Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
4-17-2024 1:15 PM
College
College of Medical Sciences
Department
Nursing
Keywords
school nurse, chronic illness, diabetes, emergency, asthma, sickle cell disease, bullying
Abstract
The purpose of this literature review was to understand the role and the importance of the school nurse within school systems. The role of the school nurse has gained attention due to the growing population of students with more severe illnesses. A foreground question was firstly created to support and lead this research project, “In school-aged children with chronic illnesses, what is the effect of having a school nurse to manage their conditions in comparison to not having a school nurse during their time at school?” The focus of the literature review was on the following chronic illness: Diabetes, Asthma, Sickle Cell Disease, Emergency Preparedness, and Bullying. In the literature findings revealed that student and nurse barriers impacted students’ overall health in school, both physiologically and psychosocially. Barriers found included: too large of a nurse to student ratio, no action care plans in place, reduced confidence and skill efficiency, failure to sufficiently advocate for self or students, missed opportunities for students due to chronic illness, little access to quality care, insufficient building of therapeutic relations, and little collaboration amongst other school professionals. Recommendations from the literature including making changes necessary to support the school nurse to ensure proper management of chronic illnesses, such as increased financial means for necessary resources and nurse benefits, further enhanced education and training to support best patient outcomes, and cohesiveness in care established through the creation of standardized care guidelines and a school nurse union. These subtle improvements would positively impact the quality of care, livelihood of children with chronic disease, and the school nurses providing care.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Susan Braud DNP, RN, CCRN-K
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The Effectiveness of the School Nurse’s Role in Managing Chronic Illnesses
Turner Gymnasium
The purpose of this literature review was to understand the role and the importance of the school nurse within school systems. The role of the school nurse has gained attention due to the growing population of students with more severe illnesses. A foreground question was firstly created to support and lead this research project, “In school-aged children with chronic illnesses, what is the effect of having a school nurse to manage their conditions in comparison to not having a school nurse during their time at school?” The focus of the literature review was on the following chronic illness: Diabetes, Asthma, Sickle Cell Disease, Emergency Preparedness, and Bullying. In the literature findings revealed that student and nurse barriers impacted students’ overall health in school, both physiologically and psychosocially. Barriers found included: too large of a nurse to student ratio, no action care plans in place, reduced confidence and skill efficiency, failure to sufficiently advocate for self or students, missed opportunities for students due to chronic illness, little access to quality care, insufficient building of therapeutic relations, and little collaboration amongst other school professionals. Recommendations from the literature including making changes necessary to support the school nurse to ensure proper management of chronic illnesses, such as increased financial means for necessary resources and nurse benefits, further enhanced education and training to support best patient outcomes, and cohesiveness in care established through the creation of standardized care guidelines and a school nurse union. These subtle improvements would positively impact the quality of care, livelihood of children with chronic disease, and the school nurses providing care.