School nurses: Effective partners with the community

This session will briefly describe the development of school health services in Massachusetts, including regulations, licensure requirements for school nurses, implementation of a School Health Institute (a partnership with Northeastern University), data and surveillance systems, performance improvement and the development of model programs: These programs are based on the appointment of a qualified (masters-prepared) school nurse leader or director who is responsible for implementation of a wide variety of public health programs, as well as partnerships with the community. Examples of these partnerships will be discussed, including, but not limited to (a) pilot project with five hospital endocrinology units to co-manage the care of challenging students, (b) requirements for school-based wellness committees with community representation as well as joint initiatives, (c) development of partnerships with pediatricians. Emerging public health issues as they relate to the school nurse's role in partnering with a wide variety of stakeholders and community agencies will also be addressed: (a) support of military families (a partnership with the Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program), identification of students at risk for sex trafficking (a partnership with the Boston Police) and mental health screening and interventions (a partnership with Boston University and the Bureau of Substance Abuse). A focus will be on the school. nurse's role as an (a) an "open door clinic" for students, (b) the key clinical professional in the school setting, (c) a health leader responsible for developing community partnerships, and (d) a recognized public health professional in the community.