Who's the School Nurse
The role of a school nurse has changed considerably in the last decade, moving from that of emergency first aid to dealing with an array of complex educational, health, and social problems. A school nurse is challenged daily by an expanded role in the issues of substance abuse, communicable diseases, physical and sexual abuse, eating disorders, grief and depression, chronic illness, and violence.
For many students the school nurse is the primary health care provider, identifying and meeting the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs in the school setting. The use of the school nurse for advice and treatment of a youngster's health problems represents a large change in the nurse's role, as she is at times the child's (and family's) only access to the health care system.
The traditional role and duties of a school nurse include health screening (including vision and hearing), health counseling, health eduction, and the assessment of health needs such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The nurse is a special eduction team member and a liaison between home, school, and other health professionals. She is well versed in state regulations relating to physical examinations and immunizations. Her practice is in an independent setting.