School nursing

School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success, and lifelong achievement of students. To that end, school nurses try to facilitate positive student responses to normal human development; promote health and safety in the school environment; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self care, self-advocacy, and learning.

United States

The above definition was adopted in the United States at the NASN Board of Directors meeting in 1999.

According to the American Federation of Teachers, there are approximately 45,000 school nurses employed in the United States. School nurses are often the only health professional serving students in an educational setting.

United Kingdom

In the UK, nurses undertake additional training as Specialist Community Public Health Practitioners to become qualified Registered School Nurses and are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. With the Cameron Ministry's reorganisation of the National Health Service, they are under the general aegis of Public Health England, but are locally commissioned by local authorities, who now hold local responsibility for public health.