School nurse survival: reviewing clinical skills in the simulation laboratory.

Abstract

School nursing is a specialty that requires nurses to provide holistic health care to a diverse population. Federal disability laws make it necessary for the school nurse to maintain and competently perform higher level technical skills--outside the home or hospital setting. Skills include tracheotomy care, gastric tube care, urinary catheterizations, central line care, oxygen delivery, ostomy care, and advanced assessment skills. How do school nurses maintain these skills if they are not used frequently enough to assure competency? The authors' college of nursing and a school outreach department have partnered to offer an annual school nurse conference. One option for participants is to use the simulation laboratory to refresh these skills and to review newer equipment and technology. The simulation laboratory staff and pediatric faculty are available to demonstrate and assist participants with skills technique. Participants have responded positively to this collaborative effort.