Ch. 42 ( the school nurse) and 43 (occupational
nurse)
Standards of practice -
o What is the most important responsibility we have to our patients as nurses?
• I'll give you a hint, to keep them safe.
o School nurses in Louisiana also follow the Nurse Practice Act of Louisiana
National Association of School Nurses (NASN) -
o Develop school health policies and procedures
o Evaluate their own nursing practice
o Keep up with nursing knowledge
o Interact with interprofessional health care team
o Ensure confidentiality in providing health care
National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Cont. -
o Consult with others to give complete care
o Use research findings in practice
o Ensure the safety of children, including when delegating care to other school personnel
o Have good communication skills
o Manage a school health program effectively
o Teach others about wellness
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) -
o Children get the health care they need, including emergency care in the school
o Nurse keeps track of state-required vaccinations that children have received
o Nurse carries out required screening of children based on state law
o Children with health problems are able to learn in the classroom
ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act -
• Persons with disabilities cannot be excluded from activities
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act -
• Educational services must be offered by schools for all disabled children from birth through age
22
No Child Left Behind -
• All children must receive standardized education in a healthy environment
• More special needs children
• Stay with them until 22nd birthday
FERPA -
• Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Gives parents certain rights
with respect to their children's education until child is 18
, Levels of Education -
o The National Association of School Nurses recommends that school nurse be RNs with BSN
degrees and a special certification in school nursing. However, not all nurses have been educated at this
level...there are RNs with ASN degrees and LPNs in some of these roles, depending upon the state!
Level of education cont. -
o School nurses in Louisiana are required to have a minimum of an Associate Degree in Nursing as
well as 2 years' experience
• At least one year of medical surgical experience
There are certifications as well through the state that must be maintained as a school nurse -
• There are 4 different types of school nurse certification given by the state of Louisiana based on
the number of years' experience as a school nurse
• Both of the following are for Associate Degree Nurses
1. C - once you have 2 years of service as an RN valid for 3 years can be renewed
2. B - once you have 3 years as a school nurse valid for 5 years renewable
There are certifications as well through the state that must be maintained as a school nurse Cont. -
• Only baccalaureate degreed nurses can be type A
3. A - valid for 5 years and renewable; can be obtained only after you complete 5 years of service as a
type B school nurse
o School nurses in Louisiana must also maintain CPR certification and attend training classes that
pertain to illnesses that affect student populations
School Nurse Roles: Health educator -
• May be asked to teach children both individually and in the classroom
• Teaching proper nutrition or safety information
• Some teach health education classes that are required by states to be included in the programs
School Nurse Roles: direct caregiver -
• The school nurse is expected to give immediate nursing care to the ill or injured child or school
staff member
• Traditional role of school nurse
School Nurse Roles: Case manager -
• Coordinate health care for children with complex health problems
• Child who is disabled or chronically ill and who may be seen by PT, OT, speech therapist, or another
health care provider during the school day
School Nurse Roles: case manager cont. -
• Sets up schedule for the child's visit so that those appointments do no unnecessarily impact
negatively on the child's academic day
• Communication between doctor and parents
• Communication between parents and school coordinators
School Nurse Roles: Consultant -
• Main role
• Ex. Checking everyone in classroom's head if one student has lice
nurse)
Standards of practice -
o What is the most important responsibility we have to our patients as nurses?
• I'll give you a hint, to keep them safe.
o School nurses in Louisiana also follow the Nurse Practice Act of Louisiana
National Association of School Nurses (NASN) -
o Develop school health policies and procedures
o Evaluate their own nursing practice
o Keep up with nursing knowledge
o Interact with interprofessional health care team
o Ensure confidentiality in providing health care
National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Cont. -
o Consult with others to give complete care
o Use research findings in practice
o Ensure the safety of children, including when delegating care to other school personnel
o Have good communication skills
o Manage a school health program effectively
o Teach others about wellness
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) -
o Children get the health care they need, including emergency care in the school
o Nurse keeps track of state-required vaccinations that children have received
o Nurse carries out required screening of children based on state law
o Children with health problems are able to learn in the classroom
ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act -
• Persons with disabilities cannot be excluded from activities
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act -
• Educational services must be offered by schools for all disabled children from birth through age
22
No Child Left Behind -
• All children must receive standardized education in a healthy environment
• More special needs children
• Stay with them until 22nd birthday
FERPA -
• Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Gives parents certain rights
with respect to their children's education until child is 18
, Levels of Education -
o The National Association of School Nurses recommends that school nurse be RNs with BSN
degrees and a special certification in school nursing. However, not all nurses have been educated at this
level...there are RNs with ASN degrees and LPNs in some of these roles, depending upon the state!
Level of education cont. -
o School nurses in Louisiana are required to have a minimum of an Associate Degree in Nursing as
well as 2 years' experience
• At least one year of medical surgical experience
There are certifications as well through the state that must be maintained as a school nurse -
• There are 4 different types of school nurse certification given by the state of Louisiana based on
the number of years' experience as a school nurse
• Both of the following are for Associate Degree Nurses
1. C - once you have 2 years of service as an RN valid for 3 years can be renewed
2. B - once you have 3 years as a school nurse valid for 5 years renewable
There are certifications as well through the state that must be maintained as a school nurse Cont. -
• Only baccalaureate degreed nurses can be type A
3. A - valid for 5 years and renewable; can be obtained only after you complete 5 years of service as a
type B school nurse
o School nurses in Louisiana must also maintain CPR certification and attend training classes that
pertain to illnesses that affect student populations
School Nurse Roles: Health educator -
• May be asked to teach children both individually and in the classroom
• Teaching proper nutrition or safety information
• Some teach health education classes that are required by states to be included in the programs
School Nurse Roles: direct caregiver -
• The school nurse is expected to give immediate nursing care to the ill or injured child or school
staff member
• Traditional role of school nurse
School Nurse Roles: Case manager -
• Coordinate health care for children with complex health problems
• Child who is disabled or chronically ill and who may be seen by PT, OT, speech therapist, or another
health care provider during the school day
School Nurse Roles: case manager cont. -
• Sets up schedule for the child's visit so that those appointments do no unnecessarily impact
negatively on the child's academic day
• Communication between doctor and parents
• Communication between parents and school coordinators
School Nurse Roles: Consultant -
• Main role
• Ex. Checking everyone in classroom's head if one student has lice
