Barriers to Seizure Management in Schools: Perceptions of School Nurses.
The purpose of this study was to assess school nurses' perceptions of barriers to optimal management of seizures in schools. Eighty-three school nurses completed an electronic survey. Most agreed they felt confident they could identify a seizure (97.6%), give rectal diazepam (83.8%), and handle cluster seizures (67.1%), but fewer were confident they could give intranasal midazolam (63.3%), had specific information about a student's seizures (56.6%), or could swipe a vagus nerve stimulator magnet (47.4%). Nurses were more likely to be available at the time of a seizure in rural (17/20) (85%) versus suburban (21/34) (62%) or urban (8/25) (32%) schools (P = .001). School nurses are comfortable managing seizures in the school setting. However, a specific seizure plan for each child and education on intranasal midazolam and vagus nerve stimulator magnet use are needed. A barrier in urban schools is decreased availability of a nurse to identify seizures and administer treatment.
Division of Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA debbie.terry@nationwidechildrens.org.
Debbie
D
Terry
Division of Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
Anup D
AD
Patel
Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.|Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Daniel M
DM
Cohen
Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.|Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Daniel
D
Scherzer
Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.|Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Jennifer
J
Kline
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019468:Disease Management; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072222:Nurses, Pediatric / Q000523:psychology*; D012573:School Nursing; D012574:Schools; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D000927:Anticonvulsants
children; epilepsy; nurse; school; seizure rescue medication