References
Raising the roar: The power of political advocacy in school nursing
Abstract
School nurses must be politically active to address the growing needs of children and young people, and nurse academics need to lead by example by fostering policy discussion and a culture of advocacy.
In the last NASNA column, Hayward (2024) explored the importance of incorporating the voices of children and young people into the design and delivery of school nursing programmes. These insights not only enhance the relevance and impact of our school nursing services but also underscore their critical role as advocates for young people's health and wellbeing. Building on that theme, this column shifts focus to the political advocacy required to ensure those voices are heard at the highest levels of policy-making.
On the 8th of October 2024, SAPHNA launched its inaugural survey, The Forgotten Frontline: Public Health School Nursing, in the House of Lords, marking a pivotal moment for school and public health Nursing. The survey launch, hosted by Baroness D'Souza, revealed critical challenges facing the profession. Among the findings: 71% of practitioners reported an increase in children on Child Protection Plans, 38% of school nurses spent more than half their time supporting these cases, and the average ratio of one school nurse in England to 4 000 pupils paints a stark picture of a workforce in crisis (SAPHNA, 2024a).
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