There are universal concerns about youth health and recognition of the potential of school health services but little consensus internationally as to how these are best configured. Limited information about nursing services in New Zealand secondary schools, changing patterns of youth health needs and expanding roles for nurses in primary health care indicated a need to research school nursing services. This study found that within New Zealand schools there was wide variation in the types of health services and their funding; that nurses are well qualified and highly experienced, although some lack clinical supervision; that students present most commonly for sexual health and injuries or sickness; and that they choose school health services for accessibility and confidentiality. It concludes that one way forward would be to develop a national-level policy for nurse-led school health centers, with appropriate funding, that allows for local flexibility and includes a career pathway for school nurses.
Adolescent Health Research Group. (2002). Alternative education students health: From Northland and Auckland regions. Auckland, New Zealand: Adolescent Health Research Group, University of Auckland.
2.
Adolescent Health Research Group. (2003a). A health profile of New Zealand youth who attend secondary school. New Zealand Medical Journal, 116(1171), 1-9.
3.
Adolescent Health Research Group. (2003b). New Zealand youth: A profile of their health and wellbeing. Auckland, New Zealand: Adolescent Health Research Group, University of Auckland.
4.
Adolescent Health Research Group. (2008). Youth ‘07: The Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand: Initial findings. Auckland, New Zealand: Adolescent Health Research Group, University of Auckland.
5.
AlcornG. D. (2001). Giving voice to school nursing as a primary health care specialty (Unpublished master’s thesis). Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
6.
BarnesM.CourtneyM. D.PrattJ.WalshA. M. (2004). School-based youth health nurses: Roles, responsibilities, challenges, and rewards. Public Health Nursing, 21, 316-322.
7.
BennettsP. (2005, April). School nurses and primary health care. Te Puawai, 13-15.
8.
BillyJ. O. G.GradyW. R.WenzlowA. T.BrenerN. D.CollinsJ. L.KannL. (2000). Contextual influences on school provision of health services. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27(1), 12-24.
9.
BroussardL. (2002). School-based health centers: Politics and community support. Policy Politics Nursing Practice, 3, 235-239.
10.
BroussardL. (2004). School nursing: Not just Band-Aids any more!Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 9(3), 77-83.
11.
CroghanE.JohnsonC.AveyardP. (2004). School nurses: Policies, working practices, roles and value perceptions. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 47, 377-385.
12.
DownieJ.ChapmanR.OrbA.JuliffD. (2002). The everyday realities of the multi-dimensional role of the high school community nurse. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing19(3), 15-24.
13.
Expert Advisory Group on Primary Health Care Nursing. (2003). Investing in health: Whakatohutia te Oranga Tangata. A framework for activating primary health care nursing in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.
14.
GleesonC. (2004). School health nursing—Evidence-based practice?Primary Health Care, 14(3), 38-41.
15.
GoldenringJ. M.RosenD. S. (2004). Getting into adolescent heads: An essential update. Contemporary Pediatrics, 21(1), 64-90.
16.
GullottaT. P.NoyesL. (1995). The changing paradigm of community health: The role of school-based health centres. Adolescence, 30(117), 107-115.
17.
LavinA. T.ShapiroG. R.WeillK. S. (1992). Creating an agenda for school-based health promotion: A review of 25 selected reports. Journal of School Health, 62, 212-228.
18.
LightfootJ.BinesW. (2000). Working to keep school children healthy: The complementary roles of school staff and school nurses. Journal of Public Health Medicine, 22(1), 74-80.
19.
LungleyS.BarnettP. (1991). Above the scalp and below the waist: A descriptive review of services provided to schools by area health boards. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Health.
20.
MathiasK. (2002). Youth-specific primary health care—Access, utilisation and health outcomes. NZHTA Report, 5(1).
21.
McDonaldA.LangfordI.BolderoN. (1997). The future of community nursing in the United Kingdom: District nursing, health visiting and school nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26, 257-265.
22.
MerrellJ.CarnwellR.WilliamsA.AllenD.GriffithsL. (2007). A survey of school nursing provision in the UK. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 59, 463-473.
23.
Ministry of Education. (2007). Briefing for the incoming Minister of Education. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.
24.
Ministry of Health. (2001). The primary health care strategy. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.
25.
Ministry of Health. (2004a). Improving the health of young people: Guidelines for school-based health care. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.
26.
MosesK.KeneallyJ.BibbyH.ChiangF.RobardsF.BennettD. (2008). Beyond bandaids: Understanding the role of school nurses in NSW. Summary Report. Westmead, Australia: NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health.
27.
OlfsonM.BlancoC.LiuL.MorenoC.LajeG. (2006). National trends in the outpatient treatment of children and adolescents with antipsychotic drugs. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63, 679-685.
SilberbergM.CantorJ. C. (2008). Making the case for school-based health: Where do we stand?Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 33(1), 3-37.
30.
SmithA. B.GaffneyM.NairnK. (2004). Health rights in secondary schools: Student and staff perspectives. Health Education Research, 19(1), 85-97.
31.
State of Victoria Department of Human Services. (2002). Victorian secondary school nursing program guidelines. Melbourne, Australia: Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Division, Victorian Government Department of Human Services.
32.
StoneN.InghamR. (2003). When and why do young people in the United Kindgom first use sexual health services?Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(3), 114-120
33.
TerryA. J. (2009). Delivery of nursing care in Alabama public schools. Policy Politics Nursing Practice, 10(1), 82-85.
34.
WainwrightP.ThomasJ.JonesM. (2000). Health promotion and the role of the school nurse: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 1083-1091.
World Health Organisation. (1999). Health21: The health for all policy framework for the WHO European region. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe.
37.
World Health Organisation. (2003). Strategic directions for improving the health and development of children and adolescents. Geneva, Switzerland: Author.
38.
World Health Organisation. (2005). The European health report 2005: Public health action for healthier children and populations. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Health Organisation, Regional Office for Europe.
39.
WinnardD.DennyS.FlemingT. (2005). Successful school health services for adolescents: Best practice review. Manukau, New Zealand: Kidz First Community Health—Centre for Youth Health.
