School nurses promote healthy lifestyles and prevent children from contracting diseases. They also play a critical role in connecting two major areas of education and health.

Some people assume that school nurses are just there to put bandaids on grazed knees and sending home children who are feeling ill. But, in reality, the daily job of looking after kids who are hurt and unwell is not their only duty.

The following is a full layout on the daily duties of a school nurse.

Roles and Responsibilities of a School Nurse:

• Direct Care:

In direct care, a school nurse would perform comprehensive and systemic health assessments in both students and staff. She or he would then analyze the data taken from their assessments to figure out health issues. Then, as a next step, they would develop customized healthcare plans for children and refer them for follow-ups. Their role would also involve management of these plans and perform updates as and when required.A school nurse’s role in direct care would also include providing students, parents, as well as school authorities ongoing health information. They would plan, implement, and supervise health screening and immunization programs at schools.

• Leadership:

School nurses would also play a leading role in the development of health policies, programs, as well as procedures in the schools. In this line, they would rely on student-centered and evidence-based practices, along with performance data, to inform care. They would also be able to delegate care appropriately by taking a leading role.

• Screening and Referrals:

They also perform health screenings for children and school authorities. Most often, screenings will be done in the following areas:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Posture
• Body mass index
• Mental health

After screening, if they find that any student is deviating from normal growth, development, and/or behavior, they should refer them to a specialist that can help them.

• Promoting Healthy Environment:

Their job even extends to providing physical, as well as emotional, safety to school children. They would also work to promote a healthy school environment by implementing precautionary steps against blood-borne pathogens and other infectious diseases. Nurses should also monitor immunizations among children.

For promoting a healthy school environment, they should move onto assessing more physical settings like the playground and indoor air quality. But, this isn’t enough. A school nurse will also assess the emotional environment at school. For instance, you should look out for the incidences of bullying, violence, and suicide prevention plans.

• Liaison:

Finally, a school nurse would serve as a liaison between schools, homes, and communities. They should build up a working relationship with pediatricians to make sure that the customized health plans are carried out. On the other hand, they would also communicate with the families of the students through the phone or written communication to inform them about their child’s health needs. They may also communicate with physicians and agencies.

Importance of the Role of School Nurses in Today’s Schools:

After the home, the school plays an influential part in the life of the child. With more and more students entering schools with health issues, it would become more difficult for pediatricians to manage their healthcare all through the school day.

This is where the role of school nurses comes into play. Today, students are facing several issues, all of which can influence their physical, as well as mental, health. This makes school nurses important in addressing major health issues via screening and preventive services, education, and immunizations. Finally, they have a unique role to play in the health of children with special needs.