title: Increasing Epilepsy Awareness in Schools: A Seizure Smart Schools Project.
abstract: A high prevalence of epilepsy diagnoses and seizure events among students was identified at a large Midwestern school district. In partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN), a quality improvement project was conducted to provide education and resources to staff caring for school children with seizures. School nurses (N = 26) were trained as seizure management educators and instructed staff in 21 schools on seizure awareness and response. School nurses utilized new seizure management resources, a procedural guideline, and care plan updates. The majority of school nurses rated the resources and training interventions as "very helpful." School nurse confidence in managing students with seizures increased, seizure action plan use increased, and 88% of children's records with new seizure diagnoses had completed documentation. School nurses played vital roles in increasing seizure awareness as educators and care managers. EFMN is using this project as an exemplar for expanding its Seizure Smart Schools program.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA brook565@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.affiliation: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Anoka, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hiltz
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Kopplin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lindeke
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008910:Minnesota; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D012640:Seizures / Q000451:nursing
keywords: epilepsy; quality improvement; school nurse; seizure; seizure management; student