Community health nurses in schools
One of the Principles of Best Practice in the Guiding Principles for the Provision and Practice of Sexual Health Education (WA Health) states that the classroom teacher is ideally placed to conduct sexual health education in schools. Selected external resources and people (eg school nurses. Family Planning WA) can be incorporated to enhance, but not replace, the teacher.
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Community health nurses in schools
Community health nurses working in schools play an important role in supporting teachers, students and the school community. Health promotion activities undertaken by the nurse place emphasis on students learning to make appropriate decisions about their own health needs in order to develop healthy lifestyles.
School Health Services are primarily delivered by Community School Nurses and comprise of:
- Early detection and screening programs
- Monitoring health status of children/adolescents with chronic illnesses and other health risks eg. asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, severe allergy.
- Specialist health expertise, including assistance with the development and delivery of Health Care plans for students with complex needs
- Health promotion initiatives. Health promotion and education for students and the school community
- Liaising with parents, schools and outside agencies and other health professionals as required.
Programs may include Local, State and National Initiatives such as:
- Sexuality
- Healthy living
- Sun protection
- Mental health
- Drug related issues
- Reflect school priorities and values.
Professional Development (PD)
- Professional development opportunities
- ABC's about the Birds and the Bees course for nurses (currently being piloted 2010).
Contact: Workforce Development Team
Child and Adolescent Health
childcommunity@health.wa.gov.au
Instructional videos
- Teaching Puberty: You Can Do It! DVD (Free)
- How to do an external (male) condom demonstration in a classroom
- How to do an internal (female) condom demonstration in a classroom
- How to do a dental dam demonstration in a classroom
Teaching strategies
Services
- 14-17 year olds - Online chlamydia testing (GetTheFacts.health.wa.gov.au)
- 18 years old and over - Online chlamydia testing (www.couldihaveit.com.au)
Resources
PowerPoint presentations
Please note: Specific power point presentations and lesson plans for Western Australian Community Health Nurses who work in schools are currently being developed by Child and Adolescent Health (September 2011).
STI and BBV
- Teaching Tools for the Classroom - Understanding Sexually Transmitted Infections (Canada)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV/genital warts) PowerPoint presentation
