What does the school nurse do?
School Nurses are guided by National Standards set by the National Association of School Nurses, TN Board of Nursing, TN Nurse Practice Act, TN Nursing Rules and Regulations, TN Department of Health. We provide education to students, staff and parents. We help manage chronic conditions, immunizations, screenings, and injuries.
Definition of School Nursing (NASN)
School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential.
NASN Position
To optimize student health, safety and learning, it is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that a professional registered school nurse be present in every school all day, every day.
About NASN
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is a nonprofit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has 19,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas. The mission of NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing.
School nurses are essential...for healthy kids...healthy schools...and healthy communities. (NASN website)
National Association of School Nurses:
The NASN vision is that all students are healthy, safe and ready to learn.
The NASN mission is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing.
Keep students healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Case Management
Chronic disease management
Support students, families and the school community
Environmental health
Health promotion
Screenings, referrals, and follow up
School nursing, a specialized, evidence-based practice, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. (TASN website)
The Tennessee Association of School Nurses is a nonprofit organization that promotes, improves, and maintains quality comprehensive student health services by advancing professional practice of school nursing.
To promote, interpret, define and implement the standards and qualifications for the practice of school nursing.
To advance public policy that advocates for the education, health, safety and well-being of children and youth.
To promote the role of the school nurse as an educator and essential health care provider.
To provide opportunities for the professional development of school nurses.
To encourage and support a lower nurse-pupil ratio to meet the health needs of students and reach national recommendations of 1 nurse for every 750 students, 1 nurse for every 250 special needs students, and 1 nurse for every 125 medically fragile students.
Standards and trends in School Nurse Practice can change rapidly; we strive to provide access to the most current information available to school nurses across Tennessee.
SCHOOL NURSE DAY 2024 Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week is May 6-12 each year.
Guidelines for Health Care in School Setting - Tennessee Department of Health
The Tennessee Department of Education, in collaboration with the
Tennessee Department of Health, has developed guidelines to assist
Tennessee public school districts and non-public schools with
developing policies and procedures to meet the diverse health care
needs of students in school settings. The intent of the guidelines is to
give direction to public school districts and non-public schools to ensure
adherence to state and federal law. The guidelines have been written
according to nationally recognized standards established by the
National Association of School Nurses and the National Council of State
Boards of Nursing and in accordance with the “Tennessee Nurse Practice
Act.”
The Guidelines for Health Care in a School Setting details the following areas:
• Federal and State Requirements
• Health Care Procedures and Medication Administration
• First Aid Emergencies
• Asthma Management
• Diabetes Management
• Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management
• Seizure Management
• Adrenal Insufficiency Management
• Opioid Overdose Indications and Management
To be successful, a coordinated school health program requires collaboration between staff within
the school district and community members representing the various components of the
coordinated school health model.
Tennessee Department of Health, has developed guidelines to assist
Tennessee public school districts and non-public schools with
developing policies and procedures to meet the diverse health care
needs of students in school settings. The intent of the guidelines is to
give direction to public school districts and non-public schools to ensure
adherence to state and federal law. The guidelines have been written
according to nationally recognized standards established by the
National Association of School Nurses and the National Council of State
Boards of Nursing and in accordance with the “Tennessee Nurse Practice
Act.”
The Guidelines for Health Care in a School Setting details the following areas:
• Federal and State Requirements
• Health Care Procedures and Medication Administration
• First Aid Emergencies
• Asthma Management
• Diabetes Management
• Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management
• Seizure Management
• Adrenal Insufficiency Management
• Opioid Overdose Indications and Management
To be successful, a coordinated school health program requires collaboration between staff within
the school district and community members representing the various components of the
coordinated school health model.
The school nurse is a professional licensed as a registered nurse by the Tennessee
Board of Nursing as part of the school education team. School nurses manage the school
health services in collaboration with their supervising personnel, principal, and
superintendent. It is not feasible in many schools to have a school nurse always present;
therefore, schools must make use of appropriately trained ancillary personnel to meet
students’ health-related needs.
