Advancing school nursing in primary schools in Rhineland-Palatinate (QUINDI)
Project period: 2024
Background
In Rhineland-Palatinate, school nurses currently work in 26 primary schools, providing easily accessible nursing care to all pupils during school hours. In addition to managing acute health problems and school-related injuries, school nurses place particular emphasis on providing individual support and care for children with chronic health conditions.
Findings from the scientific evaluation of school nursing in Rhineland-Palatinate (PDF, 1.1 MB; final report in German) indicate substantial demand for school nursing services in primary schools and suggest benefits for pupils and their families, including improved quality of care, greater educational participation and an increased sense of security among parents. School nursing may also promote health and reduce health inequalities, while relieving teachers of healthcare responsibilities and allowing them to focus on their educational role.
The scientific evaluation identified several promising opportunities for strengthening school nursing in primary schools. In recent years, various support structures have been established to facilitate the integration of school nurses into schools, including weekly coordination meetings and a paediatric consultation service. However, it remains unclear to what extent these structures meet the needs of school nurses and where further development is required. In addition, ensuring a successful transition from kindergarten to primary school for children with chronic health conditions can be challenging. In this context, opportunities for closer collaboration between school nurses and the public health service, particularly in relation to school entry examinations, have yet to be fully explored.
Objectives
The project pursued two main objectives:
- to strengthen collaboration between school nurses, the school community and the public health service to improve healthcare for children with chronic health conditions during the transition from kindergarten to primary school (WP 1).
- to evaluate how well existing support structures meet the needs of school nurses and to identify opportunities for refinement (WP 2).
Study design and methods
In WP 1, we conducted focus group interviews with school nurses, school principals and physicians from the public health service, followed by a workshop with school nurses. Based on the findings, we developed a concept to strengthen collaboration between school nurses, the school community and the public health service in caring for children with chronic health conditions.
In WP 2, we conducted an online survey with school nurses to assess the relevance of and satisfaction with existing support structures, as well as the perceived need for additional support. The findings informed a subsequent workshop with school nurses to identify opportunities for refining these structures.
Funding
Ministry of Education of Rhineland-Palatinate
Contact details
Jana Fischer, M.Sc. (research associate)
Simone Kadel, M.Sc. (research associate)
Dr. med. Michael Eichinger (principal investigator)
Email: sgf@uni-mainz.de