School nurses help to keep students healthy so they may learn. This includes:

• Nursing action for treatment of acute illnesses
• Basic first aid and emergency medical services
• Providing mandated health screenings-hearing, vision, scoliosis
• Medical histories and nursing assessments
• Developing and implementing mandated Individual Health Care Plans for medically fragile students: tube feeding, respiratory care, IV therapy, catheterization
• Referrals to other health care providers
• Home visits
• Administration of medications
• Communicable disease management
• Maintenance of individual health records
• Monitor and maintain current immunization records according to law
• Being a link between the school, home, and the community
• Mental health nursing assessment and crisis management for emotional problems, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect

Providing health education-school nurses teach children ways to stay healthy. This includes:

• Individual health teaching in the health room and the classroom
• Being a resource person for teaching health classes
• Providing staff development/in-services
• Acting as a health consultant to staff
• Group classes for specific problems ie. obesity, tobacco and drug use
• Organizing and facilitating support groups for pregnant teens

Making a safe environment; school nurses work to keep schools safe so students can learn without risks to their health. This includes:

• Developing safety plans which prevent accidents
• Monitoring schools for cleanliness and health hazards
• Preventing the spread of communicable diseases