Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicidal Ideation Among School Nurses in Prekindergarten through Grade 12 Schools — United States, March 2022

Abstract

School nurses are integral to creating safe environments in U.S. schools. Many experienced increased work burden and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC collaborated with the National Association of School Nurses and the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants to distribute a 121-item online, anonymous survey to school nurses nationwide during March 7-30, 2022. Among the 7,971 respondents, symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, and suicidal ideation were measured, and prevalence ratios were used to identify associations with demographics, workplace characteristics, and support. Results found high levels of work-related stressors and indicated that employment characteristics, COVID-19-related job duties, and other workplace stressors and supports affected school nurse mental health. The survey findings underscore the mental health challenges many school nurses experienced during the 2021/2022 school year. The findings can inform supportive policies and practices to reduce workplace stressors and increase workplace supports for school nurses.

The Role of the School Nurse in the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the rate of student visits to school nurses for mental health and anxiety, suggesting that the pediatric population is at risk of increased adverse mental health impacts related to the pandemic and underlining the key role that the nurse has in identifying young people in need of assistance (Banzon et al, 2023). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many nurses experienced increased work burdens and stress; a survey highlights mental health challenges that many school nurses experienced during the school year 2021/2022, proving that nurses faced adverse working conditions (Merkle et al, 2023). A 2023 study (Best et al, 2023) highlights the mental health consequences of burnout, stress, and depression in front-line healthcare workers.…”

Data Collection: Time to revisit the WHY, WHAT, and HOW

“…We have encountered many additional challenges and barriers to providing safe, high-quality care over the past several years in school nursing. Many have questioned why to stay in school nursing, and many have chosen to leave school nursing (Merkle et al, 2023). In times of chaos and recovery from trauma, this is an especially important question for each of us to reconsider: “ WHY am I a school nurse?” “ WHY do I show up to work every day?” These may be harder to answer than before, but this is an ideal time to sit and reflect.…”

Learning from the Past and Moving Forward: Implementing School Nursing Research Priorities

“…The well-being of school nurses must be explored using measures such as stress, burnout, moral distress, and anxiety. Using different methodological approaches, Lee et al (2021) and Merkle et al (2022) explored school nurses’ experiences and examined symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among school nurses during the pandemic. These studies underscore the mental health challenges many school nurses experienced and must inform supportive policies, practices, and future studies to reduce workplace stressors and increase workplace support for school nurses.…”