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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Maria Anne Fletcher, RN, Phd candidate, Department of Nursing, St. Joseph's College, 265 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205, 516-791-3719, mflet10411@aol.com
School nursing will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. The history of school nursing offers us the opportunity to witness the struggles and achievements, the dedication courage, and vision of school nurses in the early part of the 20th century. This new practice setting for nursing provided opportunities for individual and professional growth. Exploring the past provides insight into current practices and direction for future initiatives. Prior to 1902, as a consequence of a policy of exlusion, hundreds of children were denied the educational opportunities available at the time. The Department of Education insisted that a better system of dealing with communicable diseases be instituted. The result was the introduction of the first school nurse in the United States in four schools in New York City. The experiment was evaluated at the end of one month and determined to be a success. The number of school nurses in one year increased from one to 27 with responsibility for 131 schools. At the end of one year research showed that 98% of children previously excluded were kept in schools due to the presence of trained nurses. Nurses roles in and responsibilities for school health have been enhanced over time. Core roles including care provider, health educator and advocate were essential in 1902 and have become more complex and vital in 2002. The evolution of these roles will be discussed and analyzed.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session the participant will be able to
Keywords: School Health, Nurses
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.