Scientific support of the Vienna pilot project “School Nurses” by the Medical University of Vienna shows positive effects for the entire school system.
Vienna (OTS) – At a media event held by the Austrian Pediatric Nursing Professional Association on June 20, 2024, the first positive experiences of the city of Vienna’s scientifically supported pilot project “School Nurses” were presented, from which the Austrian Pediatric Nursing Professional Association and the directors of the pilot schools derived urgent recommendations for action.
The city of Vienna has taken a pioneering role in Austria with the “School Nurse” (SHN) pilot project. In this pilot project, nurses have been making a significant contribution to improving the health and psychosocial health of around 1,400 students since May 2022 at selected educational institutions in Vienna – analogous to international models. “School nurses have an indispensable place in school health care
“, says Mag.a Michaela Bilir, head of the “School Nurse” expert group in the Austrian Pediatric Nursing Professional Association, convinced.
International research and the initial results of scientific support demonstrate a high level of benefit for everyday school life
Already the first results of the scientific support of the project „School Nurse“ of the city of Vienna at six locations through the Center for Public Health of the Medical University of Vienna prove the high medical benefit for everyday school life. Prof. Hans-Peter Hutter from the Center for Public Health at the Medical University of Vienna emphasizes: “From a public health perspective, the “school nurse” specialization in the field of health professions is extremely important and has great potential for promoting health among children and adolescents.
“
School Nurse enables chronically ill children to participate in everyday school life
„At our school, the school nurse is the first point of contact for health issues, initial care and the care of chronically ill children
“, reports Manfred Baumgartner, director of the Bendagasse middle school in Vienna. The care provided by the school nurse enables chronically ill children to participate in lessons and school events.
Positive effects go beyond medical care
„The Schoolnurse has become an indispensable part of our team at the Monte Laa campus and of school life
,” says director Irene Jagersberger. In addition to acute care and the care of children with chronic illnesses, Jagersberger mentions the school nurse’s areas of application as well as communication with parents when children have health problems and conversations with students whose psychological problems manifest themselves in physical symptoms. Collaboration and advice with teachers and leisure educators in the areas of health care, nutritional advice and addiction prevention are also very important, as is networking with extracurricular institutions. “The wide range of tasks and areas of application with the diverse skills of nursing professionals, who can individually respond to the needs and conditions of the respective school environment, is in every respect a prime example of prevention-oriented care
“, explains Hutter.
School Nurse contributes to the design of the school as a health-promoting living environment
The School Nurse offers targeted activities to promote the competence of everyone involved in school life. School nurses advise the school team on health issues, implement educational programs for prevention and support children and young people, for example in obesity management. They contribute to the early detection of diseases and hold workshops on health-related topics. In this way, the school nurse makes an important contribution to shaping the school as a health-promoting living environment. According to the experts on the podium at the press conference, competent school health care with sufficient staff and finances is a fundamental building block for prevention that is taken seriously. “Through the use of school nurses, positive health influences can be achieved not only on children and young people, but on the entire social school environment, from parents to teachers, and a valuable “bridge” can be built between the health and education systems
says Hutter.
Recommendations from the experts based on scientific support and experiences in the pilot schools
The low-threshold offer that school nurses offer means that particularly vulnerable groups are reached. With her work, the school nurse sustainably relieves the burden on the healthcare system. As a role model, the school nurse offers children the first important positive contact with the health system. These experiences correspond to the international data on the benefits and effectiveness of using school nurses.
The experts’ recommendations for action are:
- Gradual nationwide rollout of school health nurses in compulsory schools
- Sustainable funding of the School Health Nurse
- Anchoring the school health nurse in the federal and state target management commission
- Connection of the school health nurse to the state health authority
- Addition to the School Education Act §13 to include the term “school health team” with an exemplary list, e.g. school health nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, occupational therapists,…
„Based on the results of the scientific support and the positive experiences of the pilot schools, the Professional Association of Children’s Nursing Austria (BKKÖ) and the directors of the project schools urgently recommend expanding the successful “School Health Nurse” pilot project of the City of Vienna after the pilot ends at the end of 2024 to be rolled out across Austria
“, so Bilir.
Long version of the press release as well as other press documents and the recording of the press conference on the homepage of Pediatric Nursing Professional Association
Questions & Contact:
Mag.a Michaela Bilir
Head of the “School Nurse” expert committee in the Austrian Pediatric Nursing Professional Association
michaela.bilir@kinderkrankenpflege.at
+43 664 8580692