Demonstrating the Relationship Between School Nurse Workload and Student Outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Administration
• Educational Leadership

Background:

• School nursing is critical for student well-being and academic achievement.
• Many school districts face challenges in adequately staffing school nurses.
• Quantifying the impact of school nurses is essential for resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a Student Acuity Tool for School Nurse Assignment.
• To utilize a logic model to advocate for increased school nurse positions.
• To demonstrate the contribution of school nurses to key student health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Development of a "Student Acuity Tool for School Nurse Assignment."
• Application of a logic model to evaluate specific student outcomes.
• Analysis of outcomes including safe medication administration, medical home access, and chronic illness case management.

Main Results:

• The Student Acuity Tool and logic model provided a data-driven basis for advocating for more school nurse positions.
• Evaluation focused on measurable student outcomes, aligning with district priorities.
• The study successfully supported the need for increased school nurse staffing.

Conclusions:

• School nurses are essential personnel contributing significantly to student success.
• A structured approach combining staffing formulas and outcome-focused evaluation strengthens the case for school nurse staffing.
• Investing in school nurses positively impacts student health and educational attainment.