Welcome! As a school nurse, you're so much more than the person who hands out Band-Aids and checks temperatures. You're a trusted adult, a calm presence in the storm, and often the bridge between a child’s medical needs and their ability to learn and thrive at school.
One of the most powerful tools you have? Relationships.
The stronger your relationships—with students, families, staff, and your wider community—the more impactful your role becomes. Let’s talk about how to grow those connections and why they’re so essential to your work as a school nurse.
5 STEPS FOR SCHOOL NURSES TO BUILD TRUST, CONNECTION, & COMMUNITY!
1. Students First: Creating a Safe Space
You might be the only healthcare professional a student sees regularly. When you learn their names, ask about their weekend, or listen without judgment, you’re doing more than taking a temperature—you’re building trust.
When students feel seen and safe with you:
They’re more likely to share how they’re really feeling.
You’re more likely to catch things early—whether it’s a hidden health concern or emotional distress.
They start to see the health office as a supportive space, not just a place to go when they’re sick.
Tip:Even small things like remembering a student’s favorite sport or complimenting their new glasses go a long way in building rapport.
2. Partnering with Families
Families want to know their child is in good hands. A quick phone call, a note home, or a positive email to share something kind their child did can help you build those bridges before there’s a problem.
When families trust you:
They’re more open to sharing important health information.
You can work together to support chronic conditions, medication needs, or mental health concerns.
You become a vital partner in their child’s success.
Tip: Start the year with an introduction letter or email letting families know who you are, how to reach you, and that you’re here to help.
3. Supporting and Collaborating with Staff
Teachers and staff are your teammates. When you work together—especially when navigating tricky student situations—everyone benefits.
When you build strong relationships with staff:
They’ll come to you sooner with concerns.
You can help support classroom needs, whether it’s managing a student’s asthma, understanding a 504 plan, or promoting hygiene practices.
You’ll feel more like part of the school’s leadership team.
Tip: Invite staff to visit your office for more information on certain situations, share health updates or helpful info, and remind them you’re here as a resource, not just in emergencies.
4. Reaching Beyond the School Walls
Some of your strongest supports might be outside your school building. Community partners can help you provide services, education, and supplies that you couldn’t access otherwise.
Tip: Keep a simple spreadsheet or list of your go-to community contacts so you’re ready when needs arise—or when someone offers to help!
5. You Deserve Connection, Too
Remember: you need support as well. Whether it’s a Facebook group for school nurses, a fellow school nurse in your district, or even an online friend who “gets it”—you’re better when you’re not doing this alone.
Final Thoughts
Strong relationships aren’t just a “nice to have” for school nurses—they’re essential. When people trust you, they listen. When you trust others, you collaborate better. And when students know you care, they feel safer, healthier, and more ready to learn.
So take a moment today to reach out, check in, or simply smile at someone you pass in the hallway. Every little interaction builds something bigger.
Because in school nursing, relationships really do make all the difference.
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Why Strong Verbal and Written Skills Matter for School Nurses
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Good communication is one of the most important tools in a school nurse’s toolkit. Whether it’s a quick hallway conversation with a teacher or a formal email to a parent, strong verbal and written communication skills are essential in the school setting.
As a school nurse, you're often the bridge between health care and education. Clear verbal communication helps you explain health information, build trust, and work effectively with students, staff, and families. It also helps during crisis situations, where calm and clear directions are key.
Equally important is your written communication. From documenting student visits to writing health plans or 504 accommodations, your words matter. Well-written records support student care, demonstrate your professionalism, and can protect you legally if questions arise later.
Improving your communication skills not only makes your daily interactions smoother—it also strengthens your reputation as a knowledgeable, approachable, and reliable health professional in the school community.
Communication Tips for School Nurses
1. Use plain language. Avoid medical jargon when speaking with students, parents, or school staff. Keep your explanations clear, simple, and age-appropriate.
2. Practice active listening. Give people your full attention, nod to show understanding, and repeat back key points to confirm clarity—especially when discussing health concerns.
3. Document objectively. Stick to the facts in written notes. Avoid opinions or emotional language. Example: “Student reports headache and nausea” instead of “Student looked miserable.”
4. Double-check your emails. Read your messages aloud before sending to catch errors or unclear language. Keep emails short, friendly, and professional.
5. Set communication boundaries. You don't have to be available 24/7. Use auto-replies or voicemail messages to clearly communicate when you'll return messages and what to do in emergencies.
6. Tailor your tone. Match your tone to your audience—use a warm and supportive tone with students and families, and a more formal tone in documentation or official reports.
7. Keep confidential info secure. Use secure systems for emailing or sharing student health details. Never discuss private info in hallways or over unsecured platforms.
8. Build relationships. Consistent, positive communication builds trust. Take time to connect with your team—it makes collaboration easier when challenges arise.
Click the pic below to get some specifics on school nurse related conversation starters!
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Asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions you'll encounter as a school nurse—and one of the most important to prepare for before the school year begins.
The good news? You don't have to memorize everything. Strong asthma management starts with good systems, updated documentation, staff education, and trusted resources.
Whether you're caring for one student with asthma or twenty, this guide will help you build confidence in supporting students throughout the school day.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways in the lungs, making them inflamed and narrow, which can make breathing difficult. Asthma symptoms can vary from person to person but typically include:
Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
Shortness of breath
Coughing, especially at night or early in the morning
Chest tightness
Asthma attacks occur when the airways become even more inflamed and narrow, making it harder to breathe. Triggers can include allergens (like pollen or pet dander), irritants (such as smoke or strong odors), physical activity, and even cold air or stress.
Prevalence of Asthma in Schools
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions among children in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 12 children has asthma. This means that in many schools, it’s likely that several students will be managing asthma on a daily basis.
Children with asthma may have different levels of severity. Some may only experience occasional symptoms, while others may face frequent asthma attacks that require medication or even emergency medical care. As school nurses, we need to be prepared to manage asthma in both mild and severe cases.
Building Your Asthma Management System
When managing asthma in schools, it’s important to understand the distinct roles and differences for the following types of forms / documents!
Asthma Action Plan, Individualized Healthcare Plans (IHPs), and State Policies & School Procedures
Asthma Action Plan (AAP) – An Asthma Action Plan (AAP) is a written, personalized guide created by the student’s healthcare provider, usually their doctor, to manage their asthma. This plan provides clear instructions for both the student and school staff on how to handle asthma symptoms and prevent attacks. It’s designed to help everyone involved know what steps to take during a specific student's asthma episode. There are many free examples available online to help create or update an AAP. Helpful Tip: Review Asthma Action Plans before the school year begins and anytime changes are made. Becoming familiar with each student's plan before an emergency occurs helps you respond more confidently. A comprehensive Asthma Action Plan typically includes:
Personalized triggers – What sets off the student's asthma, such as dust, pet dander, or cold air.
Symptoms to watch for – How to recognize the early signs of an asthma attack, such as coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness.
Medications – Detailed instructions about daily medications (like inhalers) and emergency medications (such as rescue inhalers).
Emergency actions – Steps to take if the student’s asthma symptoms get worse, including when to call for help or seek medical attention.
Contact information – Emergency contact numbers, including the student’s doctor and parents.
Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) – Written by the school nurse, the IHP is a comprehensive plan that outlines the student’s health needs and how nursing staff will meet those needs during the school day. For students with asthma, and IHP would most likely include the nursing assessment, nursing diagnoses, goals, interventions, expected outcomes, and an evaluation area. IHPs should be reevaluated and updates as needed, but at least each school year.
State Policies and School Procedures – When it comes to managing asthma in schools, it’s important to understand the difference between state policies and school procedures—both are essential, but they serve different purposes.
