Elementary School Nurse Interventions: Attendance and Health Outcomes

Abstract

Regular school attendance is a necessary part of the learning process; student absenteeism has a direct association with poor academic performance. School nurses can influence student attendance. This study describes the impact of school nurse interventions on student absenteeism and student health. A retrospective review of 240 randomly selected elementary student health folders and attendance records was conducted. School nurses were involved with 75% of high-absence students as compared to 66% of low-absence students; they were also more involved with students who had previously identified health conditions. There were no referrals to the school nurse for absenteeism and school nurse interventions were not targeted to attendance, despite 17% of students missing 11 or more school days. Nursing documentation was sparse and primarily task related. Few records contained entries of nursing diagnoses, interventions, or outcomes. Of the 134 interventions provided, only 56 (41.2%) had some information about the condition outcome, but it was insufficient to determine the effectiveness of nursing interventions. Furthermore, the record system did not support the collection of standard information for interventions or outcomes from which effectiveness could be determined. Recommendations include establishment of an attendance referral policy and improved documentation systems, including the use of standardized nursing language to demonstrate student outcomes.

The Number of Students Sent Home by School Nurses Compared to Unlicensed Personnel

“…Weismuller, Grasska, Alexander, White, and Kramer (2007) completed a retrospective review of 240 randomly selected elementary student health folders and attendance records. School nurses were involved with 75% of high-absence students as compared to 66% of low-absence students.…”

“…They need to carefully document their daily activities and share what they do with parents, teachers, administrators, board members, and the public. If school nurses fail to share and promote their practice, there is no way for others to gain a true understanding of the importance that nurses have in taking care of children in the school setting (Weismuller et al, 2007).…”

Capturing Key NANDA‐I Nursing Diagnoses From Actual Clinical Data for Patients With Heart Failure

“…Nurses must continuously update the matrix of their thinking and reasoning about how patients are responding (Pesut, ). However, many decisions in practice are based on habits with little critical thinking involved (Weismuller, Grasska, Alexander, White, & Kramer, ). This leads to less accurate nursing diagnoses that negatively influence patients.…”

NANDA-I, NOC, and NIC linkages in nursing care plans for hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure

“…Other studies have also identified NICs for specific populations in diverse settings (Dahlen & Roberts, 1995;Laurent-Bopp, 2000;Schneider & Slowik, 2009;Weismuller, Grasska, Alexander, White, & Kramer, 2007). In school settings, Pavelka, McCarthy and Denehy (1999) identified NICs that were used by school nurses via a mailed survey.…”