IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL NURSES
School nurses save lives, increase student attendance and decrease early dismissals. Here’s what school nurses do.
They are the first line of defense against epidemics and disease outbreaks, monitoring the health of the overall population and connecting with public health officials; they are the first responders to critical incidents on school property, they provide direct health services for students, they identify threats to health in the school community (peanut butter, dogs, traffic, broken equipment and facilities, bullies, lack of clean water or hand soap) and work to eliminate those problems as a cause of ill health, they provide leadership for the provision of health services, health policies and programs, they provide a critical safety net for the most fragile students, they provide screening and referral for health conditions such as vision, hearing, they promote a healthy school environment, they enable children with chronic health conditions to attend school, they promote student health and learning, they serve as a liaison between school personnel, family, community.
In a school setting, students and school personnel are the main clients of a school nurse. And as part of school nurse’s responsibilities, he or she does the following tasks, focuses on the nursing process which basically emphasizes the importance of health assessment.
A school nurse obtains health and developmental history to the clients by taking their weight, height, vital signs and assessing their general well-being. The data the school nurse obtains will be recorded and will become the basis of the clients’health status. Furthermore, a school nurse also identifies any underlying condition by screening the clients and determining any abnormalities that are found through physical examinations, and develops nursing plan and provides appropriate management according to the client’s condition.
A school nurse may administer over the counter drugs for minor ailments and provide specific interventions according to the client’s health needs. For serious illnesses and injuries that are beyond a school nurse’s scope, clients are referred to other community health resources for further management. Render health teachings. Information regarding the importance and proper tooth brushing, benefits of good nutrition and hygiene, and maintenance of a clean and healthy environment that is conducive for learning are few information a school nurse may impart to the students as well as to the school personnel.
A school nurse plays an essential role in improving students’ general health because of his or her extraordinary support to facilitate their normal development and promoting continuity of care across their student life.
As a whole, a school nurse is one among the most important people who can make a difference in a student’s education process.
The author is Teacher — oOo— I at Masantol High School