School nurses care for kids who suffer bumps and bruises or need a quiet place to recover when stomach upset, headaches and other ailments hit. Important as they are, these everyday services barely begin to describe the central role school nurses play in child, family and community health. For many families, the school nurse is the first person they think of when a child needs medical attention during the school day.

In fact, the first school nurse in the United States helped New York City schools deal with contagious diseases that spread through neighborhoods in the early 1900s. Public health leaders saw that school-based care and family outreach could reduce absences and help students stay on track academically. The approach was so successful that it became a model for schools across the country.

Today's school nurses manage increasingly complex student needs, including chronic health conditions, communicable diseases, mental health concerns and medical emergencies. They also help create safe, supportive school environments where students can learn and thrive.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all U.S. schools have at least one full-time nurse for every elementary, middle and high school campus. Yet many schools still lack this important resource, despite their importance currently and historically.

Today, school nurses remain at the heart of family and community health. They serve as crucial resources during public health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, wildfires, tornadoes and floods. Every week, school nurses safely dispense medication to students who need them during the school day, respond to medical emergencies such as allergic reactions, help create written care plans for children with chronic health needs, support health screenings, connect families with community resources, and provide coordination for student care networks, which include pediatricians, specialists and families.

Most illnesses and injuries that happen at school are minor and can often be treated by the school nurse, allowing students to return to class and continue learning. When a child experiences a more serious illness or injury, school nurses assess the situation, contact parents and coordinate next steps. In an emergency, school nurses help activate emergency response plans and work alongside trained staff and emergency medical services to get students the care they need.

Children don't need to have a chronic health condition to benefit from a school nurse's expertise. Temporary health problems can also affect a child's ability to participate and learn at school. This can include instances such as a child recovering from an ear infection who may have temporary hearing difficulties and benefit from sitting closer to the teacher or a student who returns to school with a cast, brace or other injury that may need special accommodations. School nurses help families and schools make these adjustments so students can continue learning safely while they recover. They can also explain school medication policies, help families complete required medical forms, and make sure medications are stored and given safely when needed.

School nurses also work closely with families, school staff, and health care professionals to support students' physical and emotional well-being. They help coordinate care for children with conditions such as asthma, food allergies, diabetes, seizure disorders, and mental or behavioral health concerns. For many families, they serve as an essential bridge between home, school and the health care system. Because they interact with students regularly, school nurses may be among the first adults to notice when something is wrong.

For example, a school nurse might recognize that a student's frequent stomachaches tend to occur before tests and suggest evaluation for anxiety. Signs of bullying, cyberbullying or social stress also may be more visible at school. Repeated visits to the health office for fatigue, headaches or other concerns sometimes reveal an underlying health issue that families were unaware of.

Schools across the United States continue to face difficult financial decisions. Tight budgets and competing priorities can make it challenging to maintain full-time nursing positions. As of 2024, only about 65% of U.S. schools had a full-time nurse. Schools serving larger numbers of students from lower-income families are less likely to have full-time nurses. Additionally, private schools are also less likely than public schools to employ full-time school nurses. Many schools now rely on part-time nurses who divide their time among multiple schools, making it harder to provide consistent care.

AAP policies place school nurses at the center of childhood health, safety and learning. Every child deserves access to a full-time nurse who can provide care, support and guidance throughout the school day.

Parents can help advocate for full-time school nurses by exploring what is happening in your schools. Parents can ask if all schools in the district have full-time nurses, attend school board meetings to express the need for full-time nurses, or engage with local media outlets and platforms, community publications or school newsletters. Explain why school nurses are an important investment in children's health, safety and academic success.

If a school nurse has helped your child or family, parents should consider sharing their experience with local or state policymakers. Personal stories can help decision-makers understand why school nursing services matter when education and health funding decisions are being made.

____

Sonja O'Leary, MD, FAAP, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is currently the Chair for Ambulatory Pediatrics and School and Community Programs and previously served as the Medical Director of Denver Health Pediatrics at Denver Public Schools. She recently served as the chair of the Council on School Health (COSH) for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and has continued working with COSH most recently as editor of the upcoming 8th edition of the School Health Manual. As a native Spanish-speaker and a Colombian, she knows that different heritages, cultures and experiences bring important perspective to medicine.

©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.