title: School nurses' familiarity and perceptions of academic accommodations for student-athletes following sport-related concussion.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate school nurses' familiarity and perceptions regarding academic accommodations for student-athletes following sport-related concussion. School nurses (N = 1,246) accessed the survey School Nurses' Beliefs, Attitudes and Knowledge of Pediatric Athletes with Concussions (BAKPAC-SN). The BAKPAC-SN contained several questions pertaining to concussion management and academic accommodations. There were significant differences regarding personal experience as well as familiarity of academic accommodations (p < .001) between school nurses who work at a school that employs an athletic trainer and school nurses who work at a school that does not employ an athletic trainer. There were significant weak positive relationships between years of experience and familiarity with academic accommodations (r = .210, p < .001), 504 plans (r = .243, p < .001), and individualized education plans (r = .205, p < .001). School nurses employed at a single school were significantly more familiar with academic accommodations (p = .027) and 504 plans (p = .001) than school nurses employed at multiple schools. Health care professionals should collaborate to effectively manage a concussed patient and should consider academic accommodations to ensure whole-person health care.
authors.affiliation: A. T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: A. T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA cwmccarty@atsu.edu.
authors.forename: Cailee E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: A. T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Valovich McLeod
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: 504 plans; IEPs; concussion management