Professional School Nursing
Texas Guide to School Health Services
School nurses serve in a pivotal role that bridges healthcare and education. As the main health contact in the school setting; school nurses address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students. The resources below include information about the Nurse Practice Act, Texas Board of Nursing rules and regulations, and other resources related to school nursing and school health services roles.
What is School Nursing?
A specialized practice of nursing protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge healthcare and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential. Approved by the NASN Board of Directors in February 2017.
The Texas Education Agency defines a school nurse in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 153.1022 (a) (1) (D) as “… an educator employed to provide full-time nursing and health care services and who meets all the requirements to practice as a registered nurse (RN) pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act and the rules and regulations relating to professional nurse education, licensure, and practice and has been issued a license to practice professional nursing in Texas.”
The Board of Nursing believes that school nursing is a professional RN specialty. The RN has the educational preparation and critical thinking skills as well as clinical expertise which are essential to nursing in the school setting. These activities involve the comprehensive assessment of the nursing/health care needs of the student, the development of a plan of care, implementation of the plan, and evaluation of the outcomes. The provision of these services by the RN contributes directly to the student's education and to the successful outcome of the educational process. These essential components of professional nursing practice are the responsibility of the RN in compliance with 22 TAC §217.11(3)(A).