School Nurses: Coordinating Care Through a Community/School Health Partnership

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Nursing

Background:

• School nurses are crucial for student health, managing chronic conditions and ensuring care continuity.
• Low-income students face significant barriers to healthcare access, including lack of insurance and resources.
• Effective care coordination is essential to overcome these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of school nurses in care coordination for students.
• To examine the challenges in meeting the health needs of low-income students.
• To showcase innovative partnerships that improve healthcare access for students.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of school nurse responsibilities in care coordination.
• Identification of barriers faced by low-income students in accessing healthcare.
• Case study of the Healthy Learners partnership model.

Main Results:

• School nurses employ a team approach to manage student health, ensuring a continuum of care.
• Partnerships with community organizations, like Healthy Learners, are vital for serving vulnerable student populations.
• The Healthy Learners program successfully connects eligible students with necessary healthcare services.

Conclusions:

• School nurse-led care coordination is fundamental to removing health-related barriers to education.
• Community partnerships are essential for addressing the unique healthcare needs of low-income students.
• Ensuring students are healthy and in school is the primary outcome of effective care coordination and community collaboration.