Students with Chronic Health Conditions: The Role of The School Nurse. Position Statement

It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) that to optimize student health, safety, and learning, a professional registered school nurse (hereinafter referred to as school nurse) be present all day, every day. The American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on School Health (2016) highlights the important role school nurses play across a child's continuum of care and recommends that every school should have at least one nurse. The Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) identifies school nurses as leaders of student chronic disease management in schools. Utilizing the nursing process, the school nurse manages chronic health conditions in the school setting by providing direct care, providing case management, and advocating for students and families to help them access needed resources and support to achieve academic success (CDC, 2017b). This position statement presents the role of the school nurse for students with chronic health conditions. [This position statement replaces the position statement titled Chronic Health Conditions Managed by School Nurses.]