intervention.

The Role of School Health Services in Addressing the Needs of Students With Chronic Health Conditions

Children and adolescents in the United States spend many hours in school. Students with chronic health conditions (CHCs) may face lower academic achievement, increased disability, fewer job opportunities, and limited community interactions as they enter adulthood. School health services provide safe and effective management of CHCs, often for students with limited access to health care. A systematic review to assess the role of school health services in addressing CHCs among students in Grades K-12 was completed using primary, peer-reviewed literature published from 2000 to 2015, on selected conditions: asthma, food allergies, diabetes, seizure disorders, and poor oral health. Thirty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria and results were synthesized; however, 38 were on asthma. Direct access to school nursing and other health services, as well as disease-specific education, improved health and academic outcomes among students with CHCs. Future research needs to include standardized definitions and data collection methods for students with CHCs.

Insulin Pumps: What Every School Nurse Needs to Know

The results of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial revolutionized the care of people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The era of “tight control” of blood sugars to decrease microvascular complications dawned. The subsequent technological development of insulin pumps has made it possible for individuals with Type 1 DM, as well as those with Type 2 who are insulin dependent, to keep their blood sugars in a more normal range. Children of all ages with Type 1 DM have been switching from multiple daily injections of insulin to insulin pumps. School nurses who have not had a child with a pump certainly will in the near future. It is important for school nurses to understand the function and possible complications of using an insulin pump to assist and support children in their transition to pump therapy. School nurses need to be aware of available technical support resources for insulin pumps should problems arise at school with pump management.

The Lived Experience of Violence: Using Storytelling as a Teaching Tool With Middle School Students

This qualitative study explored 8th-grade students’ responses to hearing stories about the lived experience of violence. A convenience sample of 13 students attending health education classes at a public middle school was used. After hearing each story, students answered a series of questions using the process of free writing. Free writing is a technique that allows students to explore their thoughts and reactions while promoting critical thinking. Student free writing samples were analyzed using a process of constant comparison. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) students gain insights into the realities of violence through hearing these stories, (b) students respond on an emotional level to both the stories and the storytellers, and (c) students respond positively to and are engaged by these stories. The findings lend support to the use of storytelling in teaching youth about violence. School nurses can develop and implement violence prevention education programs using the storytelling model, seek grant and community support for such programs, and conduct further research into the use of the storytelling model.

Ethical Problems Experienced by School Nurses

This study explored school nurses’ experience of ethical conflict in school nursing through interviews with six school nurses. The study examined how school nurses resolved ethical problems and the rationale used to resolve them. Emergent themes of ethical problems were professional relationship conflicts, delegation to and supervision of health assistants, child protection reporting, maintaining confidentiality, Do Not Resuscitate policy, and pressure to work outside of nursing practice standards. School nurses did not use ethical decision-making models in resolving conflict but demonstrated the use of professional standards, ethical principles, and personal values as rationale to resolve ethical problems. Results of this study suggested that school nurses would benefit from additional knowledge about ethical decision-making models. School nurses would also profit from hearing each other’s voices through dialogue about ethical problems and decision making.

Caring for Children With Cystic Fibrosis: A Collaborative Clinical and School Approach

Earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments have improved both morbidity and mortality associated with cystic fibrosis, making regular school attendance a reality. School nurses have a unique opportunity to assist students with cystic fibrosis successfully manage their disease. Medical treatment for cystic fibrosis can be complex, leaving students and families in need of health consultation and support. The clinic and school nurse each brings a unique perspective to cystic fibrosis care management. Working to understanding perspectives across settings and looking for ways to collaborate through mutual planning and goal setting is an ideal way to support families and promote achievement of optimal health status for students.

The Smallpox Threat: The School Nurse’s Role

Today, with the threat of bioterrorism and war, there is a new dimension to the traditional role of the school nurse. The smallpox threat to public health will invoke the school nurse’s role as an educator, liaison, and consultant in the community. This article discusses smallpox, the vaccination process, adverse effects, and postvaccination care. In addition to the role of educator, the school nurse has the role of a liaison between the school and the local health department. The school nurse also plays a vital role in school health policy development and implementation. Being prepared and educated makes our nation less vulnerable to these threats and will assist in keeping our children and communities safe.

Increasing School Nurse Awareness of Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects only females, can cause various physical, emotional, and educational disabilities. This disorder may go undiagnosed until school age or later. Short stature and lack of spontaneous puberty are common characteristics and can lead to teasing by peers. Some experience attention deficit and the inability to notice social cues that can be misinterpreted as behavioral issues. Others have visual-spatial deficits that can lead to math learning disabilities and difficulty driving. Because the child with Turner syndrome often has a higher verbal than nonverbal intelligence, learning disabilities may be difficult to identify and often are overlooked. The school nurse, through mandated screenings and routine student office visits, may be the first to recognize Turner syndrome. School nurses need to be aware of this disorder and related educational disabilities to provide early intervention to maximize student health and educational success.

Combining Health Promotion Classroom Lessons With Health Fair Activities

This article focuses on the important role of the school nurse in promoting healthy lifestyle choices through networking, resource identification, and working with community partners. “Everyone Is Healthy at Northeast” was a health promotion program designed and presented in two ways: classroom lessons and a health fair. There were interactive health promotion classroom lessons on topics such as proper hand washing, the effects of tobacco, and keeping one’s heart healthy. These lessons were enhanced by community partners in delivering the healthy lifestyle message through a variety of teaching methods: music, interactive games, and hands-on visuals. The health promotion education program culminated in a schoolwide health fair that showcased the healthy lifestyle choice information at various stations. “Everyone Is Healthy at Northeast” was a success and promoted healthy lifestyle choices through creativity, collaboration, and support from the entire school community.

Bibliotherapy: A Strategy to Help Students With Bullying

Use of bibliotherapy to address childhood teasing and bullying is an innovative approach school nurses should consider as they work to promote a healthy school environment. Children’s books serve as a unique conduit of exchange between parents, teachers, and children. Bibliotherapy, using books to help people solve problems, involves three stages: identification, catharsis, and insight. These stages lend themselves well to coping with the sensitivities related to teasing and bullying. Salient research findings pertinent to teasing and bullying have made their way into the children’s literature and have been well received by children and their families over the course of the Child Adolescent Teasing in Schools (CATS) book review project and web site development. After exposure to a fictional story about teasing and bullying, children have shared their own nonfictional account of this often devastating experience and have come to develop successful coping strategies for dealing with the teasing and bullying that takes place in schools nationwide.

Making Schools Safer and Healthier for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Students

This article describes some of the special health and safety concerns that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth face in schools. Among these problems are increased drug and alcohol use, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy risks, depression and suicidality, and increased likelihood of being a victim of harassment or assault. School nurses can play a unique role in the lives of these students. A needs assessment is reviewed that describes school nurses’ perceived professional responsibility and their actual practice with regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth. Five barriers to optimal health care for these students are discussed. Methods that encourage students to view the school nurse as an ally, as well as issues surrounding disclosure or “coming out,” are discussed. Special considerations of confidentiality, community agency referral, and family disclosure are discussed. Appropriate interventions at school and ways to begin to change the school climate are also presented.

Increasing Self-Efficacy and Knowledge Through a Seizure Education Program for Special Education Teachers

Since the passage of the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act and the 1986 PL99–457 amendment, many children aged birth to 3 years with special health care needs are enrolled in early intervention programs. Educators working in early intervention services often need to respond to and manage seizure activity and medical emergencies for special needs children. To do so, they need to have knowledge and confidence in their ability to intervene effectively. This intervention study was designed to address the knowledge and self-efficacy of 28 special needs educators on seizure management. The intervention resulted in increased knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to seizure management and their ability to interact supportively with families.

School nurses and sex education in schools

'School nurses alone cannot fill the gap in sex and relationships education but they can act as advocates, providing one-to-one advice for pupils'.

Evaluation of an Educational Program to Improve School Nursing Staff Perceptions of Bullying In Pinellas County, Florida

The purpose of this project was to determine if a bullying educational program for school nurses and certified nursing assistants/health technicians (CNAs/HTs) would increase knowledge of bullying, probability of reporting a bully, and probability of assisting a bullied victim. This educational program and evaluation employed a retrospective, post-then-pre-test design. Instruments used included a 17-item demographic questionnaire and the 12-item Reduced Aggression/ Victimization Scale Bullying Assessment Tool (BAT), a 5-point Likert Scale de - signed to assess school nurses’ and CNAs’/HTs’ understanding of bullying, the probability of reporting bullies, and the probability of assisting bullied victims before and after the educational presentation. Findings of this educational evaluation program indicated that the majority of school nurses and CNAs/HTs had an increased understanding of bullying, higher probability of reporting a bully, and assisting a bullied victim after the presentation.

21st-Century Diabetes: Technology Leads the Way

Advances in technology continue to improve quality of life for people with diabetes and enhance their ability to perform diabetes self-management activities. Both insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are increasingly more popular among students with diabetes. This article will provide school nurses an overview of how insulin pumps and CGMs operate and the implications of their use in the school setting.

Implementing 12345 Fit-Tastic: A Tool for Combating Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is epidemic in the United States. School nurses are in a unique position to address weight with the students they serve. This article provides tools for school nurses to be able to conduct an obesity screening, demonstrate the basic skills of motivational interviewing in treatment of obesity in a school age child, and utilize the 12345 Fit-Tastic program in their practice. This article is the seventh and final article in a series on the topic of childhood obesity and the accompanying comorbidities.

Instant messaging: The way to improve access for young people to their school nurse

Children and young people require ease of access to their school nurse. Alongside this, school nurses are charged with the need to work smarter, being cost-effective and timely in response. School nursing teams across the country provide access through text messaging, however, there is presently no access provided to young people to have a consultation as a web-based chat facility. Using digital media, Doncaster school nurses have worked closely with young people to redesign and launch a totally interactive web- based clinic facility. This allows for improved access, reduction in travel costs and consultations to take place outside of the traditional times for accessing school nurses. This paper discusses a pilot project around the establishment of an e-clinic connecting young people and school nurses. It outlines the journey towards providing this innovative service in an attempt to provide cost-effective, timely services while reducing the barriers for service users.

School nurses take lead on FGM

Female genital mutilation is now recognised as an important public health issue in the UK, requiring action from nurses and midwives. School nurses in particular are being enlisted to identify and support girls at risk of FGM, and help teachers have the confidence to intervene. Every nurse needs to know how to support women living with the consequences of FGM.

Communicating With School Nurses About Sexual Orientation and Sexual Health: Perspectives of Teen Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Black and Latino young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at disproportionate risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. This study informs school-centered strategies for connecting YMSM to health services by describing their willingness, perceived safety, and experiences in talking to school staff about sexual health. Cross-sectional data were collected from Black and Latino YMSM aged 13-19 through web-based questionnaires (N = 415) and interviews (N = 32). School nurses were the staff members youth most often reported willingness to talk to about HIV testing (37.8%), STD testing (37.1%), or condoms (37.3%), but least often reported as safe to talk to about attraction to other guys (11.4%). Interviews revealed youth reluctance to talk with school staff including nurses when uncertain of staff members' perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people or perceiving staff to lack knowledge of LGBTQ issues, communities, or resources. Nurses may need additional training to effectively reach Black and Latino YMSM.

Enhancing the Capacity of School Nurses to Reduce Excessive Anxiety in Children: Development of the CALM Intervention

PROBLEM

Excessive anxiety is among the most common psychiatric problems facing youth. Because anxious youth tend to have somatic complaints, many seek help from the school nurse. Thus, school nurses are in an ideal position to provide early intervention. This study addresses this problem and describes the plans to develop and test a new intervention (Child Anxiety Learning Modules; CALM), delivered by school nurses, to reduce child anxiety and improve academic functioning.

