Public Health Interventions: School Nurse Practice Stories

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Education
• Health Policy

Background:

• School nurses (SN) play a critical role in student health and well-being.
• Understanding and articulating public health interventions is essential for SN practice.
• The Public Health Intervention Wheel provides a framework for public health nursing actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze school nurses' experiences with the Public Health Intervention Wheel.
• To identify how SNs understand and utilize public health interventions.
• To explore the integration of the Wheel into school nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Six focus groups were conducted with school nurses in Minnesota.
• Participants shared practice-based stories illustrating their use of the Wheel's interventions.
• Data were organized by intervention type and practice level.

Main Results:

• School nurses demonstrated understanding and application of various Wheel interventions across all practice levels.
• Stories highlighted the significant contributions of SNs to population health.
• The Wheel facilitated naming and describing public health interventions provided by SNs.

Conclusions:

• The Public Health Intervention Wheel is a valuable tool for school nurses.
• Integrating the Wheel enhances SNs' ability to document and communicate their practice.
• This framework supports the professional practice of school nursing in promoting health.