Public health nurses in Canadian schools: An opportunity to build capacity and nursing scholarship

Abstract

Public health nurses (PHNs) in Canada have the potential to significantly benefit the health and academic outcomes of school age children with its impact lasting into adulthood. Unfortunately, cuts in government funding over the years have diminished the presence of PHNs in schools and their ability to practice to their full scope. In the midst of a pandemic, having a strong nursing presence in schools may facilitate public health efforts and reduce the burden on teachers and administration. This discussion paper will explore the current role of nurses in Canadian schools in relation to school nurses in other parts of the world. An overview of the literature looking at the impact of the school nurse on school health (i.e., student health and academic outcomes) will be presented to provide evidence in support of rebuilding nursing capacity in Canadian schools. Finally, the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice will be introduced as a viable nursing theory to facilitate rebuilding PHN capacity in schools.

Children and adolescents' mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study of their experiences

“…School or public health nurses may be in the best position to mitigate the negative repercussions experienced by C&A during pandemics. They can not only assist in applying preventative measures in schools (e.g., screening and immunization), but also monitor students' mental health and well‐being (Buduhan & Woodgate, 2021; Williams et al, 2021). Online care support or hybrid models can be used to check‐in on students periodically during pandemics (Williams et al, 2021), particularly during school closures, as our findings suggest these are the times C&A' mental health was most affected.…”