title: Influencing school health policy: the role of state school nurse consultants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of the State School Nurse Consultant has been well defined by the National Association of School Nurses. State School Nurse Consultants serve as a resource to school nurses on issues related to their practice, as well as a liaison between top-level educators and school nurses. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the State School Nurse Consultant, and to present results of a survey of Louisiana school nurses related to their practice needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was administered via Survey Monkey to determine the perceived needs of Louisiana school nurses related to their professional practice. Eighty-eight members of the Louisiana School Nurse Organization participated in the online survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Louisiana is 1 of 6 states that do not have a State School Nurse Consultant. Respondents to the survey indicated an overwhelming need to have a school nurse representative at the state level. Twenty-two of the respondents specifically stated that they would like to have a State School Nurse Consultant within the Department of Education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Budgetary constraints have resulted in a lack of funding for a State School Nurse Consultant in Louisiana. Partnerships with federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and billing of Medicaid for school nursing services are 2 examples of revenue sources for school nurses that Louisiana is investigating. Revenue from these sources may serve to supplement state funds so that this important resource for Louisiana school nurses can be put into place.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. lab4456@louisiana.edu
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Broussard
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Howat
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Street
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003253:Consultants; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008145:Louisiana; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult