"This Has Changed Everything": The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on School Nursing Practice in New Mexico.

As state and local government implemented school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, school health services delivery experienced a fundamental change. School nurses were confronted with significant challenges to care for their students, while responding to the avalanche of public health responsibilities thrust upon them without training or resources. This qualitative study, conducted by a community-based participatory research partnership explored school nurses' experiences and perspectives in urban and rural communities across New Mexico. Thirty-four school nurses participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews identifying 3 distinct pandemic stages and the following themes: 1) change/confusion of school nurse identity; 2) mental health challenges and stressors; and 3) lessons learned. These study results provide contextual depth to challenges that both urban and rural school nurses in New Mexico experienced during the pandemic and outline the important role school nurses have during public health emergencies in school settings.

Essential Strategies for School Nurses to Move Upstream in Support of Healthy Students and a Healthy Planet.

Human health is dependent on the health of the planet. Overwhelming evidence indicates that environmental degradation and climate change is negatively affecting planetary health and is on a worsening trajectory. The health of our children, especially those who live in poverty, suffer from chronic disease, or are otherwise disadvantaged, will benefit most from successful efforts to change this trajectory or will suffer the most if we do nothing. School nurses, members of the largest and most trusted group of healthcare providers, have a professional and ethical obligation to address environmental degradation and the impact on our students and communities. Research suggests that knowledge about climate change and the associated health impacts are positively correlated to school nurses' attitudes and behaviors. This article aims to raise school nurse awareness, understanding, and agency regarding the possible trajectories of environmental degradation, implications to the health and well-being of current and future generations of children, and evidence-based actions to positively influence the trajectory. The Framework for 21st Century School Nurse Practice™ advocates a practice model that is student centered and provides a mind-set for school nursing to approach the topic of planetary and environmental health.

Importancia de la enfermera escolar según la percepción de funcionarios de colegios básicos de una provincia de chile / Importance of the school nurse according to the perception of officials of basic schools of a province of chile / Importância da enfermagem escolar de acordo com a percepção de funcionários de escolas básicas de uma província do chile

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir la importancia de la enfermera escolar según la percepción de los funcionarios de colegios básicos de una provincia al sur de Chile. Material y Método: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal que, a partir de un universo de 169 funcionarios de 5 colegios públicos y privados, obtuvo una muestra de 126 (75%) personas quienes, posterior a dar su consentimiento informado, respondieron el instrumento "Percepción de la importancia de la enfermera escolar", desde la perspectiva de sus funciones asistenciales, educativas, investigativas, administrativas y de gestión. La investigación fue aprobada por el Comité de ética de la Universidad Adventista de Chile. Resultados: El 94% de los funcionarios refieren que es importante la enfermera escolar para actuar en emergencias ocurridas durante el horario escolar; un 93,5% percibe que la enfermera es indispensable para atender en primeros auxilios; un 92,25% cree que los padres estarán tranquilos al saber que hay un profesional de salud en la escuela y un 91,75% dice que el profesional de enfermería puede educar al alumnado sobre infecciones de transmisión sexual. Conclusión: Según los funcionarios de los colegios, la presencia de una enfermera escolar es importante y debiera estar presente para mantener la salud de los estudiantes.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the importance of the school nurse as perceived by school staff members of elementary schools from a province south Chile. Materials and Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, using a sample of 126 (75%) participants from a population of 169 school staff members of 5 public and private schools. After giving informed consent, the participants answered the instrument "Perception of the importance of the school nurse", from the perspective of their caregiving, educational, research and management functions. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Chilean Adventist University. Results: 94% of school staff members indicate that the school nurse is important when acting in emergencies during school hours; 93.5% consider that the school nurse is vital when it comes to providing first aid; 92.25% believe that parents feel reassured when there is a health professional in the school, and 91.75% say that nurses can educate students on sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: According to school staff members, the presence of a school nurse is important and should be promoted for maintaining student's health.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a importância da enfermeira escolar de acordo com a percepção dos funcionários da escola básica de uma província sul do Chile. Material e Método: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, transversal que, de um universo de 169 funcionários de 5 escolas públicas e privadas, obteve uma amostra de 126 (75%) pessoas que, depois de dar o consentimento informado, responderam ao instrumento "Percepção da importância da enfermeira escolar", na perspectiva de suas funções assistenciais, educacionais, de pesquisa, administrativas e gerenciais. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comité de Ética da Universidade Adventista do Chile. Resultados: 94% dos funcionários relata que a enfermeira escolar é importante para atuar em emergências durante o horário escolar; 93,5% percebe que a enfermeira é indispensável para o atendimento de primeiros socorros; 92,25% acredita que os pais ficam calmos sabendo que existe um profissional de saúde na escola e 91,75% diz que o profissional de enfermagem pode educar os alunos sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Conclusão: Segundo os funcionários da escola, a presença de uma enfermeira escolar é importante e deve estar presente para manter a saúde dos alunos.

