Page 40 - MMP-N-NJ CCN 21st Century School Nurse Leadership Book

Professional growth also involves staying current with both
medical and information technology. In school nursing,
technology encompasses telehealth, computer skills, and
the use of web-based resources to collect and manage data
(e.g., electronic health records, immunization information
TECHNOLOGY systems), overlapping with the Quality Improvement principle
and data collection practice component. Technology allows
for retrieving evidence-based education, communicating
through social media, and using practice applications (i.e.,
apps) (Anderson & Enge, 2012; National Association of
School Nurses, 2017).

As advocates for changes, school nurses become change
agents. When school nurses participate on interdisciplinary
teams, their perspectives on health promotion, disease
POLICY DEVELOPMENT prevention, and care coordination for students and the school
AND IMPLEMENTATION community bring about change in policy development and
implementation related to plans and protocols that address
children’s health issues within the school and community
setting (ANA & NASN, 2017; Institute of Medicine, 2011;
Needleman & Hassmiller, 2009).

School nurses must exhibit professionalism (Campbell
& Taylor, n.d.). Professionalism includes the attributes of
accountability, maturity, problem solving, collaboration,
proactivity, positivity, professional speech, appropriate
PROFESSIONALISM dress, and activities that align with current, evidence-
based, student-centered practice. Professional behaviors
were identified by principals, educators, and others as the
most influential factor when school nurses were seen and
understood as valuable members of the educational team
(Maughan & Adams, 2011).

Systems-level leadership targets a health care system or
education system level. School nurses, often in partnership
with public health, lead efforts that align emerging systems

SYSTEMS-LEVEL of care for population health improvement (American Public
LEADERSHIP Health Association. Public Health Nursing Section, 2013).
System level leaders understand the strategic interconnection
between and among organizations, policies, processes, and
systems (Madrazo & Senge, 2013; Weismuller, Willgerodt,
McClanahan, & Helm-Remund, 2016).

*Definitions of the framework principles and components were taken from the original articles that developed the Framework for
21st Century School Nursing Practice™ (NASN, 2016a; Maughan, Duff, et al., 2016). Where applicable the original source is cited.
Permission to use granted by the National Association of School Nurses. Reprinted with permission by the National Association
of School Nurses.

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