SCHOOL NURSE AWARD Sponsored by the Department of Health
When an audit of asthma care in schools revealed some worrying findings, specialist community public health and school nurse Kirsten Ellmore and the Shropshire School Nursing Team from Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust decided to act. ‘There was no asthma management plan and no guidance,’ Kirsten said. Only around half of teachers had had any training and some were treating attacks using medication not intended for the child. ‘We wanted to ensure that asthmatic children had a care plan highlighting their specific triggers and symptoms, and that they always carried their relieving medication with them.
IT’S TERRIFIC THAT THE TEAM HAS OVERCOME THE TEACHERS’ CONCERNS
NEIL O’CONNOR
Asthma action plan
Getting the message across to children: school staff nurse Gayle Fitzpatrick and public health nurse Kirsten Ellmore
Karin Downer devised ways to reduce pupil absences
Every school day counts The Think Twice, Every Day Counts project was devised to address a rise in absence days in Portsmouth’s schools, of which just over half were attributable to health reasons. School absence is known to contribute to poor educational
WE ARRANGED A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS TO SUPPORT PARENTS outcomes and is also a child safeguarding issue. ‘We arranged a series of focus groups with parents to establish what they needed to support them,’ explained Solent
NHS Trust school nurse team leader Karin Downer. ‘From these, we developed a fridge magnet pocket guide and a smart phone app called “Should my child go to school today?” We helped school staff to ask more probing questions when a child was reported absent, offered an appointment with a school nurse if necessary and offered access to school nurse drop-in advice or a telephone helpline. ‘Feedback from parents and schools indicates that both parties appreciate that school attendance is a major factor in children’s long-term wellbeing.’
We also wanted to help school staff to manage attacks.’ With the help of respiratory nurse specialist colleagues, local asthma specialists, school nurses and council representatives, Kirsten and her team developed guidance for teachers to manage attacks in their classroom. She was made lead school nurse for asthma to train school nurses and staff, manage queries and undertake audits. ‘It has been terrific to see how the team has overcome concerns among heads and teachers about taking on extra responsibilities while overcoming their own hesitation in training school staff,’ she said. A re-audit of the service in 2012 showed schools now have an asthma policy and written guidelines for managing acute attacks, access to emergency medication, a school asthma lead and more knowledgeable staff. Karin told the judges that attendance in participating schools has increased, that parents say the pocket guide is the first thing they turn to when their child is unwell and that they are clear about how to seek help from the school and health professionals. CHRIS BALCOMBE
A team approach to guidance for schools
NURSING mayNo7 other :: vol uses 28 no 36 :: permission. 2014 71 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 17, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
When an audit of asthma care in schools revealed some worrying findings, specialist community public health and school nurse Kirsten Ellmore and the Shropshire School Nursing Team from Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust decided to act. ‘There was no asthma management plan and no guidance,’ Kirsten said. Only around half of teachers had had any training and some were treating attacks using medication not intended for the child. ‘We wanted to ensure that asthmatic children had a care plan highlighting their specific triggers and symptoms, and that they always carried their relieving medication with them.
IT’S TERRIFIC THAT THE TEAM HAS OVERCOME THE TEACHERS’ CONCERNS
NEIL O’CONNOR
Asthma action plan
Getting the message across to children: school staff nurse Gayle Fitzpatrick and public health nurse Kirsten Ellmore
Karin Downer devised ways to reduce pupil absences
Every school day counts The Think Twice, Every Day Counts project was devised to address a rise in absence days in Portsmouth’s schools, of which just over half were attributable to health reasons. School absence is known to contribute to poor educational
WE ARRANGED A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS TO SUPPORT PARENTS outcomes and is also a child safeguarding issue. ‘We arranged a series of focus groups with parents to establish what they needed to support them,’ explained Solent
NHS Trust school nurse team leader Karin Downer. ‘From these, we developed a fridge magnet pocket guide and a smart phone app called “Should my child go to school today?” We helped school staff to ask more probing questions when a child was reported absent, offered an appointment with a school nurse if necessary and offered access to school nurse drop-in advice or a telephone helpline. ‘Feedback from parents and schools indicates that both parties appreciate that school attendance is a major factor in children’s long-term wellbeing.’
We also wanted to help school staff to manage attacks.’ With the help of respiratory nurse specialist colleagues, local asthma specialists, school nurses and council representatives, Kirsten and her team developed guidance for teachers to manage attacks in their classroom. She was made lead school nurse for asthma to train school nurses and staff, manage queries and undertake audits. ‘It has been terrific to see how the team has overcome concerns among heads and teachers about taking on extra responsibilities while overcoming their own hesitation in training school staff,’ she said. A re-audit of the service in 2012 showed schools now have an asthma policy and written guidelines for managing acute attacks, access to emergency medication, a school asthma lead and more knowledgeable staff. Karin told the judges that attendance in participating schools has increased, that parents say the pocket guide is the first thing they turn to when their child is unwell and that they are clear about how to seek help from the school and health professionals. CHRIS BALCOMBE
A team approach to guidance for schools
NURSING mayNo7 other :: vol uses 28 no 36 :: permission. 2014 71 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 17, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
