Public Health Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Climate Change

Background: Climate change affects human health, and health departments are urged to act to reduce the severity of these impacts. Yet little is known about the perspective of public health nurses—the largest component of the public health workforce—regarding their roles in addressing health impacts of climate change

Facilitating Factors and Barriers to BMI Screening in Schools

The National Association of School Nurses advocates for body mass index (BMI) screening. Little research describes school nurse practice of BMI screening. In this descriptive study, 25 Ohio school nurses participated in three focus groups. An adapted Healthy People 2010 Determinants of Health Model guided the research questions. School nurses engaged in multiphasic data collection which was contingent on physical environment, workload, and referrals. Lack of system policy was key barrier in terms of data collection, referral, and follow-up. A key facilitating factor was physical education teachers in terms of reinforcing health. School size and privacy were components of school physical environment that influenced screening. Recommendations on securing adequate resources are presented. Implications for policy included a salient need for reduced SN workload

Regional Differences as Barriers to Body Mass Index Screening Described by Ohio School Nurses

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) screening is advocated by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Research identifying barriers to BMI screening in public elementary school settings has been sparse. The purpose of the study was to identify barriers and facilitating factors of BMI screening practices among Ohio school nurses working in suburban, rural, and urban public elementary schools. METHODS: This descriptive study used focus groups with 25 school nurses in 3 geographic regions of Ohio. An adapted Healthy People 2010 model guided the development of semistructured focus group questions. RESULTS: Nine regional themes related to BMI screening emerged specific to suburban, rural, and/or urban school nurses\u27 experiences with BMI screening practice, policy, school physical environment, school social environment, school risk/protection, and access to quality health care. Key facilitating factors to BMI screening varied by region. Key barriers to BMI screening were a lack of privacy, time, policy, and workload of school nurses. CONCLUSION: Regionally specific facilitating factors to BMI screening in schools provide opportunities for schools to accentuate the positive and to promote school health

Facilitating Factors and Barriers to BMI Screening in Schools

The National Association of School Nurses advocates for body mass index (BMI) screening. Little research describes school nurse practice of BMI screening. In this descriptive study, 25 Ohio school nurses participated in three focus groups. An adapted Healthy People 2010 Determinants of Health Model guided the research questions. School nurses engaged in multiphasic data collection which was contingent on physical environment, workload, and referrals. Lack of system policy was key barrier in terms of data collection, referral, and follow-up. A key facilitating factor was physical education teachers in terms of reinforcing health. School size and privacy were components of school physical environment that influenced screening. Recommendations on securing adequate resources are presented. Implications for policy included a salient need for reduced SN workload

Regional Differences as Barriers to Body Mass Index Screening Described by Ohio School Nurses

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) screening is advocated by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Research identifying barriers to BMI screening in public elementary school settings has been sparse. The purpose of the study was to identify barriers and facilitating factors of BMI screening practices among Ohio school nurses working in suburban, rural, and urban public elementary schools. METHODS: This descriptive study used focus groups with 25 school nurses in 3 geographic regions of Ohio. An adapted Healthy People 2010 model guided the development of semistructured focus group questions. RESULTS: Nine regional themes related to BMI screening emerged specific to suburban, rural, and/or urban school nurses\u27 experiences with BMI screening practice, policy, school physical environment, school social environment, school risk/protection, and access to quality health care. Key facilitating factors to BMI screening varied by region. Key barriers to BMI screening were a lack of privacy, time, policy, and workload of school nurses. CONCLUSION: Regionally specific facilitating factors to BMI screening in schools provide opportunities for schools to accentuate the positive and to promote school health