CITY OF MANILA

UNIVERSIDAD DE MANILA
(Formerly City College of Manila)
Mehan Garden, Manila
College of Nursing

School Health
Nursing
(Written Report)

Submitted by:
Ceelin T. Robles

Nr-32

Submitted to:
Ben de Paz, RN, MAN
Introduction

The practice of school nursing began in the United States on October 1, 1902 when the initial role of the school
nurse was to reduce absenteeism by intervening with students and families regarding health care needs related to
communicable diseases. While the nurse‟s role has expanded greatly from its original focus, the essence of the practice
remains the same. The school nurse supports student success by providing health care assessment, intervention, and follow-
up for all children within the school setting.

Background

In 1999, the National Association of School Nurses Board of Directors defined school nursing as:

A specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long
achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote
health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively
collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning.

Inherent in this definition is the framework that school nurses engage in professional nursing practice, use the
nursing process for decision-making, document the care they provide, and assure confidentiality. Professional nurses
address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of their clients. In addition, professional school nurses have as the
ultimate outcome of their practice, the support of student success in the learning process. In this context the school nurse
provides services to the entire school population, which may include infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, children with special
needs, traditional school populations, and, to a limited degree, adults within the school community.

DOH defined School Nursing, a type of public health nursing that focuses on the promotion of health and wellness of
the pupils/students, teaching and non-teaching personnel of the schools. School nurses also assist young people in making
choices for a healthy lifestyle, reduce risk taking behavior and focus on issues such as prevention of drug and substance
abuse, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection, malnutrition and communicable and non- communicable diseases.
Objectives of School Nursing

General: To Promote and maintain the health of the school populace by providing comprehensive and quality nursing care.

Specific:

1. Provide quality nursing service to the school population;

2. Create awareness among school children personnel and administrators the importance of the promotive
and preventive aspects of health through health education;

3. Encourage the provision of standard functional facilities;

4. Provide nursing personnel with opportunities for continuing education and training;

5. Conduct and participate in researchers related to nursing care; and

6. Establish/strengthen linkages with government and non-government organization/agencies for school

community health work.

Duties and Responsibilities of the School Nurses

Health advocacy
Health and nutrition assessment including other screening procedures such as vision and hearing
Supervision of the health and safety of the school plant
Treatment of common ailments and attending to emergency cases
Referrals and follow-up of pupils and personnel
Home visits
Community outreach like attending community assembles and organizing school community health
councils
Recording and reporting of accomplishments
Monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects
Functions of the School Nurse

School Health and Nutrition Survey

This should be done initially to provide data for evaluation for planning process. The survey shall include
among others the current health and nutritional status of the children, situation on health facilities as well as actual
status of health education activities undertaken by the teachers and health personnel.

Putting up a Functional Clinic

R.A. 124 mandates that all schools are to provide school clinics for the treatment of minor ailments and
attendance to emergency cases. The school nurse encourages the provision of the facility.

Health Assessment
It aims to discover the signs of illness and physical defects in order to correct them check on health habits of
pupils and prevent the progress of those which cannot be corrected. In order to attain the purpose, the examination
must be thorough.

Standard Vision Testing

Vision is very important sensory skill that affects learning and general development. Early detection and
treatment of eye and vision problems can prevent childhood blindness and visual disorder. The student‟s visual
status must be 20/20 for him to perform his visual task demand clearly and comfortably at far and near distances.

Ear Examination
Children who do not see or hear will often experience difficulty in the educational environment. The early
recognition of hearing loss is extremely important not only because it may interfere with the teaching-learning
process as well as school achievement but also because the development of clear speech and social skills is
facilitated by good hearing. This will also help in attaining effective treatment and rehabilitation.
Height and Weight Measurement and Nutritional Status Determination
Height and weight measurement is a procedure for evaluating the tallness or the shortness and the
heaviness of a pupil. It offers the most acceptable parameter and is the simplest way to determine the nutritional
status of the school children.

Medical Referrals
Whenever necessary, the school nurse may recommend that a student with an
existing condition be referred for further assessment and intervention by the
appropriate professional/agency.

Attendance to Emergency Cases

It is incumbent upon the nurse to attend to emergency cases while they are in school. However, majority of
the nurses are assigned to several schools. In their absences, the school authorities and the clinic teacher have the
responsibility of attending and referring them promptly. Parents must be informed of the occurrence of the
emergency as soon as possible.

Student Health Counseling

School nurses welcome the opportunity to help concerned parents and guardians of students in any form of
individual health counselling. The school nurse also help to make appropriate referrals either to school-provided or
outside counselling services whenever necessary.

Health and Nutrition Education Activities

The school nurse takes every opportunity to talk on health related topics both in formal and informal
settings. She would be willing to use her ability, knowledge and background to influence the school and community
in a healthy and positive way.

