ABSTRACT
School based health centers (SBHCs) are often at the front line of medical and mental health services for students in the schools they serve. Citywide school closures in New York City in March 2020 and ongoing social distancing procedures resulted in significant changes in SBHC services as well as access to these services. Furthermore, the combination of COVID-19 related stressors and the increased likelihood of adverse childhood events experienced by urban youth creates conditions for the exacerbation of mental health concerns among youth in metropolitan areas. The following article will explore the role of SBHCs as community agents focused on prevention and reduction of mental health concerns prior and during the current pandemic, as well as existing health disparities experienced by urban youth populations. The authors will also discuss research examining mental health concerns already present in global populations affected by COVID-19 as it may foreshadow the challenges to be faced by U.S. urban youth. Lastly, the authors describe recommendations, practice implications, and opportunities for preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions in school based health settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Subject(s)
Adverse Childhood Experiences , Behavioral Symptoms/therapy , COVID-19 , Community Health Centers , Physical Distancing , School Health Services , Schools , Adolescent , Behavioral Symptoms/prevention & control , Child , Community Health Centers/organization & administration , Community Health Centers/standards , Healthcare Disparities , Humans , New York City , School Health Services/organization & administration , School Health Services/standards , School Mental Health Services/organization & administration , School Mental Health Services/standards , Schools/organization & administration , Schools/standards , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
Pennsylvania responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by closing schools and moving to online instruction in March 2020. We surveyed Pennsylvania school nurses (N = 350) in May 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on nurses' concerns about returning to school and impact on practice. Data were analyzed using χ2 tests and regression analyses. Urban school nurses were more concerned about returning to the school building without a COVID-19 vaccine than rural nurses (OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.05, 2.38]). Nurses in urban locales were more likely to report being asked for guidance on COVID-19 (OR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.06, 2.68]), modify communication practices (OR = 2.33, 95% CI [1.42, 3.82]), and be "very/extremely concerned" about their safety (OR = 2.16, 95% CI [1.35, 3.44]). Locale and student density are important factors to consider when resuming in-person instruction; however, schools should recognize school nurses for their vital role in health communication to assist in pandemic preparedness and response.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Nurses/psychology , Nurses/statistics & numerical data , School Health Services/standards , School Nursing/standards , Adult , Female , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Pennsylvania/epidemiology , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , School Nursing/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Population/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Annually, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) sets advocacy goals. The goals include legislative and policy priorities. This article sets forth current NASN legislative priorities and results of advocacy that benefit students. The NASN Board of Directors are instrumental in moving policy priorities forward. In addition, this article shares NASN advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.