How to Advocate for a State School Nurse Consultant

The value of a state school nurse consultant (SSNC) position has been recognized by 40 states. Several steps can be taken to develop a plan to advocate for a SSNC position:

• Assess your state’s laws and regulations and funding sources.
• Develop key partnerships.
• Plan your approach to advocacy carefully.

Assessment
Research your state law and regulations. Look for language that describes school health services programs and any specific regulations that require a position at the state level for coordinating school health services programs. If not a specific position is there language requiring programs be coordinated? How about school health services policies and procedures, is there language that requires the state provide these to local programs? Remember to look at both education and health law – language could be in either or both.

Examine your state nurse practice act, what does it say about supervision, quality assurance?

Is the state receiving Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) funding as an infrastructure state? Is either the state education agency or state health agency receiving any other funding for school health services programs?

An infrastructure state requires both the state education agency and the state health agency to work together to promote and support the CDC’s eight-component model for school health, of which one component is school health services. Find out how they are doing that. Check with each state agency to find out what health funding is received and how it can support school health. Copies or a summary of the grant requirements and monies received should be made available to you.

Partners
Partners are essential in advocating successfully for a SSNC position. Investigate whether your state has a legislator who is supportive of school nursing and would support your efforts to develop a SSNC position. Look to your state school board for a partner as well. This may mean making appointments to speak to potential supporters directly. Go prepared with a list of advantages of having a SSNC.

Plan
Why is a SSNC position important for your state? Be prepared to answer that question. Key advantages of a SSNC are:

• Liaison to state board, to legislators on behalf of local school health programs.
• Policy development ensuring standardized quality assurance across the state.
• Technical assistance to local jurisdictions.
• Coordinating and securing state grant to assist local programs.

Barriers- Be prepared to answer question regarding barriers, e.g., "there is no budget for such a position." Use your previous research. Are there laws requiring the state to have such a position? Can funding that is already received, e.g. Safe and Drug Free Schools, health education, special education or nutrition funding be used (perhaps a little from each program)?

“There is already someone (from another discipline) covering that position. Discuss state nurse practice laws, the need for quality assurance, and the difference between the knowledge base required for nursing vs. health educators or other administrators.

Implementation

Meet to develop a plan- Include your state school nurse organization, university partners, school administrators or local health officials.

Develop a report with key information- number of school nurses, types of staffing models used, if any, in each jurisdiction. Prepare a chart outlining how each jurisdiction in the state, staff school nursing programs and who, if anyone, supervises the school health program.

Strategies

• Meetings with key partners (state board reps and/or state legislators.)
• Provide easy and convenient tours of several school health programs. Highlight the complexity of students served.
• Present to the State Board of Education, State Board of Health, State Association of the School Superintendents and State Health Officers to provide a presentation regarding the need for a SSNC.
• Request that a SSNC from a nearby state meet with you or be a part of a meeting or presentation to state leaders. She can describe her role and answer questions from the SSNC’s perspective.

Be prepared- Have a copy of a state school nurse consultant job description (a sample can be found on the NASSNC website.) Have answers for barriers.

OTHER TIPS

NASSNC would be pleased to provide you with the name of a SSNC in a nearby state that could provide support and advice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Click here to download a powerpoint presentation about the role of NASSNC.

Click here to download a brochure in pdf format that describes NASSNC.