The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60362

Penny Riley, BSN, RN, NCSN, Summit County Health Department, 1100 Graham Road Circle, Stow, OH 44224-2992, 330-926-5703, priley@schd.org and Nichole Bobo, RN, MSN, National Association of School Nurses, 1416 Park Street, Suite A, Castle Rock, CO 80104.

School nurses partner with local and state agencies to provide students and families with immunizations and information regarding disease preventable vaccines. Healthy People 2010 goals target not only children but adults to increase coverage levels of vaccine delivery; achieving these goals often meets resistance by health care providers and the public’s perception of side effects and risks. While Ohio schools are not required by law to provide school nursing services, many public and private schools choose to have a school nurse who is either contracted though local health departments, private agencies, or who are school board hired. Local health departments are a reliable source of information and provider of immunizations. Summit County Combined Health District, Stow, Ohio, provides not only school nursing services and immunizations but is a provider of training for school nurses through SNIPP, School Nurse Immunization Promotion Program. The School Nurse Immunization Promotion Program is an initiative of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and is supported by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a trusted member of the communities they serve, participating school nurses are trained to provide information on the importance of vaccines for all ages. Only through diligence and collaboration with local and state agencies can the school nurse stay current and proactive in maintaining the health of the students and communities by advocating for improved immunization rates.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to:
• Recognize the importance of immunization compliance at all ages of the life cycle.
• Identify necessary components of a training program for school nurses giving immunization information in their communities.
• Develop strategies for collaboration between local and state health departments and school nurses.

Keywords: Immunizations, Community Collaboration

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.