Over the past 25 years, the roles of school nurses have been both expanding and specializing in public and non-public school settings. To help meet the everchanging and demanding challenges that specialized school nurses encounter in their unique settings, NASN embraced the idea that school nurses need a way to connect with colleagues working in similar practices. Thus, special interest groups (SIGs) were established, and the SIGs have become an integral part of NASN.
Most of the members of the National Association of School Nurses have an intimate knowledge of the daily services provided by public school nurses and the challenges they face. But some may not be aware that approximately 15% of the NASN membership works in private, independent, or parochial schools. Just how different from the majority of our nurses’ daily work are the experiences of the nurses who are working in the nonpublic schools? The answer may surprise you.
Obtaining a position as a school nurse is an exciting career opportunity, but the reality of a new position in a new specialty area can quickly lead to anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Your first thoughts might be “Can I really do this job?” and “Where and how do I begin?” The answer to these questions will depend on your situation—are you a nurse hired for a previously established school nurse position or are you the first nurse at your school, charged with initiating a school health program? The purpose of this article is to offer guidance for the novice school nurse in establishing a school health program and school nurse office, as well as to encourage and provide direction for the development of your school nursing practice.
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