School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities

School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential.

A School Nurse’s Impact to Students

School nurses use their clinical judgement and public health expertise to identify health needs early, determining risk and protective factors, and providing early intervention to prevent issues escalating.

A school nurse plays an essential role in improving students’ general health because of his or her extraordinary support to facilitate their normal development and promoting continuity of care across their student life. As a whole, a school nurse is one among the most important people who can make a difference in a student’s education process.

The School Nurse role includes:

• Provide first aid care and health assessment;

• Write care plans and coordinate the care of students with chronic or acute health conditions;

• Communicate with teachers and staff to ensure student safety and well-being

• Administer medications and monitor delegated medication administration;

• Assist in the evaluation of students for Special Services (Special Education);

• Coordinate and provide vision and hearing screenings;

• Assist families in accessing health insurance and health care services; and

• Educate and train staff on: asthma, life threatening allergies, diabetes, and blood borne pathogens.