Pam S. Buchalter, PhDc, RN¹, Diane Allensworth, PhD², Patricia C. Clark, PhD, RN¹, Colleen DiIorio, PhD, RN³, and Gloria Taylor, DSN, RNc⁴. (1) Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 2041 Dayron Court, Marietta, GA 30062, 770-579-6423, pblumso@learnlink.emory.edu, (2) Executive Director, Kids' Health, 1655 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, (3) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Health Education, 1520 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, (4) Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, #1601, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Classroom teachers are gatekeepers who determine whether students are sent out of the classroom when they are not feeling well. Teachers rely on school nurses to assess student’s health problems and determine if they should be sent home or back to class. However, according to a recent survey, only 38% of school districts in Georgia had a full-time school nurse in the 2002-2003 school year. This means that students often receive care from unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). This may influence the decision a teacher makes about sending a child out of the classroom.

A study was conducted using twenty-five elementary schools, with only a part-time school nurse, from a large, urban school district in Georgia. The nurse and UAP from each school collected data on planned and unplanned school health care encounters to determine differences in 1) the number of students referred to them by teachers 2) the characteristics of the students (age, grade level, gender, race, and ongoing health problem) seen and 3) the type of student health complaints presented. In addition, three focus groups were conducted with elementary school teachers to explore the teachers’ perceptions of the factors involved in their decision to send students with health complaints out of the classroom for a school health care encounter.

The presenter will share the findings from this study and discuss the role that teachers have in determining access to health resources in a school setting. In addition, the implications of having a part-time school nurse will be considered.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize differences between school nurses and UAP in the number of student health care encounters, and the characteristics and health complaints of students seen.
• Understand the rationale behind an elementary school teacher’s decision to send a child out of the classroom due to a health concern.
• Discuss the public health implications of having a part-time school nurse in an elementary school.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, School Health

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.