Equipping the School Nurse to Facilitate Effective Diabetes Management in School

Background Children with diabetes are more likely to succeed in school when allowed to fully implement their individualized plan of care. The school nurse role is critical in facilitating collaboration and communication between the student, family, health care provider and school personnel to ensure safe and effective diabetes management at school.

Purpose Efforts to equip the school nurse with the knowledge, skills and resources to facilitate effective diabetes management in school involve a multi-faceted approach: live continuing education, web access to forms and tools, and resources to train other school personnel. Significance The school nurse provides the health expertise and care coordination needed to ensure cooperation from all school personnel in assisting the student toward self-management of diabetes. Safe and effective diabetes management at school is foundational to a student's academic success.

Methodology The National Association of School Nurses is an active partner in several national diabetes initiatives resulting in benefits for school nurses and the children they serve. Outcomes include evidence-based continuing education programs, tools, and resources.

Findings/Results Educational offerings, tools and resources for diabetes management at school and their impact on school nursing practice will be discussed.

Conclusions/Recommendations The school nurse, equipped with evidence-based information, tools and resources, facilitates the collaboration and communication necessary to provide an individualized approach to diabetes management at school. This approach fosters student health allowing for full participation in school, and ensures academic success.