School Nursing

Connecticut Nursing News, Mar-May 2005 by Kosiorowski, Donna

Need for specialized education

School nurses work in a more challenging environment than ever before and the need for specialized training is vital. About 70 Hartford school nurses learned the latest on wound and ostomy care at a recent. Pam Clark, RN, MPH, clinic and nursing supervisor for the school system and Pat Sullivan, RN, MS, elementary schools nurse supervisor, arranged for instructors from two visiting nurses agencies to present.

Donna Czapiga, RN, of VNA Health Care and, Mary Ann Ostrout, RN, of Connecticut VNA who are certified as W.O.C.N. (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse) reviewed anatomy and physiology, reasons for an ostomy, types of ostomies as well the psych-social needs of children with ostomies. They are members of the Connecticut Enterostomal Association which does fundraising for causes such as sending a student to a national camp to help students better cope with the challenges they face.

Czapiga and Ostrout provided resource information about United Ostomy Association and the scope of services offered through its website (www.uoa.org) and support groups. A national Youth Rally held every year by UOA is particularly helpful for youngsters dealing with ostomy or alternate-procedure surgery.

School Nurse Practice

School nursing has changed drastically over the years. More students are being mainstreamed (which is now referred to as inclusion), so the role of the school nurse now requires technological skills as well as a knowledge of pediatrics, physical assessment, mental health issues, and a grasp of community health and public health nursing.

School nurses work with families, children, and staff and all kinds of health care providers. Recently, we integrated a multiply complex student into our regular kindergarten. In order to do that, the school nurses responsible for the student's care had to refresh their skills on trach care, including suctioning and trach replacement, and gastrostomy tube care and feedings. The student was in a wheelchair and was transported to and from school accompanied by a certified nurse's aide who was supervised by the school nurse. Suction equipment and O2 had to always be available. The planning and collaboration made this a successful entry for this student.

The sidebar on this page provides the definition of school nursing that is used by the Association of School Nurses of Connecticut.

SCHOOL NURSES

The National Association of School Nurses defines School Nursing as "a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success, and lifelong achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal growth and development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case mananagement services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy and learning."

School nurses:

* provide nursing care, administration of medications, health appraisals, immunizations; special health care needs, emergency care and medical referrals

* perform vision, hearing and postural screenings and blood pressure monitoring

* counsel student and staff regarding health issues, serve on student assistance teams and assist in crisis intervention

* maintain health records and develop healthcare and emergency management plans

* complete assessment reports, monthly and annual reports, referrals and follow-up reports and social welfare referrals

* coordinate school health programs, health education, special education, ommunicable disease control, child abuse reporting, staffing services, CPR and First Aid

Association of School Nurses of Connecticut ASNC http://schoolnurse.vservers.com

Donna Kosiorowski, RN, MSN, CSN