Childhood headaches: a school nurse perspective.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Public Health
• School Health Services

Background:

• Childhood headache (CH) is a common clinical issue encountered by school nurses.
• Limited formal instruction on CH management exists for many school nurses.
• School nurses play a crucial role in identifying and managing health conditions in students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current practices of school nurses in managing childhood headaches.
• To identify the frequency of childhood headaches encountered by school nurses.
• To understand the educational background and perceived constraints of school nurses regarding CH management.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to registered school nurses in the Connecticut public school system.
• The survey collected data on demographics, experience, CH encounter frequency, assessment methods, and management strategies.
• Response rate was 42% (108 out of 256 surveys completed).

Main Results:

• School nurses see an average of 35 children with headaches monthly, ranking it the fourth most common clinical problem.
• Over 40% of nurses received no formal CH instruction; assessment often includes basic vitals but limited neurological exams (12%).
• Management varies, with 31% allowing rest, 10% administering analgesics, and few consulting physicians.

Conclusions:

• Despite limited formal training and variable assessment/treatment approaches, school nurses manage childhood headaches reasonably.
• School nurses perceive constraints from school policy but generally do not desire more autonomy in CH management.
• Further education and standardized protocols could enhance school nurse management of childhood headaches.