School nurses and care coordination for children with complex needs: an integrative review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Student healthcare needs are complex, leading to fragmented care and missed educational opportunities.
• Increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions necessitates improved care coordination within schools and with external agencies.
• The role of school nurses in managing complex pediatric care is critical for academic and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on the core concepts of care coordination provided by school nurses for students with complex health needs.
• To identify essential elements for effective nurse-led care coordination in the school setting.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing care coordination practices for students with chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Integrative literature review synthesizing published evidence.
• Analysis of core concepts related to school nurse care coordination and case management.
• Identification of essential components and best practices in pediatric school health.

Main Results:

• Six core essentials of nurse-provided care coordination were identified: collaboration, communication, care planning and the nursing process, continuous coordination, clinical expertise, and complementary components.
• The review elucidated recommendations for improving care coordination for students with complex health needs.
• Evidence synthesis highlights the multifaceted role of school nurses in managing chronic conditions.

Conclusions:

• Effective care coordination by school nurses is crucial for mitigating fragmentation and improving student outcomes.
• Implementing the six identified core essentials can enhance the quality of care for students with chronic conditions.
• Further analysis and application of best practices in school-based care coordination are recommended.