An Excel Spreadsheet Model for States and Districts to Assess the Cost-Benefit of School Nursing Services.
This paper describes a user-friendly, Excel spreadsheet model and two data collection instruments constructed by the authors to help states and districts perform cost-benefit analyses of school nursing services delivered by full-time school nurses. Prior to applying the model, states or districts need to collect data using two forms: "Daily Nurse Data Collection Form" and the "Teacher Survey." The former is used to record daily nursing activities, including number of student health encounters, number of medications administered, number of student early dismissals, and number of medical procedures performed. The latter is used to obtain estimates for the time teachers spend addressing student health issues. Once inputs are entered in the model, outputs are automatically calculated, including program costs, total benefits, net benefits, and benefit-cost ratio. The spreadsheet model, data collection tools, and instructions are available at the NASN website ( http://www.nasn.org/The/CostBenefitAnalysis ).
Health Economist, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Li Yan
LY
Wang
School Nurse, Warren Prescott School Charlestown, Boston, MA.
Mary Jane
MJ
O'Brien
Director of Research, National Association of School Nurses, Silver Spring, MD.
Erin D
ED
Maughan
D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012573:School Nursing / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload
cost-benefit analysis; data collection tools; school nursing services; spreadsheet model