Currently there are about 50,000 school nurses employed in the
United States. These nurses are a very special type of nurse, since
they must have training in dealing with children and their development,
as well as treatment for the younger patient. School nurses are an
integral part of every school, public or private, and are there to
perform a number of very important duties. The job of school nurses is
to help promote health and safety within the school environment, assess
various illness levels with children, and help to treat small instances
of injury if necessary. They can take children’s temperatures to
determine if a fever is present, check for things like lice, and refer
children to a doctor if need be in the event that a child is too sick
to stay in class. Often, school nurses are there to be a comfort to
children who may not feel well, and can really help ease their fears or
discomfort. Most school nurses have some access to children’s medical
information, so that they are aware of any known allergies or other
problems.
The job of school nurses is extremely
important, and it helps ease parents’ minds, too. Knowing there is a
nurse on school premises often helps to relieve some pressure or fear
from the parents in the event their child is sick. A nurse can also
tell if children are “faking it” or not, and can then determine whether
or not the parents need to be called. School nurses have always been a
very special part of the educational system, and their job is one of
educating children and parents, as well as treating them when they are
sick. There are organizations where school nurses can get together and
discuss various practices and methods for dealing with children and
their parents in a clinical setting. The school National Association of
School Nurses is a great resource.