School Nurses Keep Kids In Class
Wednesday April 22, 2009
While it is commonly thought that kids with asthma miss more school than their peers, a study published online in Chest from the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District finds asthmatic children do not miss any more school than their peers.
"We all know the devastating effect of untreated asthma on both academic and athletic performance, but our data suggests that the tide has turned, and with proper supervision and management, the impact of asthma can be minimized," according to lead author and medical director of the Baylor Lung Care Center Mark Millard, M.D. in a press release. "Parents should expect that their child with asthma should be able to compete with the same degree of success as non-asthmatic peers, with current asthma medications."
Dr. Millard points out the importance of school nurses in achieving these results. Nurses actively identified asthma patients and worked with primary care doctors to achieve good control and keep kids in school. "Any child in any school district can achieve good asthma control, if there is access to the right medications and oversight," Millard said. "A well-trained and empowered school registered nurse may be the best solution to deal with the problem of uncontrolled asthma in children."
Do your kids schools have school nurses and have you noticed a similar benefit?
Children With Asthma Miss More School: Fact or Fiction? Chest. 2009 Feb;135(2):303-6. Epub 2008 Oct 10.
"We all know the devastating effect of untreated asthma on both academic and athletic performance, but our data suggests that the tide has turned, and with proper supervision and management, the impact of asthma can be minimized," according to lead author and medical director of the Baylor Lung Care Center Mark Millard, M.D. in a press release. "Parents should expect that their child with asthma should be able to compete with the same degree of success as non-asthmatic peers, with current asthma medications."
Dr. Millard points out the importance of school nurses in achieving these results. Nurses actively identified asthma patients and worked with primary care doctors to achieve good control and keep kids in school. "Any child in any school district can achieve good asthma control, if there is access to the right medications and oversight," Millard said. "A well-trained and empowered school registered nurse may be the best solution to deal with the problem of uncontrolled asthma in children."
Do your kids schools have school nurses and have you noticed a similar benefit?
Children With Asthma Miss More School: Fact or Fiction? Chest. 2009 Feb;135(2):303-6. Epub 2008 Oct 10.
Comments
Unfortunatly I’ve found the nurse in my sons school unreliable & practically useless. I’m not unapreciative but she sent my son back to class & his teacher sent him back to the office after noticing he was not ok & if thats not enough she left the school! left my son with the reception ladies who were great & noticed he wasnt doing well & called me. by the time I got there I had to rush him to the ER.
I was a bit heated!! After discussing what had happened with the nurse afterwards I now make sure even for the slightest of symptoms I am to be called! It sure would be nice to be able to have a school nurse that you could trust.