School nurses are on the front lines of pediatric healthcare, playing a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of students across the country. In Delaware, however, school nurses face significant barriers in addressing the growing health inequities affecting children in their care. Recognizing this challenge, a unique collaboration was born—one that is transforming how school-based health is approached across the state.
In March 2022, pediatric researchers from the University of Delaware came together with school nurses from multiple school districts for a dinner and discussion focused on pediatric health priorities in Delaware. This informal yet impactful gathering sparked a deeper conversation about the challenges school nurses face—from limited access to care and chronic illness management to the need for consistent professional development.
From that initial meeting grew SHIELD—the School Health Initiative for Engagement & Leadership/Learning in Delaware—a sustained, collaborative effort to improve pediatric health outcomes statewide. SHIELD brings together school nurses/nurse leaders and University of Delaware researchers monthly to strategize around funding, dissemination, and professional development. It’s not just a conversation; it’s a movement.
SHIELD’s Growing Impact
In just three years, SHIELD has achieved remarkable milestones:
- Hosted two statewide professional development days (with over 300 school nurses in attendance) and planning a third for Fall 2025
- Submitted six grant proposals, with two funded to date
- Presented five abstracts at regional and national conferences
- Published one manuscript, with another in development
The backbone of SHIELD’s work is NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™, which has guided the development of a Delaware-specific conceptual framework to tackle school nurse–identified needs in care coordination, quality improvement, leadership, and community/public health. This framework will soon form the basis of a statewide call-to-action, advocating for multi-level support and resources for Delaware school nurses—while embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into everyday practice.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to view our two posters (Creation of a School Nurse Academic Partnership: It's a SNAP! --- and --- Delaware School Nurse Conceptual Framework: Adaptation of School Nurse Practice Framework for "The First State") to learn more about the SHIELD partnership and the new framework in action. We’re eager to hear your thoughts on how to strengthen both—and to explore new ways we can work together to ensure equitable health outcomes for all Delaware students. Locate email addresses for presenters just below the recorded audio of each poster.