Rediscovering School Nurses: A GP Trainee’s Journey into Hidden Brilliance
Introduction
As a trainee General Practitioner, I was surprised at the limited exposure that I had to the work and the far-reaching impact of school nurses. My journey to understand their roles and responsibilities unveiled a world of dedication and brilliance. Through interviews with five exceptional school nurses and a compilation of case reports, I was inspired.
This blog aims to highlight the integral role that school nurses play in the health and wellbeing of children and young people. It is an invitation to recognise and support these exceptional professionals. I hope to inspire other healthcare professionals to reconnect with their school nurses and strengthen these crucial community relationships.
School nurses are registered nurses with specialised qualification in public health. They provide care and support to children and young people aged 5-19 years in school settings and are uniquely placed to shape, protect, and promote their health and wellbeing while working to reduce health inequalities.
In June 2023, there were only 1,944 school nurses in the country, a significant decrease of almost one-third since 2010. (1) This shortage has worsened due to decline in the number of applicants to nursing courses, resulting in each school nurse covering anything between 5-10 schools.
School nurses have a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge from various medical and surgical specialties such as Paediatrics, Trauma and Orthopaedics and Emergency Medicine. For instance, Nurse Sherman had been a medical and surgical nurse, and a research nurse, before qualifying as a school nurse two years ago. He now works as a school nurse team-lead for his borough. Similarly, Nurse Jessica, with over a decade of experience as a school nurse, currently works as a nurse consultant for public health. Her past roles included school nursing team lead, advisor for Public Health England, and member of the executive committee of the School and Public Health Association.
The diverse skill set held by school nurses, coupled with their compassion and dedication, equips them to address the multifaceted health-needs of children and young people. And, their deep understanding of child health, combined with public health expertise, allows them to provide holistic care that is both preventative and responsive in nature.
Discovering the roles and responsibilities
Impact on Student’s Lives
School nurses’ responsibilities go far beyond basic health care. They serve as advocates for children and young people, helping them at their most critical time and transition in life. They provide a holistic assessment and care encompassing physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, acting as the bridge between the school, parents and other healthcare providers.
Challenges and misconceptions
Despite their essential roles, school nurses face numerous challenges. They are often overstretched and underfunded, dealing with limited resources, insufficient health services to accommodate the community and inequality in service. Additionally, the safeguarding role has increased, shifting time away from clinical and public health promotion roles. “Staffing is a big issue, and recruitment is difficult”, said nurse Sherman.
Misconceptions about their role persist. Many still view school nurses as handing out plasters and managing minor ailments, an enormous underestimation that needs to be broken down.
A day in the life of a school nurse
Beyond the classroom
The work of school nurses extends far beyond the school grounds. Take, for example, Nurse Lisa, who took the initiative to create educational animations on anaphylaxis and diabetes. Her efforts led to increased awareness and empathy amongst peers. Similarly, Nurse Polly worked closely with her school to attain Asthma Friendly Status. She ensured that all the children with asthma had the correct medications, stored safely and coordinated with parents and GPs for their annual asthma reviews.
Conclusion
My journey to understand the role of school nurses has been both humbling and inspiring. They are truly the heart of the school, playing a pivotal role in the lives of children and young people. If we can get more GPs recognising and supporting school nurses, we can significantly enhance the health and wellbeing of our children and young people. And, we have an opportunity to strengthen and reconnect our community bonds.
For these invaluable services to continue and flourish, there must be a stronger focus on recruitment, increased commissioning and allocation of sufficient resources. Investing in school nurses is not just about immediate health needs; it’s an investment in the future of our children and young people.
We support #ASchoolNurseInEverySchool campaign. Do you? To sign the petition, click on #ASchoolNurseInEverySchool Campaign | SAPHNA – School And Public Health Nurses Association
About the Author
Bilguun Batbayar is an Imperial GP trainee who spent six months working with Connecting Care for Children, a collaborative that supports innovation in children’s healthcare. During this time, she contributed to projects aimed at improving care pathways and promoting integrated, patient-centered approaches to children’s health.
Co-Author
With eight years of experience as a School Nurse, Lisa Canade brings a deep passion for supporting children and young people. Her path into nursing was unconventional. After studying languages at university with the aim of becoming an interpreter and a brief stint as an Office Manager in Fashion PR, she discovered her true calling while volunteering with children. School nursing combines her love for health education, public health, and youth advocacy. A proud champion of the profession, she firmly believes in the vital role School Nurses play within the school community.
Reference
1. The NHS workforce in numbers | Nuffield Trust [Internet]. [cited 2024 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/the-nhs-workforce-in-numbers
