How did it become that a nurse would be needed to work in the school setting so many years ago?
We know in today’s world there are a variety of situations requiring the need for a nurse in the school setting, but surely it hasn’t always been that way. Or has it?
The history of school nursing
The idea of school nursing starting as an experiment! In the late 1800s/early 1900s New Year City allowed 1 nurse to work with 8,671 students.
The goal was to exclude students who needed to be excluded from school, provide follow up care with the students and their families in order for them to return to school as soon as possible.
Over that year the absenteeism rate decreased by 90%! The experiment was so successful that New Year City hired 25 more nurses to work in their schools!
Although some of the needs students face today might be a little different than when Lillian Wald began the school nurse journey; the goal is still the same-promoting health in the school setting so students are ready to learn!
Learn more about Lillian Wald here…
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