Page 23 - MMP-N-NJ CCN 21st Century School Nurse Leadership Book

IDEA #1: CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
IMPROVE ATTENDANCE IN STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE

Idea:

Chronic disease management: The student will have an attendance rate of less than
10 days absence (less than 6% - measurement of attendance based upon New Jersey
State ESSA measure) or better related to the chronic disease. Enhances understanding
of complexity of attendance when associated with a chronic disease. Contributes to
awareness of relationship between school attendance and student health and learning
outcomes. Adds to student-centered care and student self-empowerment.

The Story:

School nurse Brian believes that many of his students with chronic diseases, particularly
asthma, are not managing their asthma well, contributing to absenteeism. Brian
recognizes that school attendance is a complex issue. He works in an urban district
where many families are struggling to make ends meet. Recognizing that he cannot “fix”
everything, he wants to start by examining the issue more carefully, and potentially
discover interventions he can implement in the future.

Objectives:

• Establish baseline of students with asthma absenteeism and reasons for absence.
• Begin understanding community needs and potential interventions as it relates to chronic disease
in school.

• Develop school and community partners that focus on health and education initiatives to improve
school attendance.

• Collect data on all students who have asthma in [NJ School] to understand the reasons for absence
during the school year 20XX-20XX.
• Develop a template to categorize reasons for absences from evidence-based resources.

• Report results monthly to address the need to check often and early to keep students in school when
appropriate.
• Benchmark results for next school year.

• Develop initiatives that address major findings for next school year.
• Pilot study that can be expanded to other chronic diseases, or “regular” student population within
school and district.

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