The number of students with chronic and complex health conditions significantly affects a teacher's ability to teach and meet the needs of the whole child--especially combined with the impact of societal issues such as poverty, violence, and the growing population of families who speak a language other than English at home. Education in America is…

It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) that the delegation of nursing tasks in the school setting can be a valuable tool for the school nurse, when based on the nursing definition of delegation and in compliance with state nursing regulations and guidance. Delegation in school nursing is a complex process in which…

Background: With the increasing acuity of student health problems, growing rates of poverty among urban families, and widening racial/ethnic health disparities in child and adolescent health indicators, the contributions of school nurses are of increasing interest to policymakers. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of school nurses on…

School nurses are essential and cost-effective for school districts. Local school districts and state and local health departments can work together to benefit children. Districts that have analyzed the cost-benefit ratio of school nurses have striking evidence of their cost-effectiveness. The more health services are made available to children at…

Two major trends have affected the responsibility of the public schools in providing health education and services over the past 2 decades. First, the structure of the family and the demographics of the school-aged population have changed dramatically, placing greater burdens for child welfare on school systems. Second, the leading causes of…

Medically fragile children need special supervision and care. Educators' concerns center on the time it takes to perform needed services, adequate preparation, and potential liability. Offers nine guidelines that address the needs of medically fragile children while minimizing the threats of liability. A related page summarizes issues raised by…

There are often insufficient protections in public schools regarding students' health records, their storage, and access to them by other school personnel. Explores some of the causes in current law for this dilemma and offers some suggestions aimed at clarifying acceptable options for school health care providers. (120 footnotes) (MLF)

This Wisconsin study responded to a state law (1989 Wisconsin Act 82) requiring evaluation of the fiscal and programmatic impact of limiting the involvement of school district employees, other than health care professionals, in providing specialized physical health care services to pupils. Responses of 495 (out of 1,000) schools surveyed found the…