Organization of School-Community Health and Nutrition Councils

The school nurse shall initiate/encourage the organization/reactivation of School-Community Health Council,
the membership of which shall come from both school and community. The school shall conduct school-community
assemblies to interpret the school health problems/programs in the community.
Communicable Disease Control
Prevention and control of communicable disease is a responsibility shared by parents, school personnel,
community and the DOH. If a child is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, he/she should be
referred and sent home and not be permitted to return until school authorities are satisfied that any contagious and
infectious disease does not exist. The school nurse encourages immunization requirements, aids in early detection,
helps to provide parental notification and information, and makes any medical referrals necessary.

Establishment of Data Bank on School Health and Nutrition Activities

Accurate and up-to-date health records are essential in helping monitor the health of students while they
are in schools. Findings are recorded in the health examination card and reviewed and updated annually.

School Plant Inspection for Healthy Environment

The school plant shall be inspected in order to provide healthful environment and safety in schools. Aside
from the minimum standards for schools in relation to school site, area, location, space and sanitation, classroom
and other rooms and facilities shall be inspected for size, lighting, ventilation, and arrangement of seats. Particular
attention shall focus on the provision and maintenance of toilets, school clinics, water supplies, sanitation of school
canteen, and safety and nutritional value of foods being served.

Rapid Classroom Inspection

It is done as a routine procedure when frequent and regular visits can be made to a school during the year,
in addition to the individual health assessment.

Home Visitation
It is necessary in the effective implementation of the total service
program particularly the Integrated School Health and Nutrition Program.
Home visitation is a social, educational and preventive work and should not
be regarded as remedial or curative.
Legal Bases of the School Health Program

PD 603 Child and Youth Welfare Code

Article I- General Principles

“The child is one of the most important assets of the nation. Every effort should be enacted to

promote his welfare and enhance his happy opportunities for a useful happy life.”

“Other institutions like the school, the church, the guild, and the community in general should

assist the home and the state in their endeavour to prepare the child for the responsibilities of the

adulthood.”

Article II- Promotion of Health

“It should be the responsibility of the health, welfare and education entities to assist the parents in

looking after the health of the child.”

Article III-Rights of the Child

“Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical

attention, and all the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life.”
1936 Constitution of the Philippines- Article VIII, Sec. 11,12, and 13

Article VIII- Social Justice and Human Rights

Section 11 – “ The state shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health

development which shall endeavour to make essential goods, health and other social services

available to the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the under-

privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The state shall endeavour to provide for

free medical care to paupers.”

Section 12- “The State shall provide and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system

and undertake appropriate health, manpower, development and research responsibilities to the

country‟s health needs and problems.”

Section 13- “The State shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for their

rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance and their integration into the mainstream of

society.

Executive Order No.14 s. 1946

Creation of the Medical and Dental Services granting authority for the voluntary contribution of 50

centavos per pupil for the maintenance of the service

RA No. 951 s. 1947

Medical inspection of school children, enrolled in private schools, colleges and universities in the

Philippines.
RA No. 847 s. 1953

Return of the Medical and Dental Services from the Department of Health to the Department of

Education

RA No. 1082 s. 1954

An act strengthening health and dental service in the rural areas and providing funds thereof

RA No. 2620 s. 1961

Nationalization of the Medical and Dental Services of the Bureau of Public Schools, Department of

Education

Presidential proclamation No. 225 s. 1967

Observance of National Health Education Week on October 10-16 of every year

Article V sec. 29 s. 1972

Dangerous Drug Act- Integration of Drug Education concept in the School Curriculum

PD No. 491 s. 1974

Designated July as Nutrition Month for the purpose of creating greater awareness among the

people on the importance of nutrition

PD No. 491 s. 1974

Nutrition Act of the Philippines- Creation of National Nutrition Council with DECS as a member
RA No. 856 s. 1976

Code of Sanitation of the Philippines

LOI No. 441 s. 1976

Mandated the Integration of Nutrition Education in the school curriculum

LOI No. 764 s. 1977

Creation of School health Guardian Program. Its concept was focused on the training of the

teachers to assume responsibilities in providing school health services in the absence of the school health

personnel.

LOI No. 764 s. 1978

Declaring the School Health Program , a priority program of the national government with the aim

of educating teachers and school children in the use of medicinal plants as simple remedies for common

ailments.

Section 938 of the Revise Administrative Code

Provides that the Bureau of Public Schools shall have specified powers regarding health teaching

physical education and to prescribe rules on personal hygiene within the public school premises

E.O. No. 234 s. 1987

Reorganizing the National Nutrition Council- “The revised function of member agencies like DECS

have been effected.”

P.P. No. 335, s. 1988

Observance of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week every 3rd week of November

Republic Act 7624, s. 1992

„An act Integrating Drug Prevention and Control in the Intermediate and Secondary Curricula a s

well as in Non-Formal, Informal and Indigenous Learning Strategies and for other purposes.”