Art of School Nursing

The essence of the art of school nursing is caring. “A human caring relationship in nursing involves an intentional partnership of the care recipient and the nurse. The nurse must possess competence, professional maturity, interpersonal sensitivity, a moral foundation that supports caring actions, and the ability to create an environment conducive to caring”. With caring comes courtesy, kindness, and respect for those provided nursing care. Consequently, the art of school nursing is dependent on culturally congruent care practiced by school nurses, is based on complex interpersonal human relationships, and adherence to a strong code of personal and professional ethics.

School nurses model caring via their image, actions, and sensitivity to the individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations they serve. School nurses meet unique cultural needs, champion eradication of barriers to health and education equity, and create environments of trust, acceptance, and tolerance. School nurses demonstrate caring and culturally congruent practice via self-reflection on personal attitudes and beliefs, engagement in the school community, and through evaluation and intervention to address community needs.

School nurses practice in a kind and compassionate manner working with many ethnicities represented within the heritage of the community’s citizenry. Immigrants, refugees, and those with work visas bring diverse languages, health, social needs, and cultural practices to the school community. “[C]ulturally competent nurses will increasingly serve as role models for novice clinicians, colleagues, and consumers and as leaders of change”.