The National Association of School Nurses, Inc. has proclaimed Wednesday, May 10, as National School Nurse Day.
National School Nurse Day was established in 1977 to foster a better understanding of the role school nurses play in the educational setting. Today, school nursing is recognized as a specialized practice that advances the wellbeing, academic success, and life-long achievement of students.
To this end, school nurses promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student/family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy, and learning.
They provide these services to increasingly large numbers of students, often at more than one school building. A celebration of how much school nurses do to keep kids healthy and ready to learn is a key component of National School Nurse Day celebrations.
School nurses have played a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of our nation’s children. Association President, Sue Will, said, “More than ever, the value of school nurses is recognized. More students have chronic health problems that require safe care and management at school. This is especially evident for students who have asthma, diabetes and severe allergies, along with chronic and acute health problems. School nurses help children safely manage a large variety of health problems. And all children benefit from wellness activities, which support academic success. Children learn better when they are healthy”
Schools and communities are encouraged to join with their school nurses in celebrating this important day. Most states have identified a “School Nurse of the Year” award winner who has made a significant impact on students, staff, and the community.
For more information on National School Nurse Day, go online to www.nasn.org.
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