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Schools are uniquely positioned to promote public health, teaching students about topics such as healthy behaviors and wellbeing while also providing health screenings for students and sharing resources for families.
An evidence-based article published in Public Health Nursing by Erin Maughan, an expert on school nursing and child health, and colleagues recommends the strategic coordination of public health nurses and school nurses to uplift the health of children, families, and communities:
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School health promotion and service efforts from outside agencies may be repetitive and ineffective if not coordinated with school nurses, who are already implementing school-based health activities and services.
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Public health nurses and school nurses can bridge the gap between local health departments and schools by facilitating comprehensive community health assessments. Comprehensive assessments will allow the creation of more efficient plans to address community health needs.
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Financial and policy support are essential, and organizations and local governments should prioritize funding for effective and efficient school-based health initiatives.
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Using digital technology, such as electronic health records, can centralize health information and optimize communication for data-driven decision making as well as tracking disease outbreaks, rates of chronic conditions, and assessing needs of vulnerable groups.
“School health is public health and school nurses are the frontline of public health,” said Maughan.
Public health nurses specialize in the promotion of the health and safety of populations, working in settings including health departments, schools, homes, community health centers, clinics, or correctional facilities. School nurses play a critical role in school systems, addressing social factors that may prevent students and families from achieving optimal health.
About the researcher
Erin Maughan, PhD, MS, RN, PHNA-BC, FNASN, FAAN, is an associate professor in the School of Nursing. Maughan is a leading expert on school nursing and the health of school-age children, with over 22 years of experience working as a frontline school nurse, the state school and adolescent school nurse consultant, and school nurse researcher. Her research expertise is in the role of infrastructure and policy on school nurse staffing and services, leadership, strategic planning, innovation, and mentoring. Before coming to George Mason, Maughan served as director of research at the National Association of School Nurses, where she co-led the development of a national uniform data set for school nurses, identification of school nurse indicators, and the creation of NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. Her career is dedicated to children’s health, especially vulnerable populations.