NASN School Nurse

Current evidence-based and best practice vision screening and eye health approaches, tools, and procedures are the result of revised national guidelines in the last 3 years and advances in research during the past 18 years. To help the busy school nurse, with little time to keep up with changes in children’s vision practices and a growing body of literature, the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness is providing answers to five questions that are often received from the field. Topical areas include (1) which numbers to record when using a 10-foot chart, (2) instrument-based screening and visual acuity, (3) screening children who wear glasses, (4) referring children who do not pass color vision deficiency screening, and (5) conducting near visual acuity screening monocularly or binocularly.

The work of the school nurse does not end with the institution of an evidence-based intervention. The steps of EBP tell us that we must “Assess” the effectiveness of an intervention to determine if it is having the desired effect. When we find success in our EBP changes we must come full circle and share or “Alert” stakeholders and other school nurses by disseminating our work. School nurses can share their success through written and oral presentations to insure that we add to our collective school nursing knowledge.

Students presenting with syncope and/or seizure occur occasionally in the school setting. Several studies have shown that seizures as well as respiratory distress are the most common medical emergencies that prompt school nurses and staff to contact emergency medical services (EMS) to transport students to the closest emergency department (Knight 1999, Olympia 2005). It is important to develop a differential diagnosis for syncope, to initiate stabilization of the student with life-threatening symptoms, and to triage these students to an appropriate level of care (back to the classroom, home with their guardian with follow-up at their primary health care provider’s office, or directly to the closest emergency department via EMS). This article describes the initial assessment and management of two students presenting after syncopal events.

In June 2018, NASN begins a yearlong 50th-anniversary celebration. This article is the first in a series exploring the history, examining the present, and visioning the future of our organization. Part 1 provides a historical account of the first 25 years of the organization and uncovers the passion of our past leaders in promoting the profession of school nursing and creating a national unified voice. With its inception in the United States in 1902, school nurses seeking professional affiliation joined where they were welcome. Unfortunately, no single organization was open and willing to speak on behalf of all school nurses. Through partnerships, collaboration, advocacy, sacrifice, and unwavering determination, a group of school nurses leaders successfully birthed our organization. Yes, the 50th anniversary of NASN deserves a celebration!

NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™ (the Framework) provides a graphic illustration of the key principles of professional school nursing practice, reflects NASN’s stance for evidence-based best practice and provides a focus when prioritizing school nursing activity. In order to ensure fidelity of the Framework and to provide professional development for school nurses, NASN is embarking on an exciting new project: Focus on the Framework, a series of five Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) modules, along with a certificate of proficiency in the Framework, which will be earned after the completion of all five modules and the successful completion of a culminating activity. We invite your feedback and suggestions as the certificate process is developed.