School and public health nurses: Partners in population-based school health data and programs

School nurses already work with 95 percent of school-aged children in the United States. These nurses are the daily eyes and ears of public health. They observe the social determinants and health disparities of their communities on a firsthand basis. In addition, as part of their role and responsibilities, school nurses keep records of the health services they provide. These records include information about students who are well (those who receive screenings, immunizations, episodic health room care); and students with chronic health conditions (emergency care planning; daily treatment and response data for students with conditions such as asthma, severe allergies, seizure disorders, and type I diabetes). School nurses also maintain health records for students who do not receive care in the typical health care provider systems and whose only access to care may be the school nurse. Some of the data that school nurses collect is shared with maternal and child health programs at the local and state level. However, this is not a universal practice. This presentation will share several successful examples from around the nation of how school nurses have partnered with public health nurses and even health care providers in the sharing of data electronically and in coordinating efforts to use resources more efficiently. With continued threats to public health budgets and the responsibilities of public health nurses being stretched thinner it is critical to look at new ways to accomplish and outreach to populations.