Overview
School nurses are essential members of the school healthcare team, providing a wide range of services that promote student health, well-being, and academic success ensuring that all students have the opportunity to thrive.
School nurses:
Provide Direct Healthcare:
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Emergency Care: School nurses are often the first responders to medical emergencies at school, such as injuries, allergic reactions, and sudden illnesses. They provide immediate care and determine if further medical attention is necessary.
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Medication Management: They administer medications to students with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or ADHD, ensuring they receive the proper dosage and monitoring for any adverse reactions.
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Health Assessments: School nurses conduct routine health screenings, such as vision and hearing tests, to identify potential health problems early on. They also provide referrals to specialists when necessary.
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Chronic Disease Management: They work with students who have chronic health conditions to develop individualized care plans, ensuring they can manage their condition and participate fully in school activities.
Provide Health Promotion and Education:
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Health Education: School nurses teach students about healthy habits, including nutrition, exercise, hygiene, and disease prevention. They also address topics such as substance abuse, mental health, and sexual health.
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Healthy School Environment: They advocate for a healthy and safe school environment by promoting policies and practices that support student well-being, such as handwashing protocols, allergy awareness, and immunization requirements.
Provide Collaboration and Advocacy:
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Collaboration with Families and Healthcare Providers: School nurses serve as a liaison between the school, families, and healthcare providers to ensure that students receive coordinated and comprehensive care.
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Advocacy for Students: They advocate for students' health needs and ensure they have access to necessary resources and support services.
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Mental Health Support: School nurses play a crucial role in identifying and supporting students with mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. They provide counseling, referrals to mental health professionals, and crisis intervention when needed.
Provide an Overall Impact:
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Improved Student Health: School nurses help improve student health outcomes by providing preventive care, managing chronic conditions, and promoting healthy behaviors.
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Increased Academic Success: Healthy students are more likely to attend school regularly, focus in class, and perform well academically. School nurses contribute to academic success by addressing health barriers to learning.
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Reduced Absenteeism: By providing timely care and managing health conditions, school nurses help reduce student absenteeism.
- Enhanced School Safety: School nurses are trained to handle medical emergencies and promote a safe school environment, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of the school community.
School Nurses Advocate for the Health and Well-being of Students
For More Nurse Information and Resources
Department of Health and Human Services
Student Health Services
Visit the Student Health Services page for the following resources:
- Responding to Student Head Injuries
- Period Products in Schools
- School Seizure Awareness Training
Reports and Statistics
Utah School Health Workload Report:
Board Rule R277-415 requires Utah school districts and charter schools to submit annual reports detailing school health workload data. This data collection facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the demands placed upon school health professionals and unlicensed school employees.
Annual Report:
To ensure equitable access to school nursing services in Utah, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) collaborate annually to analyze school health workloads. This report, leveraging data from the School Health Workload Survey, provides crucial insights beyond simple nurse-to-student ratios, which fail to capture the complexity of a school nurse's responsibilities. Instead, to accurately assess the need for nursing resources, staffing assignments should prioritize comprehensive workload assessments and consider the varying levels of care required by students, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive.
Laws and Policies
Nursing Practice and Delegation (in a school setting)
School nursing, firmly rooted in ethical principles and evidence-based practice, serves as a vital component in cultivating a healthy school environment conducive to optimal student development. Through the facilitation of care coordination, interprofessional collaboration, and student-centered approaches, school nurses effectively bridge the gap between healthcare and education. Furthermore, Utah school nurses operate within a strict legal framework when authorizing school staff to administer healthcare services. Prior to delegating any healthcare task, a comprehensive assessment of the situation is required to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. School nurses diligently adhere to the standards of practice delineated below.
Title 58-31b-101: Nurse Practice Act Utah State Legislature
R156-31b (701b): Nurse Practice Act Rule Utah Office of Administrative Rules
Utah Code Section 53G-9-204: Nursing Services in the Public Schools. Collaborative Efforts
School Health Medication Laws
Utah law establishes a comprehensive framework for the administration of medication in schools, prioritizing student safety and well-being.
These regulations govern the management of both prescription and non-prescription medications for students during school hours. The following provides an overview of key provisions designed to ensure the safe and appropriate nurse delegation and administration of medication in educational settings.
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-406: Voluntary participation
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-407: Training in the use and storage of epinephrine auto-injector
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-408: Training in use and storage of stock albuterol
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-409: Authority to obtain and use an epinephrine auto-injector or stock albuterol
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-509: Prescribing, dispensing, and administering an opiate antagonist -- Immunity from liability
- Utah Code Section 26B-4-510: Standing prescription drug orders for an opiate antagonist
Utah Code Section 53G-9-502: Administration of Medication to Students
Utah Code Section 53G-9-507: Administration of adrenal insufficiency medication. Training of school personnel. Authority to use adrenal insufficiency medication. Immunity from liability.Utah State Legislature
Professional Learning
Section 504 Webinar - Support Student with Medical Needs
Recording: Section 504 Webinar - Support for Students with Medical Needs
YouTube
Flyer: Section 504 Webinar - Support for Students with Medical Needs
Date: March 25, 2024
Investing in Student Health: Ongoing Training for School Nurses and Staff
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Maturation and Sex Education Instructors Training (R277-474) required every 3 years
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CPR/ First Aid Certification for school nurses, coaches, and teachers working in high risk areas required every 2 years (certification renewal)
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Seizure Awareness training required every 3 years for school employees (trainings must be preapproved by USBE)
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Stock epinephrine emergency medication training required for school employee volunteers every year (stock epinephrine emergency medication required on premises at each primary or secondary school in the state)
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Stock Albuterol use and storage annual training required for school employee volunteers
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Student medication trainings required for school employee volunteers
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Local Education Agency (LEA) assigned trainings and requirements
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For other school nurse training (including vision screening training), please visit the DHHS (Heal/School Nursing) website