“Research suggests that students who receive direct health care and/or care coordination, have fewer visits to their urgent care centers, emergency rooms and health care provider. Also, fewer report the need of long-term hospitalization,” the report reads.
The comprehensive approach, what NASN calls “care coordination,” creates the foundational mindset for how nurses manage students with chronic health conditions. This approach supports students through their health challenges and works to alleviate physical and emotional strains on each student.“For the individual student, care coordination begins when a family accompanies the student to school with a medical diagnosis and health care provider (HCP) orders,” NASN Executive Director Donna Mazyck told the Chronic Disease Coalition.
“The development of a student’s individualized health care plan is then done in full collaboration with the student and their family to develop a plan that incorporates their personal preferences and their medical provider’s orders to be implemented at school,” Mazyck said. “This planning also includes a nursing assessment of the student, their class schedule and necessary communication to provide a continuum of care between home, school and community.”
By creating a transparent and supportive environment, this approach works to destigmatize the conversation about chronic illnesses and encourages students to not feel defined by their disease. Tennessee school nurse Andrea Cain of Christiana Elementary, who was interviewed by WTVF-TV about her role in caring for students with chronic illnesses, described the challenges her students face.“Their world is turned upside down,” she told WTVF-TV. “We're constantly watching, monitoring and developing a plan of care for our students that keeps them at optimal health for classroom learning.”
The NASN report highlights schools providing quality care to their students but also sheds light on the challenges many schools, districts and states face when looking to provide proper care with limited resources.“Educators at the state, regional, district and school level need to understand the burden of having a chronic disease as a student,” Mazyck explained. “As the gap in implementing evidence-based care coordination known to support student health and academics varies, this approach supports the mission of schools, students and families that are trusting their schools to provide a safe and impactful learning environment.”
The NASN urges schools and district administrators to support and encourage professional development for school nurses. By investing in school nurse education on how students’ unique health conditions can affect their learning environment, the overall health, education and emotional support of the students would benefit. The report also recommends additional solutions for school nurses when looking to offer proper care coordination for students, including:● Identify a process that supports a consistent flow of health information between the home and school. Tell families which school personnel are responsible for collecting and processing information, and obtain the signatures required for exchanging that information. Develop forms that are easy for families to understand.
● Connect families and students to community resources and partners such as camps, support groups, affinity groups and mental health and social services agencies.
● Provide continuity of care during times of transition, such as when a student changes grade levels or schools, moves between inpatient health care and school or experiences changes in their family’s structure.
● Talk with families about options for financial coverage of their child’s health care.
● Connect families with primary or specialty health care providers as needed. Help schedule health care appointments.
● Engage in community activities and identify resources that address social determinants of health that affect students and families such as access to care, health insurance, transportation, stable housing and sustainable food sources.
The Chronic Disease Coalition supports this impactful initiative and is grateful for the school nurses who are developing proper care coordination for our country’s students. We encourage those within the entire community to share your story.