School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice

The latest edition of School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice is a must have for every school nurse. You can order yours from NASN Bookstore or the ANA Bookstore

The listing of competencies under each standard is an incomplete list. In addition, the listings below do not include any of the graduate level prepared school nurse, including the APRN.

 Standards of School Nursing Practice 1- 6

  1. Assessment: The school nurse collects pertinent data and information relative to the student, family, group, school community, or population.  
  2. Diagnosis: The school nurse analyzes the assessment data the student, family, group, school community, or population to describe actual or potential diagnosis. 
  3. Outcomes Identification: The school nurse articulates measurable expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the  student, family, group, school community, or population.
  4. Planning: The school nurse develops a collaborative course of action that plan that prescribes strategies to attain expected, measurable outcomes, that address the student, family group, school community, or population. 
  5. Implementation: The school nurse executes an agreed upon plan/intervention for the student, family group, school community, or population.
    A. Coordination of Care: The school nurse aligns care for student, family group, school community, or population.
    B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion: The school nurse employs strategies to improve the health and safety of student, family group, school community, or population.
  6. Evaluation: The school nurse systematically appraises progress towards attainment of student and school population goals and outcomes. 

Standards of Professional Performance 7: Ethics: The school nurse practices ethically.

  1. Integrates the Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015) and the Code of Ethics for School Nurses (NASN 2016b) to guide nursing practice and articulate the moral foundation of school nursing. (Plus 14 more competencies and 4  additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 8: Advocacy: The school nurse demonstrates in all roles and settings. 

  1. Advocates for the rights, health and safety of the student and school community. (Plus 16 more competencies and 8 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse) 

Standards of Professional Performance 9: Respectful and Equitable Practice. The school nurse practices with cultural humility and inclusiveness. 

  1.  Inventories one's own values, beliefs, cultural heritage, and implicit biases via critical self-reflection to improve culturally congruent practice. (Plus 14 move competencies and 7 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 10Communication: The school nurse conveys information in all areas of practice.

  1. Assess the effectiveness of their own communication skills. (Plus 16 more competencies)

Standards of Professional Performance 11: Collaboration: The school nurse collaborates with the students, families, and key stakeholders. 

  1. Explores the areas of expertise and contribution of self, other professionals and key stakeholders. (Plus 11 move competencies and 4 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 12: Leadership: The school nurse demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.

  1. Establishes a culture of respect, trust, dignity, and integrity. Contributes to the evolution of the profession through participation in professional organizations.(Plus 16 move competencies and 11 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse) 

Standards of Professional Performance 13: Education: The school nurse attains knowledge and competency that reflects current nursing practice and promotes innovative, anticipatory thinking.

  1. Commits to lifelong learning through critical thinking, self-reflection, and inquiry for personal growth and learning. (Plus 9 more competencies and 4 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 14: Scholarly Inquiry : The school nurse integrates scholarship, evidence and research findings into practice

  1. Articulates the value of research and its Uses current evidence-based knowledge, including research findings to promote further research and guide practice.(Plus 9 more competencies and 6 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse

Standards of Professional Performance 15: Quality of Practice: The school nurse contributes to quality of nursing practice.

  1. Ensures that nursing practice is safe, effective, efficient, equitable, timely, and student centered (STEEP). (Plus 13 more competencies and 6 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 16: Professional Practice Evaluation: The school nurse evaluates one’s own nursing practice and others' school nursing. 

  1. Engages in self-reflection and self-evaluation of nursing practice on a regular basis, identifying areas of strength as well as areas in which professional growth would be beneficial.  (Plus 19 more competencies)

Standards of Professional Performance 17: Resource Stewardship: The school nurse utilizes appropriate resources to plan, provide nursing services that are safe, effective, and financially responsible.

  1. Assesses student care needs and resources available to achieve desired outcomes. (Plus 13 more competencies and 10 additional competencies for the graduate-level prepared nurse)

Standards of Professional Performance 18: Environmental Health  The school nurse practices in a manner that advances environmental safety , justice, and health. 

  1. Recognized the environment as a determinant of health that impacts student educational, health, and social equity. (Plus 11 more competencies and 5 additional competencies for graduate-level prepared nurse)

Based on ANA School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th Edition 2022