Beyond Bandaids: Understanding the Role of School Nurses in NSW: Summary Report

The World Health Organisation (1992) suggests that people’s health behaviours are determined by the context in which they live their everyday lives. This would include the settings in which people live, work and seek leisure. Given the substantial time children and young people spend at school, it is realistic to assume that schools play a major role in determining such health behaviours. In support of this, Stewart-Brown (2006) presented research findings which indicate that school based health promotion is an effective means of promoting youth health. Schools have been found to have a major protective influence across a number of health issues, including mental health, healthy eating and physical activity (Stewart-Brown, 2006). Good health has also been correlated with more successful learning (NSW Health Department, 2000); again indicating the importance of ensuring good health during childhood and adolescence. School nursing plays a vital role in providing this health promotion within schools.