School Nurses' Roles in Preparing Special Needs Students for Active School Shootings.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Preparedness
• Pediatric Nursing

Background:

• Mass shootings in U.S. public schools are a growing concern, prompting increased crisis preparedness.
• Current school safety strategies often overlook students with disabilities, increasing their risk during active shooter events.
• School nurses possess unique expertise in addressing diverse student needs and promoting health and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for school nurses to take leadership roles in developing school shooting policies.
• To highlight the specific vulnerabilities of students with disabilities during school shootings.
• To provide actionable guidelines for collaborative safety planning.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on school safety protocols and disability inclusion.
• Analysis of the school nurse's role in emergency management.
• Development of a framework for inclusive crisis planning.

Main Results:

• Identified significant deficits in current school shooting preparedness for students with disabilities.
• Established the school nurse as a key stakeholder in bridging these safety gaps.
• Outlined practical strategies for integrating disability considerations into school safety plans.

Conclusions:

• School nurses are uniquely positioned to lead efforts in creating inclusive school shooting policies.
• Collaborative planning is essential to ensure the safety of students with disabilities during school crises.
• Proactive leadership by school nurses can significantly enhance emergency preparedness for all students.