Abstract
I debated the title for this editorial. My second option was “Where Can I Find Out About That?” Maybe that would have been better. Either way, I know that as school nurses, we are always willing to determine the best way to help students and families, and we are always trying to fit more into the time we have.
One of the best resources for evidence-based school nursing information is NASN. Our professional organization provides a variety of excellent resources, including webinars, research and clinical journals, podcasts, textbooks, position statements and briefs, clinical practice guidelines, and in-person and online trainings—and, of course, our School nursing: Scope and standards of practice (National Association of School Nurses, 2022). While some government resources have been cut back, NASN continues to produce timely, high-quality materials.
I may sound like a broken record when it comes to evidence-based resources, but that is only because I value facts. It can be a fun fact, such as “only male turkeys gobble,” or a crucial fact, such as the need to identify and treat amblyopia in children as early as possible to avoid permanent vision impairment (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 2024; Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.). One of the earliest facts I remember learning in nursing school was around sterile technique—basic germ theory, I suppose. That lesson has always stayed with me: research and evidence should guide practice.
School nurses, especially those who are the only health professional in the building, district, or county, need reliable and easy access to evidence-based content. As I mentioned, much of that can be found through NASN, and I would like to highlight two easy ways to access it.
Use the search feature on the NASN.org home page.
By entering a keyword in the home page search box, you will be provided with a list of all NASN resources related to the keyword—from discussion list posts, to webinars, to journal articles—all by entering a keyword! (Open the search feature by clicking the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the home page.)
2. Access school nursing journals online.
As a NASN member, you have access to two journals: The NASN School Nurse, a clinically focused journal, and The Journal of School Nursing, a research focused journal. While the NASN School Nurse is mailed to you six times a year, you can access past and current issues of both journals online in a few easy steps.
To access full-text articles without having to set up a separate SAGE Publishing account, first, log in to NASN.org and identify an article you want to read. You can do this by conducting a keyword search or clicking the “access online journals” tile on the NASN homepage. Next, follow the access steps found in Figure 1 to read or download a full-text version of the article! This direct access is a great timesaver.
How to Access Full Text Articles
My goal here is to show you how to use your resources effectively and efficiently to find the evidence-based information you are seeking. Whether through NASN’s website or its journals, easy access to reliable information is essential.
This issue features essential information on several serious topics, including a look at the types of trauma school nurses experience, an overview of firearm injury prevention and the school nurse’s role, and a discussion of medical child abuse. The firearm injury prevention article also includes a tear-off quickguide for you at the back of the issue.
We cover topics spanning from preschool to adolescence in this issue. Author Mary Noga shares a new vision referral approach from the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness that she piloted with preschool students and families, and Dr. Thaller and her co-authors begin a three-part series on adolescents with autism. You may also be interested in an article on rural nursing and the creation of a new special interest group (SIG)—a topic I hope we continue to explore as the SIG grows.
Finally, I encourage you to read through to the end to see the recognition of the School Nurse of the Year and School Nurse Administrator of the Year award recipients. Congratulations to all who are recognized here!
Let’s keep learning together,
