Nursing practice and school health privacy

Create a 6–8-slide PowerPoint presentation for a group of school nurses, which addresses the role of the school nurse in managing the unique health concerns of teenagers while adhering to privacy laws.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

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• Competency 1: Explain the effect of health care policies, legislation, and legal issues on health care delivery and patient outcomes.       
  • Explain the laws that relate to adolescent safety and health privacy in a school setting.
  • Explain how the privacy laws affect schools, students, and school nurses.
• Competency 3: Apply professional nursing ethical standards and principles to the decision-making process.       
  • Describe health and wellness issues specific to the adolescent population.
  • Recommend evidence-based ethical strategies relating to health and wellness privacy communication by the school nurse.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is consistent with expectations of nursing professionals.       
  • Write content clearly and logically, with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
  • Correctly format citations and references using APA style.

Role of the School Nurse

It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that the professional registered school nurse is the leader in the school community to oversee school health policies and programs. The school nurse serves in a pivotal role to provide expertise and oversight for the provision of school health services and promotion of health education. Using clinical knowledge and judgment, the school nurse provides health care to students and staff, performs health screenings, and coordinates referrals to the medical home or private health care provider. The school nurse serves as a liaison between school personnel, family, community and healthcare providers to advocate for health care and a healthy school environment (American Nurses Association & National Association of School Nurses, 2011).

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.

• What is FERPA?
• What is HIPAA?
• How do FERPA and HIPAA affect school health privacy?
• What unique health concerns might young people have that differentiate them from adults?

Directions

Create a 6–8-slide PowerPoint presentation that examines the privacy issues unique to nurses serving the high-school age population. Address the following:

• Describe the types of health and wellness issues that can affect adolescents in their high-school years. Be sure you think beyond the usual things and really research the types of issues that are affecting young people today.
• Explain how privacy laws can impact the school nurse in regard to patient safety and health outcomes for adolescents.
• Explain how privacy laws benefit the student, the school, and the school nurse.
• Recommend two specific evidence-based ethical strategies regarding health and wellness privacy communications in a school environment.

Use the notes section of each slide to expand your points and cite your supporting evidence. Also, include a title slide and a reference slide that lists the resources you used in this assessment.

Be creative. Consider your intended audience.