The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is deeply concerned about the significant staff reductions at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), including the recent removal of Director Dr. Shannon Zenk. These developments come at a pivotal time in school health and threaten to derail critical momentum in nursing science that supports the health and academic success of our nation’s students.
NASN calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and federal decision-makers to take immediate action to protect and restore the integrity of NINR, recommit to its mission, and prioritize the support of research that directly informs and advances school nursing practice. The future of school health depends on it.
As NINR celebrates its 40th anniversary, we recognize the institute’s longstanding role in shaping the future of nursing science and research that improves lives. Under Dr. Zenk’s leadership, NINR elevated school health as a national research priority and strategic imperative, championing groundbreaking research that addresses health disparities, chronic absenteeism, mental health, and the social determinants of health—all of which are central to the work of school nurses.
NASN is closely aligned with the vision and work initiated under Dr. Zenk’s tenure. The momentum gained under Dr. Zenk’s tenure has been instrumental in building an evidence base that empowers school nurses to deliver equity-centered, data-informed care. School nurses rely on robust, equity-centered research to guide evidence-based interventions, shape policies, and foster environments where every student can thrive. The recent cuts at NINR jeopardize that infrastructure and threaten to slow or reverse progress at a time when it is needed most.
School nurses are on the front lines of care in our nation’s schools—addressing complex health conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), escalating mental health needs, and the persistent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when the well-being of students is inextricably linked to their capacity to learn, now is not the time to scale back investment in nursing science. Without continued investment in school health research, our ability to safeguard the health and academic success of all students is at risk.
NASN calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and federal decision-makers to take immediate action to protect and restore the integrity of NINR, recommit to its mission, and prioritize the support of research that directly informs and advances school nursing practice. The future of school health depends on it.
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in nursing and public health in advocating for sustained investment in strong, science-based solutions and a strong commitment to the next generation of nurse scientists.
The future of school nursing science and research—and the well-being of our nation’s students—cannot be compromised.