Students Requiring Personal Nursing Care in School

Abstract

Unprecedented numbers of children in the United States are now surviving extreme conditions and complications of prematurity, severe congenital anomalies, and significant birth trauma. Advances in medical science and technology have given rise to a marked increase in the population of children with special health care needs who require continuous nursing care, including at school. Students who are considered medically complex and/or are health technology-dependent present many rewards and challenges for families, educational staff, district administrators, and school nurses who may not feel prepared to integrate involved health care for students into the school setting. The purpose of this article is to describe care delivery models for success in providing for the health and safety needs of students who require continuous or personal nursing care at school.