School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities Practice Guidelines

Arkansas State Board of NursingSchool Nurse Roles and ResponsibilitiesPractice GuidelinesThe School Nurse strengthens and facilitates the educational process bypromoting and protecting the health of students and staff. School Nursesmodify or remove health related barriers to learning, assess the healthcare needs, and link the health service program with education andsupport services (ASBN 1999).The Arkansas State Board of Nursing and Arkansas School Nurses Association collaboratedto provide guidelines for nursing practice in the school setting. These guidelines will assistschool nurses, educators, and administrators in determining the care and staff qualifications thatare required for the health and welfare of their student population. While the school nurse andschool environment are specifically named in the guidelines, the same principles are to beapplied to any setting where nurses are acting in loco parentis:In loco parentis / in lÓwkow pƏrėntƏs/. In the place of a parent; instead of aparent; charged, factitiously, with a parent’s rights, duties,“Loco parentis” exists when person undertakes care and control of another inabsence of such supervision by latter’s natural parents and in absence of formallegal approval, and is temporary in character and is not to be likened to anadoption which is permanent (Black, 1990).While the nurse is acting in place of the parent the nurse must obey all laws as defined in theArkansas Nurse Practice Act (NPA) and Arkansas State Board of Nursing. In addition to theNPA, the nurse needs to be aware and follow any law that applies to his/her area of practice,such as but not limited to those that are under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Department ofHealth and Arkansas Department of Education.The following nurses have graciously given their time, energy and expertise in developing theseguidelines:2007 Revision Task GroupMelanie Allen –ViloniaMargo Bushmiaer – Little RockLisa Drake – Forrest CityCassandra Harvey – ASBN Board MemberSandra Kinsey – EnglandValerie Beshears – Fort SmithSandra Campbell – North Little RockLori Eakin – ASBN Board MemberKathey Haynie – BryantPaula Smith – State School Nurse Consultant1