The Limping Child: Could It Be Lyme Arthritis? Information and Planning for School Nurses.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with Lyme arthritis becoming one of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease. It is imperative that school nurses become familiar with vector-borne disease and promptly consider Lyme arthritis to be contemplated as a differential diagnosis of a child presenting to the office with a limp and joint pain and swelling with no history of acute injury. The following article will discuss the overview, implications and management of Lyme arthritis in the school setting and includes a relevant IHP for school nurses to utilize in practice.

Asthma Assessment in the School Health Office: Can They Stay or Should They Go?

The Assessment Refresher for School Nurses series will review the health assessment and interventions of common complaints of children in the school health setting, making it easier for school nurses to determine whether children should stay in school or be sent home. Initial topics to be covered include asthma and allergies, immunizations, bullying/depression, and diabetes.

Are Body Mass Index Screening Programs in Schools Enough? Body Mass Index Notification, Follow-up, and School Nurse Role.

Childhood and adolescent obesity are epidemic in the United States. Because of this crisis, schools in our nation have been challenged to develop strategies to decrease the number of overweight and obese youth, with many states passing legislation requiring body mass index (BMI) monitoring by the school. This may be done as a screening or surveillance program depending on the state, with some states requiring notification to parents. As school nurses are often the only health professional in the school, they are typically the employee tasked with leading the BMI screening programs. School nurses, both in states requiring and in states without requirements for BMI screening programs, must be knowledgeable about evidence-based programs and strategies that have promise in reversing the obesity epidemic. Indeed, school nurses are in a position to be an active participant in the fight against the obesity and overweight crisis.

A Review of Four Health Procedures That School Nurses May Encounter.

The school nurse plays a vital role in providing care and meeting the health needs of students in the school setting. Students attend school with chronic conditions and complex medical problems such as quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy. It is the responsibility of the school nurse to provide appropriate assessment, early intervention, and care for children in the school environment. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the knowledge and skills the school nurse needs to care for students with central venous lines, gastrostomy tubes, altered urinary elimination, and tracheostomies.

Guidance for Return to Learn After a Concussion.

Returning to school following a diagnosed concussion presents challenges to the school nurse, especially when the student's health care provider does not provide guidance. While the student may appear "normal," their brain has been injured and needs time to heal. This article presents specific suggestions that may be helpful as the school nurse promotes schoolwide policy changes and develops an individualized plan for the student's "return to learn." Successful return to the role of student with a significant decrease in symptoms must precede any plans for a return to sports activity.

Identifying the Signs of Self-Harm in Students.

Self-harm in adolescents is not a new phenomenon. However, the number of adolescents who participate in self-harming behaviors is growing. It can be difficult to detect those who self-harm due to the secrecy that surrounds the act of self-harm itself. This article focuses on providing assistance to school professionals in the identification of signs of self-harm in adolescents and how to deal with this growing epidemic.

Is It PANS, CANS, or PANDAS? Neuropsychiatric Pediatric Disorders That Are Not Black and White--Implications for the School Nurse.

The terms pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), and childhood acute neuropsychiatric symptoms (CANS) have all been used to describe certain acute onset neuropsychiatric pediatric disorders. Additionally, controversy is ongoing concerning the diagnosis and etiology of the disorders. The school nurse, as a member of a multidisciplinary team, benefits from an awareness of these disorders, the resulting impact on school performance, and the recommended treatment. The school nurse assists the team through the development of an Individualized Healthcare Plan to help the student to achieve success in school.

Salud Escolar, ¿Por Qué el Profesional de Enfermería en las Escuelas Españolas? / School health, nursing professionals in spanish schools?

El presente artículo trata de justificar y argumentar, laimportancia de incluir a los profesionales de enfermería,en los departamentos de orientación de los centros deeducación públicos españoles, con la finalidad depromover estilos y hábitos de vida saludables que seanperdurables en el tiempo, y a través de la educación parala salud, conseguir fomentar una cultura de prevención yde promoción para la salud entre los escolares españoles.España se encuentra en un momento muy decisivo para eldesarrollo de la disciplina enfermería, con la recienteaparición de leyes, que van a ayudar al futuro de laprofesión. Con la Ley de Especialidades, se vuelve a darun nuevo impulso a la Enfermería Comunitaria y por endea la salud escolar, por lo que reivindicamos para enfermería, este nuevo espacio de desempeño profesional. /The purpose of this article is to justify and argue the importance of including nursing professionals in the counselling departments at Spanish public education centers in order to promote lasting healthy lifestyles and habits amongst Spanish school children through health education, encouraging a culture of prevention and health promotion. Spain is currently at a turning point regarding the future of nursing, thanks to the recent advent of laws that will privilege the future of the profession. The Specialties Law provides a new boost to Community Nursing and, consequently, to school nursing. Therefore, we strongly believe that this area of professional development should be opened up for nursing.