Learning Objective #1: Compare and contrast three major activities identified by school nurses and superintendents in caring for the school-age child

Learning Objective #2: Utilize the evidence to support policy changes to better the health of the school-age child

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School nurses have a specialized practice that advances the well-being, academic success, and life long achievement of students. Educational success is enhanced by healthy students. The role of the school nurse has become increasingly complex over the past 20 years. In its evolution, the school nurse has become responsible for increasingly complex interventions dealing with physical, social, psychological and behavioral needs. All school health services are delivered in the overall context of the child, family, and the child's overall health plan. The current economic budget cuts have lead to the replacement of school nurse positions by non-nurses. The perception of the multi-role of the school nurse often differs from the school nurses to the superintendents. This survey tool, originally developed by members of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, examines the perceptions of school nurses and superintendents regarding time spend on various school nurse activities; how much time should be spend on various activities; how important various activities are to the mission of the school and which school nurse activities might be delegated to non-nurses. The survey was conducted in spring 2004 with 411 school nurse respondents and 137 superintendent respondents in Texas. Two group t - test indicated statistical significance between the perception of the role of the school nurse by the school nurses and the superintendents in many areas. Similarities and differences in perception between the groups will be discussed. Policies can be shaped and affected by understanding the differences in perception and open dialogue to improve the health service impacting the health and success of the students.