Elementary School Nurses’ Perceptions Regarding Menstruation Education: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Menarche can be a difficult transition for young people. With appropriate education, youth can feel more positively about the menstrual experience. Since many elementary teachers are not equipped with menstrual health knowledge, the education falls to the school nurse. However, it is unknown if school nurses feel comfortable communicating about menstruation with young people. The purpose of this study was to explore school nurses’ perceptions regarding menstrual health education in elementary schools (grades K-5). An online mixed-methods survey was established using Qualtrics. Through snowball sampling, 30 elementary school nurses responded. Using the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) as a framework, a deductive semantic thematic analysis was used to identify themes for each question. Data suggested that elementary school nurses would participate in professional development regarding menstrual health and hygiene. School health nurses are receiving limited knowledge/skills surrounding pedagogy and are not familiar with cultural differences when it comes to menstrual health.

Supporting girls with painful menstruation - A qualitative study with school nurses in Sweden

“…They also reflected on the lack of written guidelines to support them in the treatment, support, followup and referral of girls with problems related to menstruation. Our results partly contradict Sweeney et al (2022), who concluded that elementary school nurses in Minnesota felt unprepared to teach menstrual health and hygiene to their students (Sweeney et al, 2022). Furthermore, important aspects that were revealed and described as challenging by Sweeney et al (2022) were not considered by the nurses in our sample.…”

“…Our results partly contradict Sweeney et al (2022), who concluded that elementary school nurses in Minnesota felt unprepared to teach menstrual health and hygiene to their students (Sweeney et al, 2022). Furthermore, important aspects that were revealed and described as challenging by Sweeney et al (2022) were not considered by the nurses in our sample. For example, no one talked about transgender competency training regarding menstrual health.…”

Period Product Resources and Needs in Schools: A Statewide Survey of Missouri's School Nurses

“…A few qualitative studies about MHM in schools have involved school nurses 10 and adolescents, 11,12 as well as a quantitative study of teachers 13 . One study assessing elementary school nurses' comfort level talking with students about menstruation found that nurses desire more professional development in this arena 10 . To date, however, there are no large‐scale quantitative studies of school nurses about this issue.…”

“…13 One study assessing elementary school nurses' comfort level talking with students about menstruation found that nurses desire more professional development in this arena. 10 To date, however, there are no large-scale quantitative studies of school nurses about this issue.…”

“…School nurses are on the frontlines of caring for students, helping ensure they can attend school all day. A few qualitative studies about MHM in schools have involved school nurses 10 and adolescents, 11,12 as well as a quantitative study of teachers 13 . One study assessing elementary school nurses' comfort level talking with students about menstruation found that nurses desire more professional development in this arena 10 .…”