Exploring parents, school directors and teachers perceptions about school nurses

Abstract Background The school is the second environment, after the home, where children develop their lives. Their learning capacity is widely related to their health and wellness. Healthy children attend classes more regularly and are capable to concentrate more in school activities (Murray, 2007). School nurses play multiple roles with regards to the protection and health awareness of the students. The aim of this project is to explore the perspectives directors, tutors and parents have of school nurses, and to find out what they think the role of a nurse consists of in a school environment. Objectives General: to identify the factors that hinder the implantation of a school nurse figure in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Specific: 1. Explore the perceptions of the nurses that work in schools regarding the advantages and disadvantages of their functions in that environment 2. Explore the perceptions of directors and teachers about the need of having a school nurse 3. Identify the opinions of managers about the need to include school nurses in education centres 4. Get to know the opinion of directors, teachers and parents with regards to the role of a school nurse. Methodology Qualitative methodology, specifically with an interpretive phenomenological study. For the data collection, interviews will be held in depth with educators, nurses, directors, parents and students. Results The findings confirmed the need for a nurse to be present in schools in Saudi Arabia. By comparing participants with and without a school nurse was possible to see that support for the role of school nurse was to be found in both groups. All the informants have coincidences in the meaning and functions that a school nurse must have and all consider that the school nurse has a positive impact on students, teachers and families; In the students, through their contribution to the promotion of health, prevention of health problems, systematic care and training in health education, for teaching staff and school managers generates security and confidence, which provides greater Freedom to carry out their teaching work and in families generates peace of mind regarding the comprehensive health care of their children. The problems that hinder the inclusion of the school nurse in schools are structural. Conclusion The results of this study provide relevant information about the perceptions and expectations that mothers, teachers, principals and school nurses have regarding nurses. These results open the door to further research in this area in Saudi Arabia. This study has made a positive and exclusive contribution to further research on school nurses, and thus has a potentially positive impact on development in establishing a school nurse figure in Saudi Arabia. This study has made a positive and exclusive contribution to further research on school nurses, and therefore has a potentially positive impact on development in establishing a school nurse figure in Saudi Arabia. The study showed that all participating women who had firsthand experience with school nurses unanimously recognized the importance of the role of school nurses. All participants identified first aid and deal with emergencies, accidents or illnesses and dispensing medications as the main functions of school nurses, especially in primary schools where younger children have higher levels of hyperactivity and, therefore Therefor, there is an increased risk of injury. School nurses mentioned many benefits of having a nurse at school and no disadvantages. The issues raised in addressing these issues were especially valuable in practical terms for the principals of Saudi schools who wish to employ a high-quality nurse. The main theme "employing school nurses" identified two facilitators of school nurse employment, namely cultural awareness / language and working hours, while several economic barriers emerged to employ school nurses as public or private schools.