School Nurses Can Reduce Firearm Injuries and Deaths.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• School Safety
• Violence Prevention

Background:

• Rising school shootings impact student, teacher, and staff safety.
• A comprehensive, coordinated approach is needed for secure school environments.
• School nurses are key healthcare partners in prevention efforts.

Approach:

• This article examines school-located gun violence through a public health perspective.
• It presents a prevention framework encompassing downstream, midstream, and upstream strategies.
• Evidence-based examples, models, and tools are provided for each prevention level.

Key Points:

• School nurses can lead comprehensive, coordinated efforts for school safety.
• A public health lens is crucial for understanding and addressing gun violence in schools.
• Multi-level prevention strategies (downstream, midstream, upstream) are vital for creating safe schools.

Conclusions:

• School nurses can lead comprehensive safety initiatives.
• Multi-level prevention strategies are crucial for school safety.
• Coordinated school, district, and community efforts enhance security.