Transcript School-Aged Children and Adolescents

Promoting and Protecting the
Health of School-Aged and
Adolescent Populations
Allender and Spradley - Chapter 28
Global View
• Focus of resources on improving the
health and well-being of children
– International organizations - World
Health Organization (WHO) and the
United Nations Children’s Fund
(formerly UNICEF)
– Governmental agencies
– Nonprofit groups
– Charitable foundations
Major Problems 1
• Economic - Increased risks of poor health,
lower standardized test scores, failure in
school, out-of-wedlock births, violent crime
victimization, and end up as poor adults
• Accident/Injury - motor vehicle injury is
the leading cause, followed by firearm and
drowning deaths
• Communicable diseases - primarily
respiratory illness, followed by infectious
and parasitic diseases, injuries, and
digestive conditions
Major Problems 2
• Chronic disease - Commonly hay fever,
sinusitis, dermatitis, tonsillitis, asthma,
diabetes, seizure disorders, and hearing
difficulties; also cancer
• Behavioral problems and disabilities have both genetic and environmental causes;
ADHD, speech or language impairment,
mental retardation, serious emotional
disturbances, autism, deaf-blindness,
orthopedic problems, traumatic brain injury
Major Problems 3
• Head lice - a common problem, infesting
6 to 12 million children annually
• Nutrition - primarily overeating (obesity)
and inappropriate food choices (high
intake of intake of fats, sweets and sodas)
• Dental hygiene - dental caries most
common chronic disease; affects over half
• Inactivity - related to TV viewing (staying
up late and decreased sleep time ), and
lack of daily physical activity
Adolescent Health Problems
• Emotional problems - spiritual poverty,
boredom, low self-esteem, depression, and
lack of motivation
• Violence and Substance abuse unintentional injuries (MVIs) , homicide and
suicide are the top three causes of death;
increased risk-taking behavior includes
gangs, precocious sex, drugs and alcohol
and guns
Adolescent Health Problems 2
• Indiscriminate sexual activity - result in
teen pregnancy and STDs, including
HIV/AIDS
• Nutrition and eating disorders obesity and associated with body image
and control (anorexia nervosa, bulimia,
and binge eating)
• Acne - affect 79% to 95% of adolescents
in westernized societies; greasy foods or
chocolate are not the cause
Programs and Services
• Preventive - Immunizations, Screenings
(TB testing, vision, hearing, dental,
scoliosis), Nutrition and Exercise Programs
• Education - Family planning, Infectious
disease (STD, HIV), Substance abuse
(alcohol, tobacco), Illness/Injury Prevention
(MVI, fire, poisoning),
• Social Services - Child protective services
(abuse and neglect), Counseling, Crisis
prevention, Dental (fluoride rinses and
sealants)
School Based Health Centers (SBHC)
• Benefits - increase access to health
care, convenient time, decrease
absences from school, a variety of
services in a user-friendly manner,
convenient location, low or no costs
• Objections - requires increased
financial and technical support
School Nurse Training
• Usually a registered nurse (frequently
BSN)
• Operates from either the school system
or the health department
• A specialized role requiring specialized
skills in school health assessment and
intervention (some states require
certification or credentialing)
• School nurse practitioners - advanced
academic and clinical preparation
School Nurse Responsibilities
• Primarily responsible for promotion and
maintenance of health and prevention of
illness in school-aged children and school
personnel in an educational setting
• Identifies health-related barriers to learning
• Advocates for students, their families, and
the school community
Main Functions of
School Nurse Practice
• Roles - care provider, change agent,
teacher, manager, and educator
• Integrate health services - coordinating
the interdisciplinary team effort (counseling,
nutrition, physical education)
• Provide health education - teaching of
health concepts, developing health
curriculum, and utilizing resources
• Protect the healthful school environment