National standardized data set for school health-services: step up and be counted!

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Informatics
• Nursing Research

Background:

• The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and National Association of State School Nurse Consultants (NASSNC) identified common data points.
• An initial process for nationwide data collection by school nurses was developed and presented.
• There is a recognized need to build a national school nursing dataset.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the methodology for school nurses to collect identified data indicators.
• To explain the rationale and timeline for implementing a national data collection process.
• To provide resources, including talking points and a collection tool, to facilitate data collection.

Main Methods:

• The article details the 'how, why, and when' for collecting specific data indicators.
• It offers practical tools and communication strategies to support school nurses.
• The approach emphasizes a unified, nationwide effort for data standardization.

Main Results:

• A framework for nationwide school nursing data collection has been established.
• The presented process aims to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive national dataset.
• Resources are available to assist school nurses in participating effectively.

Conclusions:

• It is imperative for all school nurses to commence data collection to build a national dataset.
• Standardized data collection is crucial for advancing the field of school nursing.
• The provided tools and guidance empower school nurses to 'Step Up and Be Counted'.