How School Nurses Can Engage in Legislative Advocacy

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Nursing Advocacy
• Student Health Services

Background:

• School nurse advocacy is a core responsibility, emphasized in professional standards like the Scope and Standards of School Nursing and the School Nursing Practice Framework.
• The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) actively engages in federal and state legislative advocacy to enhance student health and safety.
• The impact of advocacy initiatives is significantly amplified by the participation of practicing school nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of advocacy within the school nursing profession.
• To inform school nurses about available resources for legislative advocacy.
• To encourage active participation of school nurses in advocacy efforts.

Main Methods:

• Review and description of existing professional standards and frameworks.
• Identification and explanation of National Association of School Nurses (NASN) resources.
• Emphasis on the accessibility of these resources for practicing school nurses.

Main Results:

• Professional standards underscore the critical role of advocacy for school nurses.
• NASN provides specific resources designed to facilitate school nurse involvement in legislative advocacy.
• These resources are presented as accessible tools for nurses to engage effectively.

Conclusions:

• School nurses are essential advocates for student health and safety.
• Leveraging NASN resources can empower school nurses to participate actively in legislative processes.
• Increased nurse participation strengthens advocacy efforts and improves student well-being.