School nursing is a branch of nursing that focuses on providing health care and health education to students within the school environment. These major aims to promote general health among students, prevent diseases and injuries, and provide the necessary health and psychological support to promote a safe and healthy educational environment. School nurses serve as liaisons between students and their families, teachers, physicians, and members of the health community.

School nurse specialist job areas:
Daily health care:

• Providing first aid: treating minor injuries and accidents that may occur at school.
• Chronic Disease Management: Helping students with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and allergies.

Disease prevention and health education:

• Health awareness programs: Organizing lectures and workshops on topics such as personal hygiene, proper nutrition, and physical activity.
• Vaccinations: Follow up on students’ vaccinations and ensure that their health records are updated.

Psychosocial support:

• Providing psychological support: helping students who suffer from psychological or social problems.
• Referring students: Collaborating with psychological counselors and social workers to refer cases that need specialized care.

Routine health checks:

• Vision and hearing examination: Conduct periodic examinations for early detection of vision and hearing problems.
• Physical Examination: Providing routine physical examinations and monitoring the healthy development of students.

Management of medications and treatments:

• Medication Distribution: Administer and distribute medications to students who need regular treatments.
• Providing treatments: Providing the necessary treatments to students in emergency situations.

Emergency response:

• Health Emergency Plans: Develop and implement plans to deal with health emergencies such as severe allergies or asthma attacks.
• First Aid Training: Training staff and students in first aid and emergency health procedures.

Basic skills in school nursing:

• Health Assessment: The ability to quickly and effectively assess students’ health status.
• Direct Care: Providing immediate health care including first aid and chronic disease management.
• Health education: Providing accurate health information and guiding students towards a healthy lifestyle.
• Effective Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with students, families, staff, and health care providers.
• Ability to work under pressure: deal efficiently with emergency and changing situations.

Challenges in the field of school nursing:

• Dealing with a wide range of health needs: from minor injuries to chronic health conditions.
• Dealing with psychological and social issues: Providing support to students who suffer from psychological or social problems.
• Maintaining the Confidentiality of Health Information: Handling student health information in a confidential and professional manner.

Professional development in school nursing:

• Continuing Education: Maintaining updated knowledge through educational courses and continuing training.
• Specialization in specific areas: such as student mental health or chronic disease management.
• Advancement into administrative positions: Assume leadership positions in school health departments.

work fields:

• Primary, middle and high schools: providing health care and health education to students.
• Universities and colleges: providing health care and guidance to undergraduate students.
• Government Agencies: Work in school health and health education programs.
• School Health Clinics: Providing health care in school health centers.

The School Nursing specialty plays a vital role in promoting general health among students, and creating a safe and healthy school environment that helps students succeed academically, psychologically, and socially.