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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Priscilla Flowers, BS, RN, CDE, Drexel University Nutrition Center, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-895-2422, pf32@drexel.edu, Rhona Cooper, MSN, MA, RN, School District of Philadelphia, Office of Specialized Services, 440 N. Broad Street, Suite 206, Philadelphia, PA 19130, and Shortie McKinney, PhD, RD, FADA, College of Health Professions, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755.

Purpose: BMI-for-age is the recognized standard for tracking growth and screening for overweight in children. Many school districts now require school nurses to calculate BMI and plot those measurements using CDC growth charts. This study examined growth screening practices of school nurses including knowledge, attitudes, measurement technique and equipment.

Methods: A questionnaire and knowledge assessment was completed by 45 school nurses in non-public schools in Philadelphia.

Results: The majority of nurses reported confidence in their measurements (65% for weight, 55% for height). However, potential sources of inaccuracy were identified. A balance beam scale was used by 88% with only 10% knowing to use a documented weight to calibrate the scale. For height measurements, 58% use a stadiometer and 18% use the height bar on the balance beam scale. Although 68% reported calibrating height equipment, only 15% correctly use a calibration rod. A common measurement error, “head not positioned in the Frankfort plane”, was correctly identified by only 18% of the nurses. 45% of the nurses reported using the BMI wheel for BMI calculation. 32% of the nurses were not calculating BMI. Nearly 60% of the nurses expressed that accuracy of height and weight measurements by school nurses could be improved.

Conclusion: Although school nurses report confidence in accuracy of growth-screening practices, they express the need to improve accuracy. In light of the revised growth screening guidelines and potential inaccuracies in measurement technique and equipment, school nurses may benefit from a professional development program on using standardized protocols for growth measurements.

Learning Objectives: