The beginning of school nursing

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Did you realize the idea of school nursing came about as an experiment? Luckily for us, the experiment was greatly successful! Read on to learn more...

How did it become that a nurse was needed to work in the school setting so many years ago?

Lillian Wald's pioneering work in public health nursing laid the groundwork for the evolution of nursing practices in various settings, including schools. Through her establishment of the Henry Street Settlement and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Wald emphasized community-based care, preventive health measures, and a holistic approach to meeting the unique healthcare needs of underserved populations.

While her focus was more community health related, Wald's principles of health promotion, education, and the provision of care within the context of the community had a profound influence on the broader field of nursing; i.e. school nursing. As schools increasingly became recognized as vital community hubs, the principles Wald championed, such as addressing social determinants of health and advocating for the well-being of children, indirectly influenced the development of school nursing programs.

Her legacy in public health nursing continues to resonate in the ethos of school nursing, promoting a community-oriented, preventive care model that recognizes the interconnectedness of health within the school environment and the broader community.