Board of Nursing as part of the school education team. School nurses manage the school
health services in collaboration with their supervising personnel, principal, and
superintendent. It is not feasible in many schools to have a school nurse always present;
therefore, schools must make use of appropriately trained ancillary personnel to meet
students’ health-related needs.
Role of the Registered Nurse
• Manage the school health services in compliance with school district policy.
• Function in accordance with the Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice, the
Nurse Practice Act, and federal and state statutes that impact school nursing practice.
• Provide information to the school board and school administrators as they develop
school health policies and procedures.
• Provide health-related training to school personnel.
• Provide preventive health services to students including health education, screening,
consultation, and referrals.
• Provide nursing assessments and nursing diagnoses and develop plans of care for
students needing health and nursing interventions.
• Implement interventions within the plan of care directly, through delegation, or through
the provision of oversight and coordination to other responsible staff based on
consideration of health, safety, and welfare of the student.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care and modifies the plan of care as needed.
• Coordinate in-school health care with the student’s health care provider, the school based health center, and other providers/staff as necessary and appropriate.
• Determine appropriate delegation of health-related tasks or coordination and oversight:
o The Nurse Practice Act authorizes RNs to delegate tasks to LPNs.
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o Delegation and coordination/oversight of health-related tasks/services must be
determined on an individual basis. Factors to be considered for delegation
and/or coordination and oversight include safety, acuity of the student, stability
of the condition of the student, training and capability of the staff, and nature of
the task.
o The registered nurse must exercise professional judgment in determining
delegation or coordination/oversight activities.
o Coordination and oversight of licensed healthcare professionals employed or
contracted by the LEA. Training should include initial, annual, and periodic review
of competencies.
• Coordinate and oversee unlicensed assistive personnel/school personnel volunteer.
o Identify students’ needs and develop/consult on the plan of care.
o Identify the tasks to be performed by the school personnel volunteer.
o Provide direction and training to the school personnel volunteer.
o Determine the ability of the unlicensed staff to perform the task.
o Monitor the designated staff’s reporting and documentation of the task.
o Ensure that designated staff report directly to the registered nurse for the
performance of the task
• Manage the school health services in compliance with school district policy.
• Function in accordance with the Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice, the
Nurse Practice Act, and federal and state statutes that impact school nursing practice.
• Provide information to the school board and school administrators as they develop
school health policies and procedures.
• Provide health-related training to school personnel.
• Provide preventive health services to students including health education, screening,
consultation, and referrals.
• Provide nursing assessments and nursing diagnoses and develop plans of care for
students needing health and nursing interventions.
• Implement interventions within the plan of care directly, through delegation, or through
the provision of oversight and coordination to other responsible staff based on
consideration of health, safety, and welfare of the student.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care and modifies the plan of care as needed.
• Coordinate in-school health care with the student’s health care provider, the school based health center, and other providers/staff as necessary and appropriate.
• Determine appropriate delegation of health-related tasks or coordination and oversight:
o The Nurse Practice Act authorizes RNs to delegate tasks to LPNs.
10
o Delegation and coordination/oversight of health-related tasks/services must be
determined on an individual basis. Factors to be considered for delegation
and/or coordination and oversight include safety, acuity of the student, stability
of the condition of the student, training and capability of the staff, and nature of
the task.
o The registered nurse must exercise professional judgment in determining
delegation or coordination/oversight activities.
o Coordination and oversight of licensed healthcare professionals employed or
contracted by the LEA. Training should include initial, annual, and periodic review
of competencies.
• Coordinate and oversee unlicensed assistive personnel/school personnel volunteer.
o Identify students’ needs and develop/consult on the plan of care.
o Identify the tasks to be performed by the school personnel volunteer.
o Provide direction and training to the school personnel volunteer.
o Determine the ability of the unlicensed staff to perform the task.
o Monitor the designated staff’s reporting and documentation of the task.
o Ensure that designated staff report directly to the registered nurse for the
performance of the task