Ethical Dilemmas in School Nursing

At the turn of the twentieth century in New York City, nearly one-fifth of the school population was absent each day. A one-month experiment employing an experienced pediatric nurse in four schools proved so successful that it led to the hiring of more school nurses and a significant decrease in absenteeism. Other large cities soon adopted this model, eventually leading to the widespread implementation of school nursing. Today, despite its positive impact, school nursing faces modern challenges such as insufficient resources, diverse health needs, and ethical dilemmas. This symposium includes 13 personal narratives from school nurses that highlight their advocacy, frustrations, successes, and hardships. The symposium also includes four commentaries written by experts in virtue ethics, pediatric infectious disease, challenges in school nursing, character education, school leadership, and parenting, including parenting children with medically complex needs.