Health care is an ever-changing field, and there’s no exception when it comes to kids. School nurses are responsible not only for caring for the wellbeing of students but also for staying up to date with current health news. Of course, school nurses have a serious workload and don’t always have time to hunt for the information they need. Here are five great resources designed to support school nurses.
1. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
Belonging to this professional organization is a must for all school nurses. The NASN website provides a wealth of education and advocacy resources. Every health topic of importance to school nurses is covered in detail, and the group provides comprehensive information about the latest health research too. Members have the opportunity to seek out mentors and find support as they study to receive advanced degrees in nursing. NASN provides scholarship opportunities to deserving students who want to earn a BSN in addition to their RN. The group also hosts a job board where nurses can learn about employment opportunities.
2. A School Nurse’s Guide to Kids Health and Safety
This innovative visual guide provides essential information to school nurses in an easy-to-scan, visually compelling format. This free guide is also an awesome resource for professionals who are making the switch from another health care discipline to school nursing. It offers information about common childhood illnesses, kid’s exercise and nutrition needs, and basic childhood hygiene. Colorful pictures and diagrams guide nurses and can help them explain health concerns to parents and school administrators too. Printable hand washing instructions, exercise flyers and nutrition tracking sheets that can be distributed to teachers and students are included in this excellent resource.
3. The Nutrition Source
This information-rich website from the Harvard School of Public Health provides a wealth of resources to help school nurses better understand current nutrition topics. Resources include information on the basics of nutrition as well as analysis of the latest news and research in the world of nutrition. The printable “Healthy Eating Plate” flyer and other printables can be used to provide nutrition education to students, teachers and parents. It’s also a priceless resource for school nurses who are actively involved in overhauling school lunch programs. In-depth information about diabetes and other diseases that impact how kids eat is provided also.
4. The Joslin Diabetes Center’s Resources for School Nurses
The Joslin Diabetes Center actively maintains a webpage that provides current diabetes resources for school nurses. Childhood diabetes is a major public health concern, and school nurses are expected to have sophisticated knowledge about the disease. Nurses will find an array of helpful resources along with links to American Dietetic Association position statements relevant to school settings. Links to medical and pharmaceutical companies that make diabetes supplies are also provided so that nurses can find information about the various medications and devices that their students use. On a separate page dedicated to childhood diabetes, nurses will find helpful resources for the families of diabetic students.
5. The NASN Back-to-School Toolkit
Available only to NASN members, this comprehensive toolkit includes everything from planning guides for nurses to informational flyers for parents. It includes a variety of checklists that help both nurses and parents evaluate student health and plan for the coming year. Information included also helps nurses better manage and understand health concerns such as diabetes and HIV. All of the resources in the toolkit are evaluated yearly and updated as needed so that the most accurate information available is reflected. While this resource is generally publicized at the beginning of each school year, it includes information about health concerns that students will encounter throughout the year.
Being a school nurse is a demanding job. After all, you juggle the health needs of a whole school. That’s why it’s essential to find resources that make doing your job easier.
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