According to the National Association of School Nurses, the definition of school nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and lifelong achievement and health of students.ìSchool nurses facilitate normal development and positive student response to interventions; promote health and safety, including a health environment; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy, and learning,î the NASN states.The NASN also states the following:
- About one-third of all school districts nationwide reduced nursing staffs between 2012 and 2013 because of the recession.
- One quarter of all school districts in the nation do not have school nurses.
- School nurses estimate that they spend about one-third of their time providing mental health services.
- A study conducted in 2011 showed that having a school nurse in the building saves principals, teachers and office or clerical staff about 13 hours per day, which they would have spent addressing health concerns of students.
- Among students ages 12 to 19, the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes has increased from 9 percent in 1999 to 23 percent in 2008.
- Among students ages 2 to 19, 32 percent are obese.
- The prevalence of food allergies among students younger than 18 has increased by 19 percent from 1997 to 2007.
- Florida, Utah, North Dakota and Michigan have the highest student-to-nurse ratios in the nation, with at least 2,500 students to every school nurse.
- Vermont has the lowest student-to-nurse ratio with 396 students to every one school nurse.
