School Nursing for the Novice: How Do I Begin?

Obtaining a position as a school nurse is an exciting career opportunity, but the reality of a new position in a new specialty area can quickly lead to anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Your first thoughts might be “Can I really do this job?” and “Where and how do I begin?” The answer to these questions will depend on your situation—are you a nurse hired for a previously established school nurse position or are you the first nurse at your school, charged with initiating a school health program? The purpose of this article is to offer guidance for the novice school nurse in establishing a school health program and school nurse office, as well as to encourage and provide direction for the development of your school nursing practice.

Challenges, Barriers, and Good Practices in the Implementation of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram in Jodhpur, India

Introduction The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram of the Government of India subsumes the existing school health program to provide care and treatment to children below 18 years through screening and early interventions. Benefitting an estimated 270 million children for 30 preidentified conditions is a step toward “health for all.” Although the program is running since 2013, due to paucity of studies particularly in Thar desert region and its associated challenges, this study was planned to assess challenges and good practices in the implementation of RBSK in Jodhpur. Objectives To assess the challenges, barriers, and good practices in the implementation of RBSK among the mobile health team (MHT) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Methods A community based descriptive cross-sectional study in all 11 medical blocks of Jodhpur district, with purposive sampling to invite all members of MHT to participate in the study as grassroot workers was planned. A pretested, semistructured questionnaire was processed using SPSS for quantitative component and in-depth interviews were reported using qualifiers for qualitative observations. Results As much as 74.1% (n = 40) of the staff perceived the trainings to be sufficient for daily work needs but needed more sessions for birth defects (33.3%) and development delays (29.6%). As much as 96.3% (n = 52) of the staff considered salaries to be low and 55.5% were dissatisfied with the jobs. However, 70.4% found targets to be achievable and 76% found the work environment helpful. Taboos and superstitions in community, harsh climate, dual workload on pharmacists as data operators, and noninclusion of AYUSH medicines for AYUSH medical officers (MOs) were few of the challenges, while good practices such as fully equipped MHTs, readily available vehicles, information education communication (IEC) materials, and treatment coverage under Bhamashah Bima Yojana (BSBY) were also observed. Conclusion Many good practices were observed during the study which can be adopted by other states for better implementations elsewhere. Certain challenges such as belief in quackery, superstitions and taboos could be minimized by conducting rapport-building meetings with community stakeholders. Feedback and regular trainings of MHT staff can further increase the success manifold.

A review of Fasciolopsis buski distribution and control in Indonesia

Fasciolopsiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the flatworm Fasciolopsis buski. Since 1982, fasciolopsiasis has been reported in Indonesia's Hulu Sungai Utara (HSU) Regency, South Kalimantan Province. Fasciolopsiasis occurs when contaminated raw or undercooked aquatic plants are consumed. Cercariae of the parasite encyst in a variety of aquatic plants and grow into metacercariae that infect and reproduce in the human intestine. Until now, treatment for F. buski infection in the HSU Regency has been comparatively short, with patients receiving only a single dose of praziquantel, 30 mg/kg body weight, without further observation. A long-term effort through health promotion activities and intensive health education, particularly for elementary school children enrolled in the School Health Program, is ongoing to help prevent fasciolopsiasis from spreading and to improve environmental sanitation. Through 2018, intervention efforts successfully reduced the incidence of F. buski infection. Sustaining surveillance and investigation of fasciolopsiasis, including identification of new cases and community education, is critical for the elimination of the parasite from Indonesia. This review describes the spread of F. buski and its possible impact on public health to understand the critical nature of continuing F. buski surveillance and control efforts.

PATTERN OF OCULAR MORBIDITIES - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, NORTH INDIA.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and to make a comparison between the ocular morbidity pattern in school going children of government and private schools of urban area of Amritsar. A school-based cross-sectional study design was adopted to examine children aged 5–15 years in randomly selected government and private schools of Amritsar. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was 18.92% (16.29% government, 21.05% private). Refractive errors showed a signicantly higher prevalence (P < 0.05%) in the private (19.94%) as compared to the government schools (14.91%). This study was the rst of its kind in Amritsar, it revealed that refractive errors, Squint, spring catarrh, seborrhoeic blepharitis and stye are important causes of ocular morbidities. Refractive errors were most common ocular disorder. The majority of the causes are either treatable or preventable. Ongoing school health program should be strengthened to reduce the prevalence of visual impairment due to refractive errors

Teachers’ Knowledge Regarding Children’s Health at the Elementary School Level

This article is based on one of the research questions in a larger study that aimed to assess the impact of the school health program at elementary schools in Punjab, Pakistan. It explores whether the school health program was helpful in enhancing teachers’ knowledge regarding major health issues among school children - anaemia, iron deficiency, malnutrition, asthma and breathing problems, and seasonal illness. The study revealed some significant findings, which are discussed with reference to the previous literature; conclusions are reached and recommendations given to improve teachers’ knowledge and skills for improving school health.

Perceptions, experiences and perspectives on school health and the School Health Program: the teachers’ viewpoint on the municipal health network of Belem-PA

Health at school is the subject of relevant discussions on health promotion. This study aims to understand the reach of the actions resulting from the School Health Program in municipal public schools in Belem-PA, from the perspective of teachers. It is a descriptive-observational study, with analysis of interviews with 22 teachers of municipal public basic education. Field research took place from April to June 2018. A content analysis was carried out, proposed by Bardin, generating four thematic units. Of those interviewed, 50% were unaware of the referred program or the operation of it. It was possible to perceive different modes of interaction between the program's actuators, from the most punctual and inefficient to the most contextualized and integrative. The study of social health determinants is necessary to better understand the processes and needs of these actions in the municipal school environment, with emphasis on issues of basic sanitation, food insecurity, violence and drugs. There is a need for self-recognition of the teacher as a health educator, in order to make them intrinsic health promoters in their pedagogical practices. The school's articulation with the school community can serve as an input for greater integration and stimulation of social control practices.

Health promotion actions in the School Health Program in Ceará: nursing contributions

ABSTRACT Objectives: to compare health promotion actions carried out by Family Health teams in Ceará, linked to the School Health Program. Methods: a cross-sectional study involving the first and second cycles of an external assessment of 910 and 1,626 teams from 184 municipalities, which joined the Brazilian National Program for Improvement of Access and Quality of Primary Care. Eight clinical assessment and seven health promotion indicators were assessed, together with health professionals working in schools. Results: the interviewees were nurses (95.6% and 98.3%). Between the cycles, there was an increase in clinical assessment (78.7% and 91.3%), health promotion and disease prevention (82.5% and 89.3%) and survey of students for follow-up (41.4% and 66.4%) in schools. Conclusions: health actions at school advanced between cycles, with nurses as protagonists in school health, which can reduce vulnerabilities in children and adolescents and qualify Primary Care.