Impact of School Nursing in the Educational Setting

1. Impact of School Nursing in the Educational Setting Kathy Hassey BA BSN M.Ed Director of the School Health Institute 2011

2. Role of the School Nurse The role of the School Nurse is to eliminate and/or minimize health/medical barriers to education. This is done through assessment, treatment, evaluation and keeping students in school, in class and ready to learn.

3. Transitioning from other settings Most nurses come into school health after many years of experience (ICU, ER, psych, pedi, med/surg, community health etc) In other healthcare settings there is a common language that is well understood. • Acuity • License • Medical terminology (line, cutting, DNR etc) • Confidentiality • Delegation • Preventive measures/being proactive

4. You ARE an educator ! According to Massachusetts General Laws www.mass.gov/legis/laws Chapter 71: Section 41. Tenure of teachers and superintendents; persons entitled to professional teacher status; dismissal; review PUBLIC SCHOOLS • For the purposes of this section, a teacher, school librarian, school adjustment counselor, school nurse, school social worker or school psychologist who has served in the public schools of a school district for the three previous consecutive school years shall be considered a teacher, and shall be entitled to professional teacher status as provided in section forty-two. The superintendent of said district, upon the recommendation of the principal, may award such status to any teacher who has served in the principal's school for not less than one year or to a teacher who has obtained such status in any other public school district in the commonwealth. A teacher without professional teacher status shall be notified in writing on or before June fifteenth whenever such person is not to be employed for the following school year. Unless such notice is given as herein provided, a teacher without such status shall be deemed to be appointed for the following school year.

5. Nurses in the Educational Setting • Teachers are DESE Licensed. • Teachers use “Assessment” to evaluate how a student is progressing. (Correcting papers, standardized testing) • Teachers communicate with parents regarding their students. • Teachers keep records on their students in their class. • Teachers write lesson plans for students. • Teachers attend TEAM, 504 and pupil study meetings re student progress. • Teachers need PDP’s for continuing education and a Masters degree for professional licensure. • Teachers use every possible “teachable moment” to educate students.  • Nurses are BORN (Board of Registration in Nursing) Licensed AND DESE Licensed. • Nurses use “Assessment” to evaluate a student’s health assessing for fever, blood pressure, blood sugar, vision, hearing, emergencies, injury, mental health, medication reaction etc. • Nurses communicate with parents, teachers, doctors, agencies, and specialists. • Nurses keep records on all students including all state mandated screenings (200-1100 students per building…plus staff). • Nurses write individualized Health Care Plans for students with medical/health conditions and monthly reports for Department of Public Health. • Nurses attend TEAM, 504 and pupil study meetings to assist teachers with medical knowledge regarding their students. • Nurses need PDP’s (educator) as well as CEU’s (nursing licensure) for continuing education and a Masters Degree OR National Certification for professional DESE licensure. • Every interaction between the nurse and student/staff member includes “teaching/education” regarding health, illness, wellness, first aid, etc. *** Nurses are Licensed to administer medication

6. Journal of School Nursing, October 2011 Educators' and Parents' Perception of What School Nurses Do Erin Maughan, RN-BC, MS, PhD, is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, USA.

7. Journal of School Nursing, October 2011 Educators' and Parents' Perception of What School Nurses Do Erin Maughan, RN-BC, MS, PhD, is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, USA.

8. Educational Terminology You Need to Know

9. Return to Class Rate total # of students sent back to class total # of students seen If you saw 100 students and sent 95 back to class, you would have a 95% Return to Class rate. Usually calculated each month.

10. Dispositions/Dismissals Where does the student go after assessment and/or treatment? • Returned to Class (what is your %) • Leave with parents • Leave via ambulance (911 call) Illness or Injury • Dismissals will now be reported by DESE (the importance of the school nurse role will be evident) This is VITAL information to share with your Principal, School Committee etc to show you are keeping students in class.

11. Time on Learning…This is “at their desk” time How does what you do directly impact Time on Learning? • Mandated Screenings • How many students now have glasses or are being followed because of your vision screening efforts? • How does your BMI data show the health of your student population? • Health education topics • Healthy nutrition, puberty, mental and emotional health, staying healthy (flu and cough etiquette), tobacco education etc • Maintaining Physical Activity (Recess) • Many schools limit recess and sit kids down now and have SNACK. How do you advocate for physical activity? • How do your BMI numbers reflect the ongoing physical health of your students? • Surveillance and Prevention • H1N1, chicken pox, strepWhat is your role in educating administration and faculty Perhaps a 5 minute presentation at the beginning of each faculty meeting. (Epi training and #’s, flu season and cough etiquette etc)

13. Achievement Gap Educators are looking for factors to close the student “achievement gap”. … what separates high achieving schools/students and lower achieving schools/students. We know that: • health or medical (chronic conditions) issues, which includes lack of access to medical care and dental care, • increased absenteeism, • poor nutrition and poor sleep patterns, • mental or emotional situations (safety, domestic violence, family illness etc) are issues that can impact achievement. Professional School Nursing services contribute significantly to close achievement gaps by promoting optimal health, minimizing health factors that interfere with learning and focus on the whole child to foster maximum academic success.

14. Absenteeism Absenteeism impacts academic success! (if a student is not in class, they can not reach their potential) Evaluate the reasons • Health/medical (asthma, diabetes, toothache, doctor’s appointments, medication issues etc.) • Social/emotional (school anxiety, bullying, etc) • Family/home issues (lack of parental support, inadequate sleep, poor nutrition, abuse issues, sick parent/sibling etc)

15. Important Connections and Relationships… Don’t stay isolated • Superintendent • School Committee • Principal • Faculty • Parents • EMS • Pediatricians and Dentists in the area • Join your Professional Organization (MSNO) www.msno.org • Other School Nurses in your area • Local legislators (know your Rep and Senator) …invite them to your school. • Local newspapers

16. Journal of School Nursing, October 2011 Educators' and Parents' Perception of What School Nurses Do Erin Maughan, RN-BC, MS, PhD, is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, USA.

18. Some Examples

23. LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU IMPACT EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS