School Nurse Perspectives on COVID-19.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid shifts in educational delivery, including school closures and transitions to online learning.
• School nurses play a critical role in maintaining student and staff health during public health crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania school nurses' concerns about returning to in-person instruction.
• To evaluate the influence of the pandemic on school nurses' professional practices and safety perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 350 school nurses in Pennsylvania in May 2020.
• Data analysis involved chi-squared tests and regression analyses to compare urban and rural nurse responses.

Main Results:

• Urban school nurses reported greater concern about returning to school without a COVID-19 vaccine compared to rural nurses.
• Nurses in urban settings were more likely to provide COVID-19 guidance, modify communication, and express high levels of safety concerns.

Conclusions:

• School locale and student density are crucial considerations for safe in-person instruction resumption.
• Recognizing and supporting school nurses' roles in health communication is vital for pandemic preparedness and response.