School Nursing and Health Services
The ADE School Nursing and Health Services page is designed to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of School Nursing in Arizona. The following resources, tools, and events are available to support you in your practice.
Welcome to School Nursing in Arizona
Our goal is to provide a supportive foundation that will lead School Nurses toward a long, healthy career in the Grand Canyon State.
Follow these helpful tips to get started:
- Sign up for our School Nurse Communications to stay informed about important information, including training and professional development opportunities, through the health services resource guides.
- Visit the School Nursing and Health Resources page for resources on nursing procedures, emergency guidelines, COVID-19, and common health issues.
- Join the virtual School Nurse (SN) HUDDLES to connect with school nurses and health office staff across the state and receive support from ADE.
- Bookmark this webpage for a quick and easy reference.
- Smile, and Contact Us with any questions!
News and Announcements
In 2014, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) reversed its "free care" policy. This policy allowed states more flexibility to offer school-based health services by allowing school districts to bill for care delivered to any Medicaid-enrolled child—not just children with an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Effective October 1, 2021, Arizona’s Medicaid agency (AHCCCS) began offering an expansion of its school-based claiming program, which it calls Open Care.
Open Care brings critical benefits to Arizona’s schools because healthy kids are better learners. Schools currently provide health services to most students without reimbursement. However, funding challenges mean many schools don’t have the qualified health personnel they need to provide these services. Open Care can expand schools’ access to Medicaid funding, which can permanently and sustainably increase the number of school-based personnel in places where children need them most. Children’s health and education truly go hand in hand (Children’s Action Alliance, 2022).
ADE with its ASAP partners and Children’s Action Alliance are working to assist schools to successfully participate in Open Care. We are interested in learning more about your experience with Open Care and what questions, concerns, barriers, or issues you have or have had in implementing Open Care. Visit the AHCCCS page for more information regarding participating in Open Care.
As the largest subset of healthcare workers, nurses are critical to America’s healthcare system. Nurses protect, promote, and optimize the health of their patients by preventing illness and injury, facilitating healing, and alleviating suffering. Nurses are role models, educators, and advocates. The well-being of nurses is fundamental to the health of our nation. The Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN), is a program of the American Nurses Association Enterprise designed to improve the health of the Nation's 4.4M nurses - one nurse at a time. We encourage all school nurses and health office staff to visit the site and join this free program that offers challenges, commitments, blogs, and prizes to support you in being a healthy nurse.
Emergency Administration of Medication Programs (Stock Med)
Arizona offers three Emergency Administration of Medication Programs also known as stock medication programs for schools: Emergency Administration of Inhalers, Emergency Administration of Auto-injectable Epinephrine, and Narcan Administration. Arizona schools may participate in one or more of these programs but are not required. The following information will help you learn more about each program and the necessary steps to complete to offer these programs at your school.
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) offers an online program, the School Surveillance and Medication Program (SSMP), to assist schools in participating in the stock medication programs. The SSMP walks you through the requirements, including annual training and items needed to implement the program at your school. Currently, MCDPH is working with all Arizona public schools to implement the stock inhaler, epinephrine, and Narcan programs, collecting data and offering the annual standing orders, assuming schools sign up through the SSMP and follow the requirements. By starting with the SSMP site, you will gather the information and tips to establish a stock medication program. For schools to participate, they must enroll in the School Surveillance and Medication Program (SSMP) web application. After completing and submitting the requirements, your school can receive annual standing orders and a prescription from the MCDPH Medical Director.
The Emergency Administration of Inhalers (Stock Albuterol Program) in Schools was put in place in 2017 by state law HB 2208, emergency administration of inhalers by trained personnel; immunity; definitions and is in law as Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) § 15-158. The Arizona Asthma Coalition has a thorough description of the program and offers program handouts and information for school administrators and parents. Toolkits are available for the program and provided by county location: Pima County and all other counties. Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R7-2-810 describes the responsibility of Arizona public school districts and charter schools to stock inhalers on-site at school, the training required by those designated to administer inhalers in an emergency setting, and the procedures for its administration including obtaining the medication standing order. Questions about program implementation may be sent via email to [email protected].
The Stock Albuterol Inhaler Training for School Personnel 2024-2025 is available online at the University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Western Region Public Health Training Center (WRPHTC).
The Emergency Administration of Auto-Injectable Epinephrine (Stock Epinephrine Program) in Schools was established in 2018 by HB 2085, Emergency administration of epinephrine auto-injections by trained personnel; immunity and is in law as ARS § 15-157. The law allows trained individuals under a standing order to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to a child or adult at a public school or a school-sponsored activity. AAC R7-2-809 describes the responsibility of Arizona public school districts and charter schools to stock auto-injectable epinephrine on-site at school, the training required by those designated to administer epinephrine in an emergency setting, and the procedures for its administration. The Kyah Rayne Foundation also helps with the Stock Epinephrine Program in schools.
