The importance of nursing services within schools for students with special health needs has been recognized in Missouri. Twenty-five personal interviews and twenty focus groups were held with practicing school nurses in Missouri asking them to describe the nursing care needed for a child with special health care needs. Audiotaped data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic codes were developed and validated by co-investigators. This presentation will explore nursing competencies and skills needed to care for children with special health care needs as identified in this qualitative study. Major categories of findings included public health nursing skills; health education skills; communication skills; leadership and management skills; and nursing knowledge and technical skills. These findings have been used in the development of a Master’s level program in public health nursing with a school health specialty as well as continuing education offerings. See none
Learning Objectives: 1. Verbalize the nursing skills and competencies that are important in caring for children with special health care needs. 2. Recognize content and skills that should be included in educational offerings for practicing school nurses.
Keywords: School Health, Nurses
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.