School nurses play an important role in giving the healthcare the students need. Healthcare is essential in making students reach their academic goals since this can put the physical and mental condition of a student balance. School-based healthcare staffing is acting as a bridge for nurses and schools to fill in the vacant position in their school healthcare facility. 

What skills do you need to be a school nurse?

Education 

Having finished an associate degree in nursing are accepted to apply as a school nurse considering that they have finished the course and have passed the NCLEX and have an active license. 

Experience 

Nurses with clinical experience are preferred since hands-on experience are important in performing their duties and responsibilities as a school nurse. Experience counts a lot among nurses especially of they will be handling a big group, their knowledge on how to handle them is essential. 

Certification 

School nurses are governed on a state level, and requirements for certifications will depend on the state they will be working. So as a school nurse, know the certification that the state requires and accomplish them. 

Do school nurses teach health?

It is part of a school nurse’s duty to educate students on certain health protocols such as proper oral hygiene, good nutrition, and maintaining a clean and healthy environment that is ideal for learning. School nurses conduct visits to every classroom and teach students ways how to be physically clean and also how to maintain cleanliness inside and outside the school. Health awareness can help the student know their routine and role in contributing to a clean and healthy learning environment.  

Are nurses in school real nurses?

Yes, they are they have to pass the qualifications before they can be hired. There are requirements that are needed and they have to fit the job description before they can become a school nurse. 

What are the duties of a school nurse?

Give Health assessment

The main role of a school nurse is to give health assessments to students, the status of every student is recorded to serve as a basis of their physical health condition. Height, weight, vital signs, and assessing their general condition are the ones recorded by the nurse. From this data, the nurses assess the students and also conduct a physical examination to check on underlying conditions that need to be addressed if there are any. 

Implementation of nursing health plan

After the data has been interpreted, a nursing health plan can be created by the nurse and they are allowed to administer over-the-counter drugs to minor ailments. For illnesses that need further treatment, they can refer them to other healthcare providers in the community. This way the condition won’t progress and it will be addressed well. 

Promotes control of communicable disease

As a school nurse, it is part of her duty to give awareness to the students and school staff on the prevention of communicable and infectious diseases. School nurses are to assist in activities that promote the spread of diseases such as immunization, early detection, and reporting of transmissible diseases. Doing their part in examining students who have infectious diseases can play an important role in preventing the spread of the disease in the school and even in the community. 

Supports any Health-related school activities

Nurses are to assist in any kind of health-related activity conducted by the school. This includes medical examinations, dental examinations, feeding programs, deworming programs, and others. 

Monitors and Evaluates client’s Progress

As a school nurse, the progress of each student regarding their health should be done by monitoring and evaluating their health condition regularly. Since they act as the primary caregiver of these students it is her duty to know the progress and also recommend other interventions if needed to make the health of each of her clients better. 

School nurses are essential in giving a healthier learning environment for students. The presence of a school nurse can affect the overall academic progress of a school since sound mental health and excellent physical health can be a tool for students to perform at their best in attaining good grades as well as maintaining a good relationship with their fellow students and teachers by getting aware of how to take care of their mental and physical health.