The Stock Epinephrine Training, also known as Kyah’s EPICourse 2024-2025 is available online at the University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health WRPHTC.
The Stock Naloxone (also known as Narcan) Program is part of the AZ Opioid Epidemic Act/Action Plan implemented in 2018. The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has a website with information offering a standing order for Naloxone and information to order Naloxone Kits from community partners. The Stock Narcan Program is available within the SSMP and we recommend schools implement the Stock Narcan Program through the SSMP. More resources and tips for implementing the Stock Narcan Program are available here. The Stock Naloxone (Narcan) Program Training 2024 -2025 is available online at the University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Western Region Public Health Training Center (WRPHTC). To access this training, a free Moodle account will need to be created.
Getting Started
When you are ready to implement a stock medication program at your school or school district, you have help available. For schools located in all counties except Pima County, you will contact the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH)’s School Surveillance and Medication Program (SSMP). In Pima County, schools will contact the Pima County Health Department (PCHD)’s Stock Medication Portal.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) offers an online program, the School Surveillance and Medication Program (SSMP), to assist schools in participating in the stock medication programs. The SSMP walks you through the requirements, including annual training and items needed to implement the program at your school. Currently, MCDPH is working with Arizona public schools in all counties except Pima County to implement the stock inhaler, epinephrine, and Narcan programs, collecting data and offering the annual standing orders, assuming schools sign up through the SSMP and follow the requirements. By starting with the SSMP site, you will gather the information and tips to establish a stock medication program. After completing and submitting the requirements, your school can receive annual standing orders and a prescription from the MCDPH Medical Director.
Pima County Health Department (PCHD) has developed portals for its stock medication program and these are very similar to the SSMP. There is a Stock Inhaler Portal and an Epinephrine Stock Medication Portal. After reaching each portal, the website walks you through the sign-up process step by step.
The 2024-2025 Stock Medication Programs for K-12 Arizona Schools resource document can be downloaded to assist you through the start-up process to implement one or more stock medication programs, either through SSMP or PCHD.
On May 8th, 2024 we celebrated National School Nurse Day! During this time a webinar was hosted to bring together school nurses from across the state. SNOA’s President, Lisa Alexander, read the School Nurse Day Proclamation and Kate King, the President of the National Association for School Nurses (NASN) spoke with Arizona school nurses. We also shared the School Nurse Poster Contest with attendees, in which posters were submitted on “Why I Love My School Nurse.” The top three winners of the poster contest were decided by Kate King, and ADE honored them by visiting their school with a special prize. Lastly, we had several raffles in which attendees were able to win! View the recording and slides below to see how we celebrated the commitment school nurses make every day.
School Nurse Day Posters and Pictures
School Nurse Day Celebration Recording
School mental health professionals are necessary to provide school-based physical, social, emotional, and mental health prevention, intervention, transition, and follow-up services for all students. These personnel include school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, school nurses, and partner community mental health providers.
School psychologists partner with school staff and families to support mental health and learning which helps students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Some school psychologist best practices include data-based decision-making, academic interventions, and instructional supports, services to promote safe and supportive schools, practices to address the needs of diverse student populations, and comprehensive student evaluations to determine special education eligibility and services.
School nurses support student success by providing health care through assessment, intervention, and follow-up for all students. They address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students and support their achievement in the learning process. School nurses also support medically fragile populations with the development, implementation, and monitoring of individual service plans and emergency action plans. School Nurses also engage in emergency preparedness planning and activities.
School social workers work to remove social, emotional, behavioral, and environmental barriers to learning. School social workers provide direct and indirect services to students, families, and schools including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and risk assessments, consultation and professional development, program coordination, and advocacy and assistance in accessing community resources. School social workers are the link between the home, school, and community.
School counselors interact with and support all students through developmentally appropriate lessons and activities. School counselors assist students in applying academic achievement strategies, help students develop and practice strategies to manage emotions, and apply interpersonal skills as well as plan for postsecondary options after students graduate. The foundation of a comprehensive school counseling program is the direct student services provided through whole-group instruction. School counselors are also integral in crisis response and intervention for students who need support.
Community Providers: When partnered with school districts, community behavioral health providers provide crisis counseling and recovery, on-campus large-scale prevention services, and treatment for chronic mental health needs, evaluation, consultation, case management, etc.
The Arizona Department of Education with funding support from the Arizona Department of Health Services implemented the Arizona School Nurse Access Program (ASAP), an aptly named program to expediently increase the number of school nurses in Arizona. The ASAP idea started in Spring of 2021, and funded school nurses in Arizona for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 school year. The ASAP supported the professional growth and development of both new-to-practice school nurses as well as the incumbent workforce through a partnership with the Arizona Foundation for the Future of Nursing (AZFFN) and the Arizona State University (ASU). The goal of the ASAP was to foster a highly educated workforce that functions to the full extent of their license and education. Funding ended on June 30th, 2024, however, Arizona stays committed to seeking out additional opportunities to support school nursing. For more information about the program, visit the ASAP page on our website!
Upcoming Training and Professional Development Opportunities
We strive to provide ample opportunities to further the knowledge of school nursing and health services! We encourage participants to attend events if available for the opportunity to engage in the conversation provide an audience for our presenters and connect with your health service staff. Please view the upcoming training, conferences, and/ or professional development events offered across the state of Arizona.
Save the date for the Pima County Celebrating Resilience Summit 2024. View the flyer for more information about this event.
Calling all School Nurses and Health Office Staff!
Get ready for an engaging and invaluable learning experience! The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) is thrilled to offer a FREE training session: “10 Things School Nurses and Health Office Staff Need to Know about Why We Immunize.” Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 19th, 2024.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
- Dive into the essentials of immunization and discover why vaccines are a game-changer in disease prevention.
- Master the art of completing the Immunization Data Report (IDR) with ease.
- Learn actionable strategies to protect the families and communities you serve.
- Gain confidence in addressing parent questions and concerns about vaccines.
This training is perfect for school nurses, social workers, vaccine coordinators, health educators, medical assistants, and anyone dedicated to school health.
Bonus: For Registered Nurses, Social Workers, MAs, CHWs, and Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES), we’re offering CEUs! Just make sure to attend at least 90% of the live session to earn them.
Don’t keep this opportunity to yourself—share it with your team and anyone else who could benefit!
On-Demand Learning
Virtual training and professional development opportunities will be recorded and made available on-demand following the event. Participants are encouraged to attend events if available for the opportunity to engage in the conversation and provide an audience for our presenters. View our recorded and upcoming professional development webinars below.
On May 28th, 2024, the Arizona School Nurse Access Program (ASAP), in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona State University, and the Arizona Foundation for the Future of Nursing, hosted a webinar to celebrate the past two years of the ASAP! During this time, the ASAP team reviewed program accomplishment
ts, data, and provided future steps to continue to support school nursing in Arizona. View the recording below to learn more about the ASAP. An additional webpage has been created as well.
ASAP Mission: To optimize the health of school-age children by increasing the number of school nurses and increasing the core competencies of school nurses in public schools throughout Arizona.
Target Audience: ASAP participants, administrators, and stakeholders. Anyone interested in learning about ASAP.
The Arizona Department of Education hosted a discussion on Hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Hypermobility is now estimated to be a problem for around 1% of the general population. When students and parents seek information on hypermobility, the available information often paints a bleak picture. This leads parents and students down a pathway of seeking early disability, rather than working toward improvements. Dr. Neilson offered a different perspective on this condition, where we seek to help our patients improve their clinical status and overcome limitations. This webinar will give viewers the necessary information to help support students on their journey into the future.
Objectives:
- Identify findings and clinical presentations associated with hypermobility
- Describe the physiology underlying complications of hypermobility
- Advocate for health habits and interventions for students with hypermobility-related problems
The Arizona School Nurse Access Program at the Arizona Department of Education hosted a discussion on Emergency Operations Plans (EOP). Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 15-341(A)(31) requires that each school site have an emergency operations plan that meets the minimum state requirements. In addition, modifications to ARS 15-341 (A) (31) will go into law on October 31st, 2023, and states emergency response plans must address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and provide assistance to students with disabilities. This webinar informed attendees of the minimum requirements that go into basic and inclusive planning and highlighted the school nurse's role in responding.
School nursing is a unique specialty in the nursing profession, one that is often quite foreign to nurses when they enter this field of practice with only acute care experience. This webinar provided experienced school nurses with a refresher about the scope of practice and standards of nursing practice as it relates to our state nursing practice laws and introduced new nurses to this important school nursing practice information. 
Presentation Outcomes:
- List at least two unique differences between a nurse's scope of practice and standards of practice
- Discuss the state scope of practice for nurses and two ways they apply to the school nurse.
- State two components of the school nurse’s standard of practice and their application.
- Understand the role of nurse delegation to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) staff while maintaining the delivery of safe student care in the school setting.
- Recognize the five Delegation Principles as the right task, the right circumstance, the right person, the right direction and communication, and the right supervision and evaluation.
- List the best practice steps for nurses to use to ensure UAPs are prepared and able to complete delegated activities in the school setting.
Passcode: d7!#YAw*
The rapid spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Arizona has had devastating consequences, yet we lack vital information about these health consequences. The CoVHORT study at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University is a collaborative effort between public health and medical researchers to try and learn how COVID-19 affects the residents of Arizona. Listen to CoVHORT CATS and the AZ CoVORT as individuals from the study speak on the epidemiology of COVID-19 in youth, the impact of COVID on the whole Child, and how families can get involved.
At the end of the webinar, attendees will:
- Understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 in youth.
- Identify the impacts of COVID-19 on the whole child.
- Learn how families can contribute to our understanding of COVD and long-COVID
- Passcode: bRKNA.c7
- Access the Slides Here