Functions of school nurses and health assistants in U.S. school health programs

This paper reports results from a nationwide survey of a systematic random sample of school districts. Information obtained from 482 participating districts was used to contrast roles of nurses and health assistants in school health programs throughout the country. Most districts relied heavily on nursing personnel for technically involved clinical services, but often employed health assistants to administer medications and basic first aid. Litigation was somewhat more frequently filed regarding care provided by health assistants than care by nurses or classroom personnel. But in general, health assistants were performing satisfactorily, particularly in districts where registered nurses coordinated the services and activities of health program personnel. While use of health assistants increased the past three years, school nurses were not being displaced. Just 9% of districts had downsized their nursing staff during that period. Despite the modest expansion of nursing resources, nurses reportedly were underused in health education programs of most schools.