Health and Learning

Schools promote the health of every child in order to raise educational achievement.

The Link Between Health and Academic Success

Health and learning go hand-in-hand:

• An unhealthy child has difficulty learning.
• An undernourished child cannot concentrate well.
• Medical (physical and emotional) problems interfere with a child's ability to learn.

Students' three main problems (as indicated by teachers):

1. Abuse and neglect
2. Impaired health
3. Poor nutrition

School Nursing Goals

School nursing services impact three of the National Educational Goals:

1. All children will start school ready to learn with proper nutrition and health care.
2. Support district goals to increase graduation rates.
   
3. Every school will be free of drugs, alcohol, bullying, and violence.
   

Learning Conditions

In order for learning to take place, certain conditions need to be met. Below is a list of goals for nurses in the schools. 

In School

• Manage chronic health conditions
• Shorten illness-related absence
  
• Lessen the number of students sent home needlessly

In Class

• Provide intervention to return students to class
• Promote inclusion related to health needs

Safety

• Inspect the school's physical environment
• Promote universal precautions
• Support a non-violent, drug-free environment
  

Learning Environment

• Provide vision and hearing screens
• Identify health-related barriers to learning
• Support nutritional, comfort, and clothing needs