The National Association of School Nurses defines School Nursing as a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement of students. School nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; 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.
School nurses support student success in the following ways:
- Ensure that all students are properly immunized
- Provide health screenings
- Assess and treat acute illnesses and injuries
- Provide emergency care
- Manage chronic health conditions in the school setting
- Administer medications and carry out medical procedures
- Help students develop positive life-style choices
- Assist faculty and staff to make health-related adaptations to the school program
- Assist families to gain access to community health care programs
- Promote a safe school environment
- Serve as a resource to faculty, administration and students
- Promote health-related educational programs for students, staff and families