Delivery of Health Services at A School

There is ample evidence that academic and health outcomes are intricately interlinked.

School health services at my local school are aimed at mitigating health problems that may

affect learning. These services include preventive services, emergency care, medicine

administration for chronic or acute illnesses, services for special needs students, and

screening services ("Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services," 2016).

Different schools will have varying school health services models depending on available

funding, specific student needs, and the school administration's attitude towards health

services (Leroy et al., 2017a).

My local school uses a heath model that involves a school nurse in charge of screening

and referral. A certified and registered school nurse employed by the district prepares and

administers a school health service program. The school nurse's role includes assessing the

health needs of staff and students, health education, disease prevention programs, counseling

services, chronic care services, and emergency care. The school nurse is also in charge of

referring students for further assessment and treatment.

School health services programs are crucial as schools are prime sites to deliver

healthcare to a large population of diverse backgrounds. At my local school, health

promotion is addressed by different intervention programs. Through the sexuality education

program, the school has been able to promote sexual health and create awareness of sexual

violence. Research has demonstrated that the prevalence of mental disorders has increased

among young adolescents in the last decade (O'Reilly et al., 2018). The school's mental health

program plays a critical role in implementing mental health interventions, especially in

underserved and vulnerable communities. These interventions include screening, wellness

campaigns, coping skills campaigns, and substance abuse prevention programs. An important

aspect of the school's mental health program is the follow-up and referral system. The school
nurse collaborates with community providers, like psychologists and psychiatrists, to refer

students identified as high-risk.

Students with chronic health conditions are vulnerable as their poor health often

affects their academic outcomes and leads to fewer job opportunities than their peers (Leroy

et al., 2017). The school nurse plays a vital role in helping students manage conditions such

as allergies, asthma, diabetes, and oral hygiene. The school nurse ensures students do not skip

medication while in school. The school records have established that students with chronic

health conditions who can get medical attention in the school reported improved attendance.

School health programs are one-way health disparities can be mitigated within a community

as students from different backgrounds can access healthcare.

 References
Leroy, Z. C., Wallin, R., & Lee, S. (2017a). The Role of School Health Services in

Addressing the Needs of Students With Chronic Health Conditions. The Journal of

School Nursing: The Official Publication of the National Association of School Nurses,

33(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840516678909

Leroy, Z. C., Wallin, R., & Lee, S. (2017b). The Role of School Health Services in

Addressing the Needs of Students With Chronic Health Conditions: A Systematic

Review. The Journal of School Nursing, 33(1), 64–72.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840516678909

O’Reilly, M., Svirydzenka, N., Adams, S., & Dogra, N. (2018). Review of mental health

promotion interventions in schools. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology,

53(7), 647–662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1530-1

Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services. (2016). Pediatrics, 137(6),

e20160852. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0852