State Policies- State policies are laws or mandates passed by the state legislature. In Illinois, for example, the law 105 ILCS 5/22-30 allows students to carry and self-administer their asthma medication (like an inhaler) at school, as long as the proper documentation is provided by the parent/guardian and the student’s healthcare provider.
These laws are designed to protect students' rights and ensure schools follow standardized safety guidelines across the state. In Illinois, 105 ILCS 5/22-30 requires schools to:
Permit self-carry/self-administration of asthma medication with appropriate written authorization
Ensure staff are informed and trained on the school’s asthma policies
Maintain an asthma emergency response protocol
Request an Asthma Action Plan for each student diagnosed with asthma
School Procedures- School procedures are the step-by-step processes each school or district puts in place to carry out the state policy. They are the way each school or district follows the law, based on their own staff, setup, and available resources. Examples of school-level procedures include:
How inhalers are stored in the nurse’s office (if not self-carried)
When and how staff are trained to recognize and respond to asthma symptoms
Which forms need to be submitted and how often
Protocols for field trips, gym class, or after-school activities
Supporting Students with Asthma
As the primary healthcare provider in the school setting, the school nurse plays a key role in managing asthma. Here’s what school nurses should know and do to ensure that students with asthma receive the best care:
✔ Review Asthma Action Plans
✔ Develop nursing care plans
✔ Educate school staff
✔ Monitor environmental triggers
✔ Promote correct inhaler technique
✔ Coordinate with families and providers
✔ Prepare for emergencies
Learning from an Asthma Expert
One of the best parts of being a school nurse is that there's always something new to learn.
Our discussion covers practical topics school nurses face every year, including:
✔ Asthma Action Plans
✔ Common asthma triggers in schools
✔ Rescue inhaler updates
✔ Practical strategies for supporting students with asthma
✔ Live questions from school nurses
Every student with asthma deserves to feel safe, included, and ready to learn.
As school nurses, we help make that happen by building strong systems, educating school staff, partnering with families, and preparing for emergencies before they occur.
Preparation builds confidence—and confidence leads to better care.
Beyond the Asthma Action Plan
Ideally, every student with asthma would have an updated Asthma Action Plan on file each school year—but in reality, that doesn’t always happen. When symptoms start to affect a student’s ability to learn, participate fully in class, or join in school activities, an IHP and sometimes even a 504 Plan are the next best way to make sure the right supports are in place.
That's why I created these editable Asthma resources. Whether you need an IHP, 504 Plan, or Teacher Tips, each resource is designed to save time while helping you create clear, student-centered plans that support both health and learning.
Building Your Asthma Toolkit
Patient Education Matters
On the surface (no pun intended!), this video is funny—but it also highlights an important lesson for school nurses.
Students need to understand their own health conditions, recognize symptoms, know when and how to use their medications, and feel comfortable asking for help when something doesn't feel right.
Patient education is an important part of what we do every day, and sometimes a little humor is the perfect reminder of why it matters.
Top 10 Asthma Resources for School Nurses & Families
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Asthma https://www.cdc.gov/asthma Offers data, management tips, educational materials, and CDC’s National Asthma Control Program resources.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma Offers in-depth clinical guidelines and educational resources for professionals and families.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) https://www.aafa.org A comprehensive resource for asthma facts, webinars, support groups, and multilingual asthma action plans.
Allergy & Asthma Network https://www.allergyasthmanetwork.org Focuses on patient education and advocacy; includes school resources, handouts, and inhaler technique videos.
Healthy Schools Campaign – Managing Asthma in Schools https://healthyschoolscampaign.org Offers school-specific asthma policies, training modules, and action plan development guides.
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) https://ginasthma.org International guidelines for asthma management and prevention; excellent for updated care standards.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Asthma and Indoor Air Quality https://www.epa.gov/asthma Offers resources about managing asthma triggers in the school environment and improving air quality.
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