METHODS

An iterative development process including consultation with an expert panel, two open trials, and a pilot randomized controlled study comparing CALM to usual care is proposed. Feedback will be solicited from all participants during each phase and data on outcome measures will be provided by children, parents, teachers, and independent evaluators.

FINDINGS

Data will be collected on intervention satisfaction and feasibility. Primary outcomes that include child anxiety symptoms, classroom behavior, and school performance (e.g., attendance, grades, standardized test scores) will be collected at pre- and post-interventions and at a 3-month follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric anxiety is a common problem that school nurses frequently encounter. Consequently, they are well positioned to play a key role in enhancing access to behavioral health interventions to reduce anxiety and may therefore make a significant positive public health impact.

School Nurse Matters

Devised by the Bexley and Greenwich school nursing team in London, this app is aimed at secondary school pupils. Easy to download and simple to navigate, with appealing colours and graphics, themes can be changed via the settings button.

The Power of Influence: School Nurse Stories

School nurses have influence, and this influence is ignited with school nurse stories. School nurses must tell school staff, leaders, families, and students what they do to help students access their education. School boards, city councils, and legislators need to know the knowledge, skills, and judgment school nurses use daily. NASN understands that school nurses benefit from a "how to" kit and has developed tools to empower school nurses in advocating for their important role in supporting the health and learning of students. This article provides an overview this newly developed electronic toolkit while at the same time reinforcing the power of influence when sharing your stories.

Correlates of cyberbullying and how school nurses can respond

Cyberbullying is one of many online risks that affect an increasing number of children and teenagers. This form of abuse often occurs under the radar of adults as it usually takes place outside of school and away from adult supervision. Moreover, bystanders and victims are often reluctant to report what they have experienced. School nurses might be among the first to witness the real-life consequences of this virtual behavior, as involvement in cyberbullying is often correlated with psychological and behavioral problems. For this reason, school nurses should know how to recognize the warning signs so that they can respond and intervene appropriately. This article provides a discussion of what cyberbullying is and a summary of research on factors associated with cyberbullying, in terms of both victimization and perpetration. It also provides school nurses with evidence-based strategies for responding effectively.

Best Practice at Your Fingertips: The WISHeS School Nurse Procedure Website

School nurses are responsible for providing and supervising school nursing services for children with complex health concerns. Given that school nurses frequently practice in isolation and may have limited access to clinical practice changes, they can benefit from up-to-date, evidence-based resources. Additionally, the resources must account for the fact that the nursing procedures will be performed in the unique setting of a school building and, in many cases, will be performed by school personnel who have limited formal education in health care. This article provides an overview of a newly developed, easy to use, online school nursing procedures website for school nurses and other school personnel.

Preventing neonaticide by early detection and intervention in student pregnancy

Pregnant students are the population group most likely to commit neonaticide, murder of an infant younger than 24 hours old. Denial by the student, lack of early pregnancy detection, and poor social support contribute to this disorder. As the health care professionals with whom the student has the most contact, school nurses are in an excellent position to prevent neonaticide through provision of health education, early detection of pregnancy, and intervention with students and their families to assist them in making healthy choices.

Substance abuse prevention: the role of the school nurse across the continuum of care

As a health care provider, health educator, and school/family/community liaison, the school nurse is in a unique position to act as a change agent for youth substance abuse prevention. This article discusses the roles of the school nurse as they apply to the prevention of substance abuse among school-age children, across a continuum of care model first introduced by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1994. Through careful assessment, identification of substance abuse risk factors, and promoting the enhancement of protective factors of students, both in and out of the school setting, the school nurse can play a vital role in the prevention of substance abuse. Existing tools, including the IOM Mental Health Intervention Spectrum Model, can be easily adapted to nursing practice and may prove helpful in assisting school nurses in the evaluation and implementation of effective prevention interventions in the school setting.