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HISTORY:
There has been a resurgence of infectious diseases in the school population resulting from drug resistant strains of common infectious diseases and the emergence of new infectious diseases for which there are currently no vaccines and no cure. These diseases may spread by one or more of the following routes:
- airborne
- blood borne
- sexual contact
- fecal-oral
- mother to unborn child
DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE:
Five major issues for school nurses are:
- preventing infections by the use of vaccines
- educating about behaviors to avoid exposure to pathogens
- preventing transmission of infectious diseases at school
- providing appropriate nursing care and health counseling
- protecting the confidentiality of persons with infectious diseases who attend school
RATIONALE:
Health care professionals have identified a number of prevention and risk-reduction measures that individuals may take to avoid exposure to pathogens. The school nurse, because of educational background and knowledge and also because of accessibility to school-aged children and youth during a time when health habits and decision-making skills are being formed, is in a unique position to counsel and educate about infectious diseases.
CONCLUSION:
It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that school nurses should utilize their professional skills to assist school districts with infectious disease prevention programs and the development of policies to insure the appropriate inclusion/exclusion criteria and support infected students and staff. School nurses should assist in the development and implementation of educational programs that are a part of a pre-K-12 comprehensive health education program. They should further utilize their
professional knowledge to be integrally involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases and advocate for public policy to support education services and research.
References/Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998). Preventing emerging infectious diseases A strategy for the 21st century. Atlanta, GA: Author. Available at CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases, www.cdc.gov/ncidod.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program. Available at www.cdc.gov/nip.
Giardina, R.G. & Psota, C. E. (1997) Universal precautions and infection control in a school setting. In. S. Porter, M. Haynie, T. Bierle, T. Caldwell, & J. Palfrey, Eds., Children and youth assisted by medical technology in educational settings Guidelines for care. Baltimore, MD: Paul H Brookes Publishing Co.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Available at www.nfid.org
Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases. Available at www.pkids.org.
Shor, E. (1995). Caring for your school-age child. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Adopted: September 1995
Revised: June 2001 |