2008 - 2009 NASN Research Priorities

Goal 1:  Improve the reliability, quality, and accessibility of school health data to promote research and knowledge development in child health and school health. 
Objectives: 
1.     Investigate the diffusion of uniform languages or terms in school health.
2.     Identify model use of uniform language at the state and local level.
3.     Locate national data sets that include school health data.
4.     Promote the inclusion of school health data in national health and education data sets. 
5.     Identify members and leaders in school nursing with an interest and expertise in informatics who are equipped to advance the development of school nursing information science.

Goal 2:  Advance research and development of effective, evidence based models of school health services delivery in order to create consensus among school nurse leaders and health policy makers on what constitutes a quality school health services program.
Objectives: 
1.     Partner with agencies and university researchers to establish evidence based models of health care delivery.
2.     Support and encourage rigorous investigations into the structure, operations, personnel and cost effectiveness of school health delivery models.


Goal 3:  Discover the critical indicators that are sensitive enough to distinguish between the effects of family and community and the effects of school nursing interventions on child, family and school community outcomes.  
Objectives: 
1.     Review the  work of Delaney et al (1999) and Selekman and Guilday (2003) to identify and promote possible nurse sensitive outcome variables to be tested by well designed interventions studies. 
2.     Promote studies that further evaluate the sensitivity of identified outcome variables, such as Wyman’s (2005) early dismissal. 

Goal 4:  Solidify NASN’s as the authority on evidence based school nursing practice.
Objectives: 
1.       Further expand and disseminate comprehensive literature reviews of school health interventions, processes, outcomes and programs for prevention and promotion. 
2.       Create the opportunities for school nurses to become knowledgeable in differentiating the levels of evidence for practice and distinguishing evidence based resources from non evidence based resources for the basis of practice decisions. 
3.       Promote the establishment of clinical guidelines of evidence based practice in school settings.
4.       Investigate and implement models for effective dissemination and translating research into practice for nurses who work in schools or in isolated setting similar to schools. 
5.       Identify critical knowledge gaps in the evidence for school nursing practice. 

Research Issue (the numbering represents Ranking):

1. Impact of school nurse services on student health
2. Relationship between school nurse practice and educational outcomes
3. Benefits and cost effectiveness of school health services
4. Value of school health services to the educational system
5. Predictors of outcomes for students, including special needs students
6. Nursing interventions for mental health promotion
7. Characteristics of successful school nurse interventions
8. Prevention and interventions for children with chronic diseases
9. Core elements of school nursing practice
10. Nursing intervention in violence and substance abuse prevention

Issue Description:

1. Define and advance the role of the school nurse in the comprehensive school health program
2. Implement school nurse standards
3. Address pressing legal and ethical concerns
4. Inform policy makers about the nature of current school health nursing services
5. Provide more appropriate preservice and inservice professional preparation for school health nurses
6. Conduct research about school health nursing services
7. Secure adequate financing for school health nursing services