The National Association of School Nurses Board of Directors has defined school nursing as: “A specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning.”

Inherent in this definition is the framework that school nurses engage in professional nursing practice, use the nursing process for decision-making, document the care they provide, and assure confidentiality. School nurses address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of students. In addition, school nurses have as the ultimate outcome of their practice, the support of student success in the learning process. In this context the school nurse provides services to students and children qualifying for early childhood services.