A 1996 NASN research award winner. Health services provided by school nurses for students with chronic health problems

Increased numbers of students are entering schools with chronic health problems and in need of nursing and other health services. Some studies have been conducted in recent years describing nursing practice in schools. However, further study of school nursing practice was warranted owing to two major problems. The first was limited financial resources to provide needed nursing services. The second was inadequate documentation of both the health needs of students and current school nursing practice in meeting those needs. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the nature and extent of nursing services provided in the schools in the late 1990s and to identify potentially reimbursable nursing services being provided to students with chronic health problems. A survey was mailed to active members of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota (SNOM). The findings indicated the considerable diversity in the practice setting as well as the large volume of nursing services being delivered in schools. Results will be essential in the acquisition of financial resources, including collaboration with third-party payors for reimbursement of nursing and other health services.