Agency
Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Education Requirements
School nurses in Class I districts must hold an Educational Staff Associated (ESA) certificate.
Definition
The school nurse provides case management for students in her/his caseload and interacts with parents, primary health care providers, community, and school resources to provide a school environment that is safe, healthy, and conducive to learning. These services vary depending upon availability of nursing services.
Client Eligibility
All students in public schools are eligible for school nurse services. Contact a school nurse for client referral.
Source: Washington State Nursing Quality Assurance Commission, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, April, 2000
Services Provided
Case management of children with special health care needs involves activities designed to ensure the health and educational success of the child at school. It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that school nurses have knowledge, experience and authority to be the case manager for children with special health care needs. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Knowledge about services needed by students with special health care needs, after collaboration with student, family and health care provider.
- Knowledge about community services and assisting families in obtaining needed services.
- Screening for students who would qualify and benefit from case management services for their health care needs.
- Providing leadership in interdisciplinary team meetings to assist in planning needed services to meet the health and educational needs of the students.
- Implementing the health team's care plan by providing direct or indirect care.
- Coordinating continuity of care between home and the school.
- Monitoring and evaluating interventions and implementation of the health care plan.
- Monitoring and evaluating progress toward health and educational goals.
- Training, monitoring, and evaluating personnel delegated to perform specific nursing care.
A case management team is essential in ensuring care is provided in a coordinated and effective manner for students with special health care needs. The school nurse must assume the leadership position as case manager in this process. The school nurse, in the role of case manager, provides oversight of care and services and serves as the point of contact for communication among the student, family, school staff, and health care provider.
To learn more visit
http://www.k12.wa.us/HealthServices/default.aspx
Source: National Association of School Nurses Position Statement, "Case Management of Children with Special Health Care Needs", adopted June 1995; revised: October 2002.
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Last modified: 4/21/08
