title: School nursing in New Zealand: a study of services.
abstract: There are universal concerns about youth health and recognition of the potential of school health services but little consensus internationally as to how these are best configured. Limited information about nursing services in New Zealand secondary schools, changing patterns of youth health needs and expanding roles for nurses in primary health care indicated a need to research school nursing services. This study found that within New Zealand schools there was wide variation in the types of health services and their funding; that nurses are well qualified and highly experienced, although some lack clinical supervision; that students present most commonly for sexual health and injuries or sickness; and that they choose school health services for accessibility and confidentiality. It concludes that one way forward would be to develop a national-level policy for nurse-led school health centers, with appropriate funding, that allows for local flexibility and includes a career pathway for school nurses.
authors.affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. sue.buckley@vuw.ac.nz
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gerring
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Churchward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011050:Policy Making; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult